The Autumnal Equinox is this coming week! Follow me below the orange curlicue for fun facts, myths and sciency stuff.
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group gives Kossacks a safe place to check in, a daily diary where we can let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, earthquakes, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It also allows us to find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, earthquakes etc.), we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a Kosmail and ask to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
We do have a diary schedule. But, when you are ready to write that diary, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMOM a Kosmail with the date. If you need someone to fill in, ditto. FloridaSNMOM is here on and off through the day usually from around 9:30 or 10 am eastern to around 11 pm eastern.
Monday:
BadKitties
Tuesday:
ejoanna
Wednesday:
Caedy
Thursday:
art ah zen
Friday:
FloridaSNMOM
Saturday:
Siris
Sunday:
loggersbrat
This year, the Autumnal Equinox and the Sun’s entry into Libra occur at 1:21 am PDT, Wednesday, September 23, 2015. That would be 5:21 am EDT and 8:21 am UTC. Astrologically, Libra is the sign of balance, and astronomically the Autumnal Equinox is the closest our days and nights will be to being equal before our nights become longer than the days. Days and nights are not exactly equal at the equinox, but they are very close.
In scientific terms, the Autumnal Equinox is the moment the Sun travels from the northern hemisphere across the equator into the southern hemisphere.
On the day of the equinox the Sun will rise exactly due east and set exactly due west. If you want to know how things are directionally aligned around you, take notice of where the Sun rises and sets on September 23.
Many cultures around the world celebrate or have myths around the autumnal equinox.
In Korea, they celebrate with a three day long festival. The Chumash, a Native American tribe in southern California, hold a special ceremony to honor the Chumash Earth Goddess. In Japan, it is a national holiday. People remember the dead and visit, clean and decorate their graves.
Pagans celebrate Mahon, one of the eight holidays following the cycle of the sun. They celebrate the second harvest, give thanks to the sunlight and give respect to the coming darkness. According to Greek myth, this time marks the descent of Persephone into the underworld to be with her husband, Hades.
Around here, the crisp mornings and piles and piles of leaves are beautiful and a reminder that winter is coming. My neighbors must be celebrating their pot harvest because leaving the window open gives me a contact high.
One myth that’s been popular for decades is that one can stand an egg on its end only during the equinox. Actually, one can stand an egg on its end anytime – it just takes patience and persistence.
How do you celebrate the turning of the season? Or, do you? Any family traditions to mark the equinox?
And I had to post this picture of a "dronbow." Yes, photographer Martijn Harleman, sent his drone up after a rain shower to take rainbow pictures. I was astounded by the circle.
If you want to see this picture in a bigger format (and it's worth it) go here