Autumnal Equinox

​We find ourselves on the eve of the equinox, the point of balance of light and dark.  In this window of time, we have the opportunity to reflect on the balance of these dual forces in our lives and communities.  

Most people I know feel much more comfortable in "the light" than in "the darkness".  The darkness is unknown, mysterious, and sometimes even has negative connotation, like scary, or it is used as a synonym to evil.  We are told to step into the light, out of the darkness.  Taught to resist the "dark forces".  And yet this duality exists so gracefully in the natural world, an essential dance to sustain life and harmony on this planet.

I personally feel encouraged to step into the darkness this year, and I look forward to the introspective journey offered to me that comes with the gradual returning of the long night sky.  

Before that begins, however, we get to pause and tune into our internal compass.  How is our relationship with the sun & moon?  With the day & night?  With the divine masculine and feminine forces?  Am I in balance?  

Seeking this balance is a task worth doing, and luckily you are surrounded by forces craving connection with you in this way.  Should you find yourself called, and find a window of time over the next day or two, I encourage you to find a natural object and bring it to a favorite tree, beach, mountain, or creek.  Take a moment to sit, to tune in to the natural forces around you, and tell them you are there to seek out balance within.  Ask them to help you.  

You may find an impulse to let go - perhaps a task, action, or relationship that seems ready to put to rest.  You can blow the energy of it into the natural object you brought with you.  Then sit with the new space that is created. Contemplate balance, and allow the urge to release to find you in all the ways it craves.

When you are done, place your object in the ground, sand, or water.  Say thank you to the forces that came, held, and helped you.  When you get home, you can take a moment and give back to the Earth.  Perhaps you need to water a plant, or tidy an area in your yard.  Perhaps you can find another way to live in alignment with balance on this planet - maybe a commitment to sourcing used materials, or reducing carbon footprint in another way.  Giving back to the planet that gives us life is a wonderful way to connect with the autumnal equinox and the balance within.