Solar term 13 of 24 · Metal · autumn
Autumn Equinox 秋分
Day and night stand level again. From here the dark wins.
Qiūfēn · begins 23 September 2026 · approximately fifteen days
The second hinge of the year. Light and dark balance for one day and then the balance tips — for the next six months, in the northern hemisphere, the nights are longer than the days. Everything that helps in the coming season starts here.
The three micro-seasons
Every term divides into three pentads of about five days.
- Thunder withdraws
- Insects seal their burrows
- Water begins to dry
What to do in these fifteen days
- Set your winter sleep schedule now, not in December. Bedtime moves earlier tonight.
- Audit your light: how much of your morning is spent indoors under artificial light?
- Decide what you are not doing this winter, in advance, in writing.
On the table
Root vegetables · Apples, chestnuts, walnuts
One question
What do you want the next six months to be about, before the dark decides for you?
Seasonal and cultural information only. Not medical advice, and no claim is made about treating any condition. See method & limits.