It’s that time again:
The Autumnal Equinox, the gateway to the coming winter.
As I’ve done in the past, I set this post to publish on the moment of the Equinox:
- September 23 @ 00:06 GMT
- September 22 @ 20:06 EDT (8:06 PM Eastern)
- September 22 @ 19:06 CDT (7:06 PM Central)
- September 22 @ 18:06 MDT (6:06 PM Mountain)
- September 22 @ 17:06 PDT (5:06 PM Western)
- September 22 @ 14:04 HDT (2:06 PM Hawaii)
Those of you in other time zones will have to do the math (but if you’re reading this, it already passed you).
As much as fall is my favorite season, the Autumnal Equinox is bittersweet to me, not really because of winter (I’ve lived here most of my life and know how to deal with it), but because of the damn darkness.
While I don’t seem to have SAD to the extent that some do, I’m certainly affected by it. It was worse when I was working: waking up and driving to work in the dark and then driving home in dark really sucked. At least I can dodge that now.
Today there is 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. By the Winter Solstice, the light will be down to a piddling 8 hours. With a corresponding 16 hours of darkness (and cold).
And while the time-change is shifting at its fastest rate now, it’ll be at its slowest rate over the Solstice. [See Solar Derivative for details.]
So, my least favorite Solar Event during my favorite season. Almost seems a tiny reflection of life in general. There’s always a fly doing the backstroke in the ointment.
My saving grace is that these last few years I’m usually dog-sitting my funny furry pal Bentley when the Autumnal Equinox happens.
We keep each other amused.
§ §
Stay seasonally unaffected, my friends! Go forth and spread beauty and light.
∇
September 22nd, 2026 at 8:50 pm
It is darker longer in the Nordic countries. Borrow a few tips from those hardy souls. Go outside in the sun when you can during the daylight hours even if it’s cold. Have friends over for dinner often. Making and sharing a meal with friends lightens the mood greatly. Light candles for the warm light. I would never go through the winter without a fireplace—I have two!
September 24th, 2026 at 10:35 am
All four of my grandparents came from Norway, so I can confirm and affirm your tips. I huge one for me is getting outside. It’s one reason I do my own snow shoveling. With a snow shovel. Some exercise and sunshine (or at least daylight).
I wish I had a fireplace! Sadly, I live in a condo and only have a pathetic gas “fireplace” that’s less something to look at and more just an alternate heat source. We have outdoor firepits at some of our parties, though.
September 24th, 2026 at 11:25 am
Your grandparents would strongly encourage the cultivation of your Norwegian “hygge.” Light some candles, invite the neighbors over for a good discussion (Bentley would like that), put out some cheese, sausage, and smoked salmon. If you came here I’d insist that you start the evening off in the sauna! Then we’d debate politics. Those hardy Norwegians (Danes, Swedes and Finns) make winter their friend! I suspect it’s one reason they are called the happiest people on the planet.
September 23rd, 2026 at 4:31 am
I bought a sun lamp 2 years ago for just this reason. It worked reasonably well last winter and I have hopes for this one.
I work outdoors and I still deal with SAD, I don’t know how people who work in an office can deal with it.
September 24th, 2026 at 10:38 am
For my money, the fluorescent lights just exacerbate the problem for office workers. Harsh spectrum and on/off 60 times a second. Nasty. I had two fluorescent bulbs in the laundry room but replaced them with LED replacements, and at least the light spectrum isn’t as harsh.