The September equinox, also known as the autumnal equinox, is a phenomenon that occurs each year when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, bringing equal day and night to the Earth's hemispheres. This celestial event typically occurs on September 22nd or 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere it occurs on March 20th or 21st. The September equinox holds a special significance for many cultures and belief systems, as it marks the transition from summer to autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and from winter to spring in the Southern Hemisphere. This seasonal change is often associated with themes of harvest, balance, and transformation. In many spiritual and religious traditions, the September equinox is considered a time of magic and spiritual power. It is believed that during this time, the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thinner, enabling a greater connection to the divine and spiritual energies.
So, the Threefold law can affect us in three different ways, but it’s not as simplistic as some would have you believe. It’s simple, yes, but not simplistic. Let’s not get the two muddled!
According to some traditions, the rule of three is not literal but symbolizes that our energy returns our way as many times as needed for us to learn the lesson associated with it. La legge del tre è un monito moderno, ma il colpo di ritorno era ed è un evento temutissimo da maghi e streghe, che hanno escogitato di tutto per scongiurarne gli effetti.
It is believed that during this time, the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thinner, enabling a greater connection to the divine and spiritual energies. This is often seen as a time for rituals, ceremonies, and intentions to bring about personal growth, abundance, and healing. The changing colors of the leaves during autumn are often seen as a reflection of the inner transformation and shedding of old patterns that can occur during this time.
The Threefold Law
Lately I’ve been thinking about this concept, as I am doing a lot of reading and researching at the moment, and keep coming across this concept is a lot of Wicca/Witchcraft books. While I know that there are many traditions in Witchcraft that do not follow this concept, some do, as well as most (if not all) Wiccans, and it’s got the brain going, considering this concept more deeply and not just taking it for granted.
I don’t think I’ve ever really believed in this concept in the way that most believe. In the threefold law, in many, many sources it states that whatever you do will return to you threefold. In a very simplistic sense, if you do good things, good things will happen, and if you do bad things, bad things will happen. Many sources state that this is rule of karma.
I feel that this is a very odd Western misinterpretation of karma, for starters. As well, I know of plenty of instances and people who do good things, who go through the ringer, and plenty of people who do bad things, and don’t seem to suffer any consequences. (Trump, anyone?) Karma is not a system of reward and punishment. As well, the Hermetic principle of like attracting like can work in this instance, but not in the way that most people would believe. It’s not that simplistic. Note that I use the word simplistic, rather than simple, because there is a huge difference, at least in my opinion. Let me explain.
A lot of magic uses correspondences in order for success, according to the principle of “like attracts like”. This can also work in our daily lives, but it doesn’t mean that doing good things will make good things happen to you, or vice versa. We can’t control reactions to actions on that level. We can try and use magic to persuade a favourable outcome, and when combined with a good ethical stance this would be for the benefit of the whole. But there is a correlation.
I feel that when we do magic, or perform any sort of action whether on the physical or metaphysical level, we affect energy. This for me feels like a more appropriate definition of correspondence. That energy is not only external to us, but will affect us on three levels. Those levels are:
Let’s take an example of cursing someone. If we curse someone, we must be pretty pissed. That anger will have an effect on us at each of these three levels. We know that emotion, memory and other things can get stored in the body, creating tension, stress, high heart rates and more. As well, when we are angry our mental and emotional levels change, and we become the anger if we are not careful. When we become anger, we have lost our sense of self, our authentic being, and have allowed anger to take control. On a spiritual level, anger does not help us to commune with the world, the ancestors, spirits of place, deity or anything in a deeper level. In fact, it can be a great hindrance to it, as integration is at the heart of most spirituality and religion. In an earth-based tradition such as Wicca, Witchcraft or Druidry, where we believe that deity is immanent, this means that when we are angry and curse someone, we do not recognise the divinity within others. When we curse others, we are, in effect, cursing the gods too.
The popular interpretation of The Threefold Law to me feels more like a reward/punishment system to keep people in line, in an overly simplistic fashion. It requires people not to think too much about all the areas in between the concepts of “good” and “bad”, or even how those concepts are so relative to each person and their own experience. It also doesn’t acknowledge the deeper levels of meaning that can occur if we ponder this “rule” more closely. To me, it just seems too close to a heaven/hell concept, which I find too simplistic to give much attention to. Others may disagree, and I honour their perspective, but it just doesn’t work for me.
So, looking more deeply at The Threefold Law, if we do something bad, like cursing someone, then it could be said that on a certain level it comes back to us threefold, but not in the sense that seems to be very popular, ie. do good and good things happen, and vice versa. But if our actions are not honourable, and if we do things to harm other people, we are in turn harming ourselves, our environment, our gods: everything. Harming others causing suffering, both externally and also within in a threefold pattern: we harm our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. We’ve lost that connection to everything else, that sense of integrity and integration.
If we curse someone, we affect ourselves physically by holding on to that anger. That affects us mentally, and if our curse does indeed work, might even lead us down the road to more cursing. This leads to a reinforcement of such behaviour, and also reinforces the anger within us, which will make us physically and mentally suffer more and more. We can often fall into a deep depression by holding onto this anger and feeding it, instead of seeing the positive in the world around us. We will become angry people. This all has an effect on us spiritually as well, for we have denied the existence of deity outside of ourselves. This severely limits our perspective of the world, and just continues an ever increasing downward spiral of behaviour that causes suffering both within and without.
So, the Threefold law can affect us in three different ways, but it’s not as simplistic as some would have you believe. It’s simple, yes, but not simplistic. Let’s not get the two muddled!
And, if in doubt, you can always follow this great maxim: don’t be a jerk.
Just as the trees release their leaves, many people use the energy of the September equinox to release what no longer serves them and make space for new beginnings and growth. In many cultures, celebrations and festivals are held around the September equinox. For example, in Japan, the autumnal equinox is a national holiday known as "Shubun no Hi", during which people honor their ancestors and visit family graves. In England, the September equinox is celebrated with the ancient tradition of "Harvest Festival", where people give thanks for the bountiful harvest and share food with those in need. Whether through rituals, celebrations, or personal reflections, the September equinox offers an opportunity to connect with nature, honor the cycles of life, and tap into the magic and transformative power of the changing seasons. It is a time to embrace balance, gratitude, and the ever-present possibility of growth and renewal..
Reviews for "Letting Go of the Old with the September Equinox"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "September Equinox Magic". The book was incredibly slow-paced and the storyline lacked depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I found it hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was dry and lacked creativity. Overall, I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Chris - 2 stars
"September Equinox Magic" had an interesting premise, but unfortunately, it fell flat in execution. The plot was predictable and felt overly familiar, with no real surprises or twists. The dialogue was stiff and unrealistic, making it hard to believe in the interactions between the characters. Furthermore, the world-building was weak, leaving me with many unanswered questions. While it wasn't the worst book I've read, it definitely left me wanting more.
3. Emma - 2.5 stars
I had high hopes for "September Equinox Magic" but was ultimately let down. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other fantasy novels. The pacing was off, dragging in some parts while rushing through others. The main character had potential, but she was underdeveloped and lacked depth. It's a shame because with some improvements, this book could have been much more enjoyable. Unfortunately, I would advise giving it a pass.