The Wheel of the Year: Solstices, Equinoxes & Black Tourmaline
- Rosemary Leach
- Mar 8
- 5 min read
Welcome to March, and we are heading into the Autum Equinox, which is on March 21st, where the balance of the Light / Dark are equal.
Autumn focuses on gratitude for the harvest and releasing what is no longer serving you.
There is a Wheel of the Year, and for those who may not be familiar with it - even I wasn’t fully aware of all its layers - this article focuses on the Southern Hemisphere, specifically the Winter and Summer Solstices, and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. I’ll include the full Wheel at the end.
Winter Solstice – (Matariki) is the shortest day – it’s the longest night. Winter Solstice relates to rebirth, stillness where we go within for introspection, a time to turn inward to set intentions, and desires for the coming year. Plus, to rest before the return of the Sun.
The Crystals you can use, like Black Tourmaline – this is for grounding. Amethyst for mediation, and Clear Quartz for clarity.
Summer Solstice – is the longest day – which focuses on peak energy, abundance, action and celebration. A time to honor the Suns’ power of joy, and to shine your inner light.
The Crystals you can use, are ones that anchor energetic anchors to align with your personal energy, and are sunny like the Citrine – abundance, Sunstone – for joy – and Peridot for Vitality.
The Equinox’s - Spring / Autumn where there are a balance of night and day are equal.
Autumn – Focus on gratitude, harvest, and releasing what no longer is serving you.
Spring – Focus on renewal, growth, and planting seeds for the future.
Crystals you can use – like Lepidolite for transition, Moss Agate for growth, Hematite for grounding.
If you are into – Rituals, you can create a Crystal Grid with the Crystals to amplify your intentions for the season.
Meditation you can hold the specific Crystal /s to connect with Seasonal Energy.
If you have an intention to Wear Crystals, you can use one like Garnet to help inspire passion on your intentions during the winter. Citrine to boost the Light.
Then as I spoke about earlier is The Wheel of The Year, here in the Southern Hemisphere’s The Wheel follows the opposite seasons to the Northern Hemisphere.
The Key to the Southern Hemisphere’s Wheel of the Year along with Approximate dates.
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) March 21st balanced light/dark, start of Autumn.
Samhain - April 30th End of harvest, start of winter / dark half
Winter Solstice - Yule / Matariki – June 21st Shortest day, return of the Sun
Imbol - August 1st-2nd First signs of spring awakening
Spring Equinox (Ostara) September 20st-22nd Equal day / night, spring begins.
Beltane - October 31st - November 1st - Fertility, beginning of summer
Lughnasadh / Lammas - February 1st-2nd Harvest
Key Seasonal Difference in NZ Opposite Seasons
While the Northern Hemisphere celebrates Yule in December, it is celebrated in June in New Zealand to align with the Winter Solstice.
Matariki - Winter Solstice - The Winter Solstice, which usually falls on June 21st or 22nd in the Southern Hemisphere is the shortest day and longest night, often aligns with the rising of the Matariki star cluster, marking the Māori New Year. Matariki is also connected to the star cluster known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters.
Equinoxes - These are the precise moments in March (Autumn) and September (Spring) when daylight and darkness are nearly equal.
Observation - These festivals are celebrated by modern pagans and earth-base spiritual groups to connect with the local Southern Hemisphere seasons.
Crystal Message – Black Tourmaline
Winter Solstice is a sacred pause — a moment to stop, rest, turn inward, and gently release what no longer serves you. Old beliefs, outdated patterns, and worn‑out stories can be laid down here, making space for new intentions to form for the year ahead.
Autumn prepares the way. It is the season of harvest, gathering what has grown through the summer, and readying ourselves for the quieter months. Nature begins her descent into rest and rejuvenation, storing energy for the return of Spring when sap rises, buds swell, and new life stirs again.
Humans, too, once lived by this rhythm. They rested when the land rested. Yet in the modern world — with its constant movement and glowing screens — many forget to stop, breathe, and go within. When you ignore the body’s whispers, it may slow you down through illness, accidents, or exhaustion, forcing you to rest. In those still moments, clarity often arrives. You see the light again. You notice what needs to change. You understand what can be done differently.
We encourage you to claim time for yourself this Winter. Create rituals that nourish you - and perhaps share them with friends or family.
Look to Nature for guidance. Trees shed their leaves in Autumn and stand bare through Winter, appearing lifeless, yet deep within, the sap is quietly moving. Soon it will rise again, bringing new leaves, blossoms, and fruit. Animals grow thicker coats to survive the cold, then shed them as Spring returns.
Humans can learn much from these cycles. Yet many have become disconnected from the land, living in concrete jungles far from the wisdom their grandparents and ancestors once knew - the wisdom of reading the seasons, respecting the signs, and living in harmony with the Earth.
This is where the crystals can help. Ground yourself by walking barefoot on the grass, feeling the Earth beneath you. And I, Black Tourmaline, can support your grounding as well.
Through meditation and quiet time, you reconnect with your Soul, your Inner Being, your Inner Child. In that stillness, answers arise. Solutions appear. Ideas flow.
We love you. We love you. And so, it is.
Black Tourmaline at a Glance
Black Tourmaline is a root‑chakra stone known for protection, grounding, and energetic clearing. It helps steady the body, calm the mind, and create a sense of inner safety.
Key Attributes
Protection: absorbs and neutralises heavy or unwanted energy.
Grounding: brings you back into your body and the present moment.
Stability: strengthens boundaries and emotional steadiness.
Purification: clears spaces, objects, and the aura.
Simple Ways to Use It
Hold during meditation for grounding.
Carry or wear for daily energetic protection.
Place near your front door or workspace to cleanse the environment.
Use during journaling or release rituals to stay centred.
This article has been supplied by Rosemary Leach. All content is the opinion and copyright of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of DrumRoll Promotions Ltd. If you have any questions regarding this article you may wish to contact the author direct.
