It is well known that the days are longer than nights in summer, and the days are shorter in winter. But this is not really true during some parts of the year (as during equinox). The word equinox is derived from the  Latin word aequinoctium where aequus means “equal” and noctis means “night” because at the equinox the day and night are nearly equally long.. The equinox occurs twice a year,

• when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night is of equal length
• the two points in the sky where the ecliptic (annual pathway of the Sun) and the celestial equator intersect.

At the Equator, the sun is directly overhead at midday on these two equinoxes.  The nearly equal hours of day and night is due to bending of the sunlight rays that causes the sun to appear above the horizon when the true location of the sun is below the horizon. At the higher latitudes, the days become a little longer because it takes the sun longer to rise and set. There are two types of Equinox, one is the Spring Equinox, and the other is the Fall Equinox. The Spring (Vernal) Equinox takes place when the Sun moves towards the North, whereas the Fall (Autumnal) Equinox takes place when it moves towards the South.

Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is the equinox on the Earth when the subsolar point seems to leave the Southern Hemisphere and cross the celestial Equator, going northward as seen from Earth. In simple words, the Spring Equinox is the moment the Sun crosses the celestial Equator (imaginary line in the sky above the Equator) from South to North. The Spring Equinox is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and as the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.

Spring Equinox is incredibly magical as it shows how all things can instantly find balance. The magic of Spring Equinox is available to each of us, and we can harness it to ground us in love, in life’s dream, and our deepest spiritual desires. Spring Equinox means new origins and is the celebration of longer days, new crops, and new ideas. This time will bring special magic that opens opportunities but also offers new changes. Spiritual vibes are moving high right now. According to Astrology, this equinox is closely related to the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.

Spring Equinox and Astrology Day

March 20th is the date of the Spring Equinox, and March 20th is also Astrology Day. Spring is the beginning of the year in Astrology. Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac. This zodiac sign is ruled by Mars, filled with energy and fire, restless and curious, and the ultimate explorer. Spring Equinox is when lights start to flash, and we should keep growing, keep learning, and keep our faith high. This time will tell us that life is all around us; we just have to see it in a different light.

Spring Equinox and Mercury Retrograde 

The change in planetary movement and the Equinox turns things similarly and in a more powerful way. Mercury, the planet of communication, goes into retrograde on March 22nd, and it is in retrograde till April 15th. Retrogrades are usually regarding the past and looking back. Our minds tend to focus on specific details and allow us to make poor choices and sometimes impulsively. We must consider our choices, and late April or May could be the time you apply your Spring Equinox ideas. This could be an excellent time for a wise mind.

Spring Equinox gives extra energy that can be used to work on the out of balance areas of life. This equinox is the beginning of a new astrological year. As it indicates a new beginning, it helps in starting a new journey in life with a lot of energy, passion, and enthusiasm, which is why it is viewed as a significant event in the annual calendar!