2022 Samhain timing

2022 Samhain

Here’s the timing for the midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Around this astronomically based, Earth-based, zodiacally-based time, humanity has offered recognition in celebrations, holy days, and holidays such as the Celtic Samhain, the roots of Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, and Dia Muertos, the Day of the Dead.

London (United Kingdom – England)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 11:45:19 am GMT equals UTC now
Boston (USA – Massachusetts)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 6:45:19 am EST UTC-5 hours
Chicago (USA – Illinois)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 5:45:19 am CST UTC-6 hours
Albuquerque (USA – New Mexico)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 4:45:19 am MST UTC-7 hours
Sacramento (USA – California)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 3:45:19 am PST UTC-8 hours
Honolulu (USA – Hawaii)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 1:45:19 am HST UTC-10 hours
Tokyo (Japan)
Monday, November 7, 2022, at 8:45:19 pm JST UTC+9 hours

Samhain (pronounced “sah-wen,” Halloween, All Hallows Eve) is the tipping point. The precise moment of Samhain (useful for ritual purposes) is the exact middle of the time between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice.

Darkness, the hours of the night, are increasing. Different peoples, tribes, and clans have many names for male and female principals. At Samhain, the older crone or Wise Woman takes charge, while the Youthful Queen returns to the Underworld to join the Dark God. He rules over that time between the Autumn and Spring Equinoxes. The moment of transition is when the Sun ticks from 14° 59’ Scorpio to 15° 00’ Scorpio, the Zodiac Sign of death and rebirth. Samhain marks the ending, the beginning, and the Wheel of the Year turns. When the Young Queen returns in the spring, she’s pregnant with that newly conceived in the Underworld.

In some Celtic and European traditions, participants fortify themselves with cakes and drinks before setting out for the ritual gathering at sunset. They take lanterns, candles, or torches to light their way as it grows dark to the highest hill, which the druid and assistants have set up for the celebration. Key is the lighted bonfire at the time measured and announced by the druid or priest. Some years the bonfire may already be burning, depending on that year’s timing.

The ritual may involve remembering loved ones passed on to the other side of the veil. A period of meditation begins and continues until the priest lights the fire. As the fire leaps up, so do the participants who bring song, joy, and dance to the ceremony that continues until dawn light and a return to home and hearth. Tradition has it that the veil that divides the worlds is thin this night. The passages from life and death are both wide open. The Mystery recognizes that every ending is but a beginning.

The energy of the old year is most potent right up to the mid-season peak and turning toward the New Year. There are many variants among the tribes and peoples that recognize Samhain (Irish name) as the “turning of the year.” Compared to Día de Muertos, celebrated primarily in Mexico and the US Southwest.

1st - Imbolc, 2nd - Beltane, 3rd - Lugnasad, 4th - Samhain (image via EarthSky)

Earth’s track around the Sun and the Earth’s off-kilter axial orientation (23.5°) to the plane of that orbit is how we mark the Equinoxes and Solstices. That is also how we define the Zodiac on the plane of that orbit. When the angle of Earth’s rotational pole points toward or away from the Sun, we mark the solstices. We reference those points to the lines of latitude North, Cancer, and South, Capricorn. To map The Equator, the pole of Earth’s axis does not point toward or away but is perpendicular to the Sun. Those points in Earth’s orbit mark Earth’s Equator and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. Look at the illustration, and this will make perfect sense. The Earth-to-Sun relationship provides the names. Spring Equinox equals Aries, the first Sign of the Zodiac. Then the Summer Solstice brings the Cancer Ingress and marks the northern tropic of Cancer. Back to the Equator comes the Libra, Autumn, and Equinox, and at the tropic of Capricorn is the Winter Solstice. The orientation of the Earth to the Sun marks the Seasons. Those points give us the lines of latitude on the planet. Extend that plane into space and where the Sun is on those solstice or equinox days marks the Zodiac. Eclipses occur on occasions of Sun and Moon alignment with the ecliptic plane. And that’s how it got its name!

2022 Autumn Equinox—Libra Ingress, Timing

2022 Autumn Equinox—Libra Ingress

The Autumnal (Southward) Equinox, Sun enters Libra (Sun at 0° Libra),and Maybon (Holy Day; if intrigued, enter Maybon into a search engine).

September 23, 2022
01:03:33 UTC, Time Zone
02:04 am London, United Kingdom
BST (UTC +1)

September 22, 2022
09:04 pm Boston, MA
EDT (UTC -4)
08:04 pm Minneapolis, MN
CDT (UTC -5)
07:04 pm Santa Fe, NM
MDT (UTC -6)
06:04 pm Sacramento, CA
PDT (UTC -7)
03:04 pm Honolulu, HI
HST (UTC -10) [3:03:33 pm]

Image courtesy of filamentlearning dot com

At the Equinox, the Sun shines directly on the equator, and there are nearly equal amounts of day and night worldwide. This is the first day of Fall (Autumnal Equinox) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of Spring (Vernal Equinox) in the southern hemisphere. The Sun's rays shine directly over the Earth's equator twice a year. The Sun rises and sets exactly due east and west on the equinoxes. Instead of the Earth tilting away from or toward the Sun, its axis of rotation becomes perpendicular to the line connecting the Earth's and the Sun's centers. The nights get longer from Autumnal Equinox to Winter Solstice (December 21-22).

The Wheel Turns Toward Darkness.
The energies of the Dark Gods and Goddesses begin to increase and gain attention. The balance described by the Taoist symbol of Yin and Yang reflects the Equinoxes. Still, an imbalance starts at the point of Equinox as night begins to overtake daylight's duration. The processes of inward turning gain significance. Persephone returns to her throne with Hades in the Underworld.

Earth's relationship with the central Sun cycles rhythmically through the Centuries. That essential relationship of Earth to the Sun establishes a core pattern that is the basis of Tropical Astrology. The Signs are determined and positioned by the rhythm of the Solstices and Equinoxes. Each quarter of the year between a Solstice and an Equinox holds three Signs.

While night and day are in balance, Equinox may offer a time to evaluate the place of balance in our lives. It is a great time to work on personal balance, re-evaluate where you are, and take the steps necessary to get your emotional and spiritual lives in order.

A reminder: in a few weeks, on November 6, 2022 - Daylight Saving Time Ends – turn clocks back one hour, and 2:00 am becomes 1:00 am.
Sunday, November 6, 2022, 2:00:00 am clocks are turned backward 1 hour to
Sunday, November 6, 2022, 1:00:00 am local standard time instead.

2022 Lammas/Lughnasadh, Leo, 15° 00’

2022 Lammas/Lughnasadh, Leo, 15° 00’ 00”
Ingress, Aug 7, 2022
12:29:00 PM GMT/UT

Aug 7, 2022 AD GC
12:29 PM GMT/UT
01:29 PM BST London
08:29 AM EDT Washington DC
07:29 AM CDT Chicago
06:29 AM MDT Albuquerque
05:29 AM PDT San Francisco
02:29 AM AHST Honolulu

Via The Farm Witch

Lammas/Lughnasadh
The “Cross-Quarter” day, and festival of Lammas or Lughnasadh, is technically August 6-7 (the astronomical center between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox). Then the Sun reaches the middle degree of the Fixed Sign, Leo. Thanks to calendar changes, the two-day festival often begins on July 31 at sundown. It marks the traditional “blessing of the bread,” made of the first grain harvest of the year. It is the third of the four fire festivals of the year. These are frequently times of significant celebration and reverence celebrated by some Celtic or earth-based religions.

Lugh is a sun deity. Lughnasadh celebrates the midsummer harvest in the Northern Hemisphere (midwinter in the Southern Hemisphere). Nasad suggests harvest festivals, fairs, and games. Celebration often begins on the eve of the day preceding.

The “Cross Quarter” times midway between Equinox and Solstice points occur at 15° 00’ of the Fixed Signs, Taurus for Beltane (May Day, Roodmas, Walpurgisnacht), Leo for Lammas or Lughnasadh (harvest festivals and fairs, the Loaf Mass), Scorpio for Samhain (Hallowe’en, All Souls Day, El Día de Los Muertos), and Aquarius for Imbolc (Candlemas, Ground Hog Day, Feast of the Purification, Feast of St. Brigit).

Via exemplore

 

 

 

 

Those who find importance in the actual sun-earth relationship pay attention to the exact day and time the Sun reaches the 15th degree. The days of typical celebrations don’t always correspond to the precise season’s midpoint but remind us of it.

Lammas (Loaf Mass) or Lughnasadh (Loo-nas-ah) is the third of the four fire festivals held at solstice and equinox midpoints. This one is at the Leo midpoint (15° Leo), twixt Summer solstice (Cancer), and Fall equinox (Libra).

For most of history, it was not possible to calculate the exact midpoint in time that marks midsummer. Now it is possible to get that time. Often additional factors like a new or a full moon might be part of the decision regarding when to light a festival fire. Do not think it wrong to celebrate or recognize the cross-quarter at a time other than the precise midway summer point.

2022 SUMMER SOLSTICE

TIMING THE 2022 SUMMER SOLSTICE

Summer (Northward) Solstice - Cancer Ingress

Called Litha (Norse/Anglo-Saxon for "longest day")
 

The still moment in the still moment.

For three days the sun’s places of rising and setting appear the same. The etymology of the word solstice is from Latin, sol, “sun” and stice, past participle of sistere, "stand still.” The exact moment of the change of orientation of Earth to our star is calculable and the precise timing is offered here.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

UTC
(Time Zone)
09:13:42 am GMT/Zulu

London
(United Kingdom – England)
10:13:42 am BST UTC +1

Washington DC
(District of Columbia)
05:13:42 am EDT UTC-4 hours

New Orleans
(Louisiana)
04:13:42 am CDT UTC-5 hours

Denver
(Colorado)
03:13:42 am MDT UTC-6 hours

Seattle
(Washington)
02:13:42 am PDT UTC-7 hours

Monday, June 20, 2022 Hawaii

Wailuku (Hawaii)
11:13:42 pm HST UTC-10 hours

The Sun reaches the maximum north it will on June 20. It will appear to stand still and begin dropping south toward the equator while the length of daylight shortens. (Please see the illustration.) The line the Sun reaches northward is known as the Tropic of Cancer. The Sun at noon is very nearly over Cuba at 23.5° north longitude. At noon on the Winter Solstice the Sun is approximately over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere. There it reaches the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5° South, the furthest South the Sun goes. In either direction when the sun crosses the equator we have an autumn or spring equinox.

The Summer Solstice is known as the longest day and shortest night since it provides the northern hemisphere’s greatest period of a day’s sunlight. At the Summer Solstice, the northern hemisphere assumes its most direct tilt facing into the Sun. Earth's mean obliquity (or axial tilt) was 23°26′11.570″ (23.4365472133°) on January 1, 2021 and decreasing (very slowly).

 

It is sometimes regarded as the “Triumph of the Light,” of Sol. Daylight reaches the peak of its reach through time. We celebrate the exuberance with pool parties, picnics, and barbecues. At the same time, we realize this is the beginning of an increase in darkness. From this point, daytime will wane in comparison with night. The night gains but remains secondary to the more extended day until equality at the Autumn Equinox when night begins to be longer than day.

“The Solstices then are a time to stop, and to look back on where the half-yearly cycle has brought you, and a chance to look forward and see the direction in which the next half-yearly cycle may lead you; a moment to be conscious of your life's flow and direction; a time to express your hopes and fears, your intentions; to assimilate your learnings and celebrate your achievements; a time to celebrate the light; a time to celebrate the dark; a moment to be conscious of the way this waxing and waning of the Sun affects our lives, and to celebrate this duality and what it means to us.

“When the light is increasing from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice, all beings are moving out into the light, becoming more individual and independent, expressing their own identity and uniqueness, expanding outwards into the material world. But as the light is decreasing from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice, nature and life as a whole is integrating itself into a more social way of life, going within, reflecting and becoming more intuitive, expanding into the inner realms - exploring inner wisdom.”

– from Sacred Celebrations by Glennie Kindred

A horoscope calculated for the solstice is one of those used by astrologers to evaluate the Summer season (until the Autumn Equinox or to the Winter Solstice). Astro-meteorologists use it as a “temperature chart,” one of the keys to weather prediction. I use the precision personally and privately to honor the moment.

DOWN UNDER

Are you south of the equator? Then WELCOME WINTER! The Summer Solstice in the north is the Winter Solstice in the south. The solstices mark stillness in anticipation of change.

Happy Solstice! Blessed Litha!