This September 23, 2026, we are experiencing the autumn equinox—that precise moment when the Earth’s position relative to the Sun perfectly balances day and night across the entire globe. This reality also manifests in terms of energetic influence, through Yin and Yang. Before the autumn equinox, Yang declines but continues to dominate Yin. Past this point, Yin takes over and deepens its preeminence day after day, until the solstice on December 21.
One cannot ignore this cycle when practicing Shiatsu, an energetic massage inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine. The surrounding energetic state resonates within each of us as an intimate connection with the Cosmos. We commonly associate this link with the seasons. Yet, the seasons are merely variable expressions of an immutable matrix binding Heaven and Earth: the tropical cycle.
The Infinite Variations of the Seasons
Seasons vary across both time and space. They manifest differently from one corner of the globe to another: as the days shorten in Tangier (Morocco), they grow longer in Cape Town (South Africa). Autumn for one corresponds to spring for the other. Even within the same hemisphere, a single season carries distinct flavors on the Mediterranean coast compared to the shores of the Baltic. If we anchor ourselves to one location and travel through time, we observe major variations once again—first over long periods with the ice ages, and more recently, in a disastrous manner, with human-induced climate change.
The tropical cycle itself remains immutable and absolute, punctuated by four milestones throughout the year: two solstices and two equinoxes. While the solstices are inverted from one hemisphere to the other, the equinoxes bring the entire Earth together under a single balance. This cycle predated life on Earth. It was under its influence that the first living cells emerged, adapting over time into the life forms we know today.
The Yin/Yang Duo: A Brilliant Key to Understanding
I often think of our distant ancestors, deprived of today’s scientific knowledge. I imagine them seeking to measure time, trying to understand its underlying forces. How did they realize that time was a cycle and that its repetition could be predicted? What did this alternation of days and climates inspire in them? Feelings of joy and sadness, fears, and hopes filled with belief. They built representations of time to organize their lives as farmers or hunters.
In Eastern thought, the dual force of Yin and Yang offers a compelling description of this phenomenon: the energy of Heaven and that of Earth nourish and regulate each other, shaping the cycle of time. Brilliant in its design, this concept endures and applies to all levels of life, including individual health and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Shiatsu and the Cosmic Cycle
If Shiatsu massage brings benefits, it is because it fosters an individual’s Yin/Yang balance. Physical pressure applied to acupuncture points and along meridians stimulates the flow of Qi (internal energy) in harmony with the broader energetic currents of one’s environment. Receiving a Shiatsu session during an equinox or a solstice means drawing upon a unique state of cosmic balance to realign oneself and cultivate inner harmony.
