The Autumn Equinox

“Meditation is not a doing, but a happening”
At the equinoxes, days and nights are equal and there is an equilibrium between spirit and matter in the nature. These times offer the best yogic energies and are very auspicious for the spiritual practice. The alignment to the Light is of particular importance at autumn equinox, which corresponds to the midnight hour.


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To introduce Madame Blavatsky to the eternal wisdom, she was shown a silver disc with a point, then a silver disc with a horizontal division and later a silver disc with a vertical line. When she contemplated it, the wisdom came to her, and consequently she could give a fresh exposition of the timeless wisdom.

The disc or the circle with the point at the centre symbolizes the Lord who expressed himself through His nature, the universal soul in manifestation. The circle with the horizontal diameter represents the day and night, with the dawn and dusk. For the individual, they form his position in space with the East and West. The vertical diameter represents the meridian and midnight to the individual. Thus, the day is divided into a four-armed cross with four equal parts of six hours each. The cross also stands for the four stages of the creation from seeming nothingness upto the physical plane of objectivity: pure existence, consciousness, thought and action.

The Vedas says, “all is fourfold”: The day with dawn, noon, dusk and midnight; the month with full moon and new moon and the two 8th moon phases; the years with the two solstices and equinoxes, and also the life with infancy, youth, adult age and old age. In the greater cycles, there are the four Yugas: Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali.

The knowledge or the wisdom was also classified in a fourfold manner as the four Vedas. In line with this, the disciples of Jesus set up the New Testament in four gospels. Thus, the message of the four-armed Vishnu and of the cosmic Christ are the same: standing at the centre, we can realise the four-fold dimension of creation.

We should plan our activities in a way that we integrate into our life the nodal points of the day, the month and the year. The more we attune to these cardinal points, the more we attune to the Truth and the Light. With the correct alignment we attune our micro-system to the macro-system. We rearrange our energies and gain harmony with the self and the creation. Thereby we live in a state of clarity and equilibrium, Samyama.

By precisely relating to the energies, we apply the rhythm and the discipline of the 7th ray on ourselves. Thus, we enter into the subtle worlds and integrate ourselves into the planetary and solar system.

Since ancient most times, the Masters of Wisdom have organized group livings at the nodal points of the year, so that the energies of the Sun are received and the planet and the planetary beings get magnetized. Master CVV insisted that his followers gather at the solstices and equinoxes and conduct meditations and prayers; thus, he has revived the age-old rituals. When we invoke the MASTER during these times and feel his presence, we receive an effective touch and stabilise the relation with him.

When the Sun crosses the equator at the equinoxes, you have equal day and night at the equator. On the northward journey of the Sun, this happens around 21st of March and on the southward journey around 22nd September. The point where day and night are of equal length corresponds to the state of yoga where matter and spirit are in balance. Neither of them is rejected nor neglected. “Yoga is equipoise” says Lord Krishna. When the inequalities in our impulses and expressions are adjusted, the consciousness recedes into the background of soul consciousness.

Balancing the opposing forces of the physical, emotional and mental planes happens at the buddhic plane. There, the Will, the Love and the Light prevail. When we are linked to the buddhic plane, we also bring this balancing power into the lower planes. Remembering the great initiates who live on the higher planes also uplifts us. Thus, by engaging ourselves with their lives and teachings we receive a touch of the Presence, which stimulates the equipoise in us.

In the centre of the spine, in the channel of the Sushumna, the energies of materialisation (Ida) and of spiritualisation (Pingala) are balanced; we are in the awareness of our existence. By contemplating on the Sushumna, the male and the female in us are equalised and fulfilled. The Sushumna is of diamond light, and from this the diamond body is built. From there the consciousness shines forth with great brilliance.

Standing in this light and via the alignment with the soul we experience the alignment with the Sun. Just like the Sun is the king of the solar system, Sanat Kumara is the king of our planet. At equinox, he is in deep contemplation aligned with the Sun, the central Sun and the cosmic Sun. With our alignment, we can join him. We can build the vertical in us and gain poise in all planes of existence. With the correct preparation we can receive the initiation directly from the Sun on the equinox day. Receiving the Light and distributing it to the surroundings is an important service. With this we help the people to reach the Light as well.

The preparations start from solstice and continue over the next 90 days; the time window for initiation is then open for two to three days. We should inwardly align for at least three days before the equinox. Only then we become receptive for the energies available and we can unfold the subtle perceptions.

The equinox is an interlude like the pause between two breaths. Through this interlude, we can easily enter into the subtle, supermundane world.

Many people are not even aware of the solstices and equinoxes and do not benefit from them. The difference in perception depends on the state of consciousness. If an individual is not conscious of the energies of the greater system and does not tune up to them, perceptions are lost. As occult students we have to be alert to these times, to follow the festivals of Nature and to take note of the precise days. These are no festivals for big meals and conversation but silent celebrations of the soul.

We should make sure that we do not fill the equinox day with too many things or appointments. If possible, we should take a day off, so that we can open ourselves and be in meditation with a deeper intention, best with a group. It is very good to make a group living around this day and to invoke the energy of the Hierarchy into our midst. We can also offer flowers to the energy and ask for its presence in the near future.

There is something profound and sublime about the equinox at the beginning of Libra. It is the counterpart of the equinox of Aries, and their relation forms an important axis. In Aries we encounter the Father, the spirit, in Libra the Mother, the matter. The Father IS at all times but in Libra he is hidden in the Mother. With autumn equinox we enter into the time of midnight and it becomes very difficult to overcome the illusion of the Mother or of matter. In Libra she is also called the “impenetrable Mother; in the East she is called Durga. She is the threshold to the illusion of life, since she stands between the Truth and the illusion.

When we encounter the illusion of matter, it is important that we recollect the Light. Then the Mother gives us the “Light in Darkness”. With this light, we do not fall into the dangers of passion, which has kept mankind imprisoned since millions of years. One of the greatest passions is sexuality. In our dark age, the lack of understanding of womanhood and the feminine nature has led to a great imbalance. The male dominance has caused much suffering, also for the men.

The Mother as Durga holds the key for balancing the male and female side, the subjective and objective existence. She is the fulcrum principle at the centre causing the rotation of life. She works as the radiating (diversifying) force and also as the blending force. Durga is worshipped in Libra so that she may open the secret passage between the subjective and objective existence. With the help of the Mother we can find the path to the Father by turning within and vertically ascending through the vertebral column and thus we unfold.