On September 22, 2025 at 5:19 AM PDT, the Sun crosses into Libra and we arrive at the Autumn Equinox. This is the balance point of equal day and night, a seasonal threshold that reminds us to seek harmony within ourselves as the external world shifts toward shorter days and cooler nights. Where yesterday’s Solar Eclipse cleared and released, today’s equinox restores balance.
In Ayurveda, this is the transition into Sharad Ritu, a season that stirs Vata dosha with its cool, dry, mobile qualities. To stay balanced, we tend Agni, the inner fire that governs digestion, vitality, and clarity of mind. Strong Agni gives us resilience, warmth, and steadiness; weak Agni leaves us cold, scattered, or depleted. The equinox is a natural time to renew our fire with foods, herbs, and rituals that ground and warm.
Herbal Allies for Autumn Agni
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) - A pungent and warming root that is considered one of Ayurveda’s strongest Agni kindlers. Ginger improves circulation, stimulates digestion, and helps clear stagnation from the body.
Type: Carminative, circulatory stimulant, digestive tonic.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) - Sweet, aromatic, and warming, cinnamon helps stabilize blood sugar while boosting circulation and mood. It is especially supportive during cooler months when Vata tends to rise.
Type: Carminative, warming circulatory tonic, mild antimicrobial.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) - Known as the “queen of spices,” cardamom is aromatic and slightly cooling yet deeply supportive to digestion. It clears heaviness, uplifts the spirit, and relieves bloating.
Type: Carminative, aromatic digestive, uplifting tonic.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) - A gentle, soothing flower that calms the nervous system and quiets an overactive mind. Chamomile reduces inflammation, eases tension, and supports deep rest.
Type: Nervine, mild sedative, anti-inflammatory.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)- One of Ayurveda’s most celebrated Rasayanas (rejuvenatives). Ashwagandha restores vitality, reduces stress, and supports balanced energy as the seasons shift.
Type: Adaptogen, restorative tonic.
Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) - A tart, cooling flower that refreshes the body and uplifts mood. Rich in antioxidants, hibiscus supports heart health while gently cleansing the system.
Type: Cardiovascular tonic, antioxidant, mild astringent.
Together, these herbs remind us that balance is not about denying warmth but cultivating it. Warming spices ignite our fire while nervines and adaptogens ensure it burns steady rather than fast.
Â
Try our The Sun tea & Temperance for easy balance
The Science of Seasonal Warmth
Modern research shows that the colors and qualities of autumn themselves can soothe and restore us. A 2022 study found that viewing autumn foliage increased parasympathetic activity (our body’s calming response) and improved mood compared to city scenes (Jo, Ikei, & Miyazaki, 2022).¹ Another study in 2023 showed that seasonal forest changes, especially autumn leaves paired with cooler air, enhanced mood and physiological balance in university students (Kim & Lee, 2023).² Even simply looking at forest images was shown in 2024 to reduce stress and improve mood compared to urban landscapes (Shi et al., 2024).³
These findings affirm what Ayurveda has long taught: the science of warmth is not just metaphorical. Warm colors, warm foods, warm rituals all stoke our fire and return us to balance.
Equinox Rituals for Balance
- Begin your morning with warm spiced water or tea.
- Practice gentle yoga or breath work focused on balance.
- Walk among autumn leaves, absorbing nature’s colors and calm.
- Refresh your altar or home with candles, marigolds, or golden tones.
- Journal: “Where in my life am I ready to invite balance, warmth, and steadiness?”
The equinox invites us to pause between light and dark, release and renewal, effort and ease. By tending to Agni with herbs, ritual, and presence, we meet this season in balance, rooted, warm, and ready to receive what autumn has to offer.
References
1. Jo, H., Ikei, H., & Miyazaki, Y. (2022). Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women. Forests, 13(9), 1492. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091492
2. Kim, E., & Lee, H. (2023). Seasonal Forest Changes of Color and Temperature: Effects on the Mood and Physiological State of University Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 20(11), 6338. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20116338
3. Shi, H., et al. (2024). Influence of Forest Landscapes on Stress, Mood, and Health via Indirect Visual Experience in College Students. Forests, 15(3), 498. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15030498