Embracing the Autumn Equinox
Mascari, Brooke - September 22nd, 2025
As the golden hues of autumn arrive, we reach a sacred turning point in the year - the autumn equinox, when day and night rest in perfect balance. This moment invites us to pause, reflect, and realign with the rhythms of nature. In Ayurveda, the science of life, the equinox is not only a cosmic event but also a reminder to balance the shifting energies within ourselves.
The Ayurvedic Lens: Vata Season
Fall ushers in the season of Vata dosha, governed by the elements of air and ether. Vata brings creativity, clarity, and movement, but in excess, it can manifest as anxiety, restlessness, dryness, or feeling ungrounded. Just as the crisp winds stir the leaves, Vata energy stirs within us—calling for grounding, warmth, and nourishment.
Simple practices to balance Vata this season:
Warm, grounding meals like soups, stews, root vegetables, ghee, and healthy oils.
Gentle, rhythmic movement such as yoga, walking, or stretching rather than overexertion.
Daily rituals: self-massage with warm sesame or almond oil, drinking herbal teas, and maintaining consistent routines.
Restorative stillness through meditation, journaling, or quiet moments in nature.
By aligning with these practices, we honor the natural cycle of slowing down after summer’s outward energy.
The Moon Phase Connection
The moon, ever woven into the fabric of feminine wisdom, reflects our own inner cycles and calls us into deeper balance. Just as the trees release their leaves with grace, we too are invited to let go of what no longer nourishes us. This season offers us the gift of clarity—to simplify, to clear both mental and physical clutter, and to prepare the fertile ground within ourselves for what’s to come.
This year’s equinox aligns with the New Moon, magnifying the power of fresh beginnings. Where the waning moon teaches us release, the new moon reminds us of rebirth—of stillness, possibility, and the quiet magic of creation. The dark sky mirrors the sacred invitation to turn inward, to listen, and to plant seeds of intention that will grow strong roots through the darker half of the year.
For us as women, this New Moon energy beautifully mirrors the menstrual phase of our cycles—a time of rest, renewal, and deep connection. Just as our bodies shed the old to make space for new life, we are invited to release outdated expectations, soften into trust, and rise into a new cycle with clarity and purpose.
Syncing with the moon awakens us to the truth that our bodies are not linear, but cyclical—just like the earth and sky. Many women feel the energy of autumn resonate with the luteal and menstrual phases—a natural time for slowing down, tending inward, and honoring the wisdom of stillness. This is not weakness but profound strength, a power that allows us to reset, regenerate, and realign with our deepest truth.
Menstrual Health in Fall
As Vata increases, menstrual health can be impacted—sometimes showing up as irregular cycles, heightened PMS symptoms, or painful cramping. To support the body during this season:
Favor warm, cooked foods and avoid cold or raw meals that aggravate Vata energy.
Prioritize hydration with warm teas and mineral-rich broths.
Practice womb care through gentle abdominal massage, castor oil packs, or simply placing warm hands over the belly for grounding. Make sure to keep your feet warm, too, as the feet and womb are known to be connected. Cold feet = cold stagnant womb = painful, difficult periods.
Honor rest during bleeding, allowing your body the same grace nature shows as it turns inward.
Fall becomes an invitation to tend deeply to the womb and to reconnect with cyclical wisdom.
A Season to Reset and Check In
The equinox reminds us of balance, but also of impermanence. Just as light and dark come into harmony for a moment, we, too, can pause and check in:
Are we living in alignment with what nourishes us?
Where have we taken on too much, and what can we release?
What daily rhythms can support steadiness through the winds of change?
What seeds do we wish to plant now, to carry us through the darker months ahead?
This is a season of reset—not through force or urgency, but through gentle recalibration. By rooting down, listening inward, and honoring our cycles, we prepare to move through the darker half of the year with clarity and resilience.
✨ This autumn equinox, may you find balance between light and shadow, outer busyness and inner stillness. May you embrace this season as an opportunity to ground, reset, and realign with the rhythms of both nature and your own body.