What The Fall Equinox Means For Each Sign

This year the autumnal equinox — the day when summer officially transitions into fall — lands on Thursday, September 22. For many people, the move into fall means cuddly sweaters and pumpkin flavored beverages, but what does the fall equinox mean for your sign? If you believe in astrology, there are a lot of different things that the equinox can signal, but the biggest theme is balance.

The word “equinox” comes from the Latin terms for “equal” (equi) and “night” (nox), so named because the equinox has (nearly) equal amounts of daylight and darkness, due to the fact that the sun is positioned directly over the equator. There are two equinoxes every year: The vernal equinox in March and the autumnal equinox in September. The equinoxes mark a change in the Earth’s orientation toward the sun, which in turn causes the shift in seasons. For the last few months, the Northern Hemisphere has been tilting toward the sun, causing the long days of summer, and following the equinox, the Northern Hemisphere will begin tilting away from the sun, ushering in fall and winter.

If you subscribe to astrology, this shift in the earth’s position means more than a change in the weather. The equinox, characterized by a balance of day and night, also brings an emphasis on balance into people’s lives, which is only magnified by the properties of Libra, the sign symbolized by scales. According to Bustle’s resident astrologer, Mecca Woods, “Under the influence of the Fall Equinox, the Libran theme of balance and harmony is amplified as we're called to make sure everything is fair and square in our relationships and finances.” The equinox is also associated with the harvest, and so it is often a time to collect the fruits of your labor, as well as a period of self-reflection. As it leads us into winter, the autumn is also a season to take stock of what you have and start saving energy for the darker months.

Read on for more about how the equinox may affect your sign:

Aries

Aries folks are known for their strong personalities — they’re confident, bold, and unafraid to take risks. That also means that sometimes they can be impulsive and snappish. If you’re an Aries moving into fall, try to remember balance — the new season can be a great time to start new projects and adventures, but it’s also important to avoid extremes. When it comes to other people, “be fair” should be your mantra.

Taurus

Taureans tend to be focused on outcomes, so harvest season is a good time for them to reap the rewards from their efforts. They’re not big fans of change, however, so the shifting season may be a struggle.

Gemini

Gemini are the life of the party — they love to talk, have fun, meet new people, and explore new things. With the equinox, Gemini will need to think about balancing their tendency to flit from place to place and person to person with the practical need to shore up energy and resources. Furthermore, the equinox will bring us into Libra season. As Libra is the cardinal sign for air, this time of year tends to be good for fellow air signs Gemini and Aquarius — soak it up!

Cancer

Cancers are emotional, nurturing, and willing to go to bat for others, even to the point of overextending themselves. The equinox and autumn are good times for them to sit back, revel in their homebody-tendencies, and recharge for winter.

Leo

As a Leo, you’re a natural leader, and this is the time of year that you’ll see the projects you’ve headed finally pay off. Leos, born under the fire sign, are high energy people, and though that energy can be a great way to launch you into the new season, try to maintain some equanimity — otherwise, you may exhaust all of your energy right off the bat, and leave yourself drained for the rest of the year.

Virgo

Transitional autumn is an important time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished in the last few months, and think seriously about the year ahead. Naturally introspective Virgos will take advantage of the season to self-evaluate and clarify their goals for the future — but they should try not to get too bogged down in navel gazing. Instead, they should make the time to enjoy the fruits of their labor and allow themselves a bit of self-indulgence. (Perhaps as “Treat Yo Self” day is in order?)

Libra

After the equinox, the sun enters Libra, so you Libras out there are going to feel extra energized and motivated. Take advantage of the energy surge, but be careful not to flame out. Between the equinox and the Libra’s tendency toward fairness and equality, balance is going to be everything for you this month.

Scorpio

Scorpios innately value fairness, so the equinox will only bolster their natural tendency to keep things equitable. But though they usually have a cool exterior, Scorpios sometimes tend to obsess over things, becoming fixated on a single goal or issue, even to the point of fanaticism. As a Scorpio, you may have to work hard to keep your inner-life balanced.

Sagittarius

The beginning of a new season is a good time for Sagittarians, who enjoy change and love a new start. Sagittarians are extroverts and travelers — so they may find themselves getting lonely and bored as we move into the more homebound, quiet seasons of autumn and winter. If this is you, make an effort to hang out with friends, despite the increasing cold. A winter jaunt to somewhere out of town wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Capricorn

Capricorns are good at getting results — responsible, methodical, and practical, they're willing to wait however long they need to in order to achieve their goals. Now that we’re entering harvest season, Capricorns will finally get to see the payoff of all their hard work. Capricorns make devoted friends, but they tend to hold grudges against those that piss them off. In the spirit of the equinox, Capricorns should do their best to approach these resentments with fairness, and perhaps even resolve some longstanding conflicts.

Aquarius

Like the other air signs, Aquarians will get a little boost with the equinox. As an Aquarian, you keenly value justice and equality for other people, which will only be bolstered by the emphasis on balance and fairness brought on by the equinox. The start of the new season may be just the right time to start a new project — especially one that furthers equality for others.

Pisces

In some ways, Pisceans are well suited to the inner reflection that comes along with autumn, but they have a tendency toward sadness and depression if they get too locked inside their own heads. So, following the equinox, be sure to balance your introspective moments with time spent with friends and family, and extend your natural empathy and compassion to others.

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