This is the moment Yin and Yang bow to each other in perfect balance.

This is the moment Yin and Yang bow to each other in perfect balance.

The ancient Chinese farming calendar revolves around the 24 Solar Terms of Qi. These are the subtle markers of the changes in nature observed every two weeks as the sun moves through its cycle. They guided farmers in their planting, kept communities in harmony with the seasons, and are still used in Chinese Astrology to track the rhythm of energy throughout the year, and its effect on our individual astrological charts.

From 23 September we are in the 2 week period of Autumnal Equinox. Traditionally, Chinese farmers sowed winter wheat and rice at this time. Now, day and night are equal in length. Yin and Yang are in perfect balance. For all of us the Qi, or energy, for these 2 weeks is perfectly aligned. It’s a natural pause in our lives, a moment to reflect, a moment of stillness to reevaluate what we want to take into the next year, and equally what we would like to leave behind.

I personally find the 24 Solar Terms of Qi an elegant, poetic way to observe the flow of nature. When I first learned this system in my Feng Shui training, I was struck by the romance of ancient timing. Even in our busy modern lives, we can stay deeply connected to nature and the world around us.

🩷Art by me