Rebalancing for the Equinox: The Celtic festival of Mabon offers an opportunity to take stock of where we are, plus an exercise for finding new balance by both appreciating and letting go.
I really need to balance my life. It has never been totally balanced for any length of time, yet I have always taken some comfort in the natural world.
Once in hiking down Sycamore Canyon (the one in the Pajarito Mountains of southern Arizona) for a brief period I felt as if I had melted into the landscape. I was totally alone; just me and the creek as it flowed intermittently toward Mexico.
At times like those every care seems to melt away, leaving one with a feeling of peace that too soon ends when the everyday world is reentered. For just a short time balance is achieved.
I don't think balance is ever a permanent thing, Dave. But we can notice when we feel in tune, as you so clearly did in that hike in Sycamore Canyon in the Pajaritos, and make conscious efforts to find that kind of balance in other moments. I think that one of the gifts of getting older is being able to reflect on our lives, remember the moments when we felt the most human and in harmony like the one you described, and learn from them. We can't all live in wild places--there would be no wild places left! But we can strive to find that kind of balance and connection in our every day lives.
Your photos are beautiful! Those brilliant golden aspens...
I love the idea of No Net Accumulation and the lists exercise. For certain, I am going to put it into practice.
The Celtic days of importance/festivals/marking of the year have always interested me and I would much rather the year turn on them as opposed to modern labels, like "the first day of fall" rather than the festival of Mabon.
Thank you, Jenny. Like you, I find that the Celtic festival days resonate more with the inner rhythms of my year than the commercialized holidays that dominate popular Western culture. I think that's our terraphilia emerging, our bodies and hearts and spirits tending to synchronize with Earth's calendar of the seasons of life rather than the human-invented calendar. I think we can follow our own inner calendars despite popular culture--it just takes being mindful and aware. And not minding doing some swimming upstream!
I agree with everything you've said! Around the first part of August every year, I can feel autumn coming. This year, one day a few weeks ago, I was out walking in the late afternoon. There was the feel of fall, then all of a sudden I felt fall arrive, just like that. It was if I'd walked across an invisible threshold. Extraordinary.
What an amazing experience! And a gift that you were open to it. I believe that there is so much we aren't aware of in the busyness we let yourselves get sucked into. And when we slow down and open our hearts and our awareness, the living community of this earth reaches out to greet us.
Moving into some of my favorite seasons, Susan. Thank you for your lovely essay.
The Equinoxes are days that I practice the ritual of home care and protection. It's a way for me to restore balance in my spiritual and corporeal life. I love these rituals...bringing the extraordinary into focus in our ordinary hours, providing balance and stability as we move through the seasons.
Sending you much light as you follow your path. Kathleen
Thank you for reading and adding your thoughts, Kathleen! Rituals of home care and protection make sense as part of the equinoxes, and I'm going to think about that as part of my rituals of attention at this time of year and the spring equinox. I find that the solar calendar is so much more attuned to my rhythms these days than the Gregorian calendar, and I am inspired by those like you who are mindful of the progress of the natural year, and deeply connected to landscape and place. Blessings and a warm hug!
Your rebalancing ritual is a wonderful practice for this time of year. Thank you. For me the fall equinox marks the beginning of the descent into winter -- it's the Persephone myth that we live out each year. I tend to get quieter and more pulled into myself this time of year. I'm going to do the exercise of holding, releasing and rebalancing that you suggest here.(Susan, I think you rock!) Big hugs.
Stephanie, Thank you for sharing your connection to myth and archetype with all of us. I always learn from you and am inspired by your writing. As for Persephone and her descent into the Underworld, I feel that pull to go inward and reflect this time of year and on through winter as well. I cherish fall and winter for that urge to get quiet and read and ponder. Hugs back to you!
Karen, I am so sorry that your balance has been off. Do you mean your physical balance? If so, I hope you know about the Vestibular Disorders Foundation, an amazing resource for people with balance issues. (https://vestibular.org) I heard about it from two friends who are both struggling with balance and other issues. If it's your metaphorical balance, that's tough too. Either way, I send hugs and hopes that your balance returns to you soon.
Autumn is my favorite season because I am naturally inclined to examine and balance. Summer is a hectic time for me, and I feel the slowing of time and busyness as autumn approaches. I am hoping you are finding some balance in your new journey!
I think the rhythm of the seasons in the natural world has a big influence on our own internal pace and rhythms, and summer is usually a hectic time for me as well. I wish for you an autumn of slowing down and reflecting, both fruitful and rejuvenating activities. Oddly, I am feeling quite balanced in the midst of the madness of planning an interstate move. Despite the difficulty of uprooting myself again and leaving one beloved place, I can see where I'll land and it feels right.
I have been thinking about your unplanned move and hoping that you find a place that offers you the physical, emotional, and spiritual conditions that make you happy. I hope you consider writing about those issues. I would welcome your insights and wisdom. I struggle every day with the idea of finding a new place.
I will indeed write about the factors I've weighed and balanced and the trade-offs I've made. I just need to be not on the road--I'm in northwest Wyoming now, 800 miles from Santa Fe--and get rested up and digest what I've learned before I write!
Love this one.
Thank you, Susan. It's that time of year when balance comes to mind because of the equal length of the days and nights. :)
I really need to balance my life. It has never been totally balanced for any length of time, yet I have always taken some comfort in the natural world.
Once in hiking down Sycamore Canyon (the one in the Pajarito Mountains of southern Arizona) for a brief period I felt as if I had melted into the landscape. I was totally alone; just me and the creek as it flowed intermittently toward Mexico.
At times like those every care seems to melt away, leaving one with a feeling of peace that too soon ends when the everyday world is reentered. For just a short time balance is achieved.
I don't think balance is ever a permanent thing, Dave. But we can notice when we feel in tune, as you so clearly did in that hike in Sycamore Canyon in the Pajaritos, and make conscious efforts to find that kind of balance in other moments. I think that one of the gifts of getting older is being able to reflect on our lives, remember the moments when we felt the most human and in harmony like the one you described, and learn from them. We can't all live in wild places--there would be no wild places left! But we can strive to find that kind of balance and connection in our every day lives.
Your photos are beautiful! Those brilliant golden aspens...
I love the idea of No Net Accumulation and the lists exercise. For certain, I am going to put it into practice.
The Celtic days of importance/festivals/marking of the year have always interested me and I would much rather the year turn on them as opposed to modern labels, like "the first day of fall" rather than the festival of Mabon.
Thank you for another lovely Terraphilia🧡🍂
Thank you, Jenny. Like you, I find that the Celtic festival days resonate more with the inner rhythms of my year than the commercialized holidays that dominate popular Western culture. I think that's our terraphilia emerging, our bodies and hearts and spirits tending to synchronize with Earth's calendar of the seasons of life rather than the human-invented calendar. I think we can follow our own inner calendars despite popular culture--it just takes being mindful and aware. And not minding doing some swimming upstream!
I agree with everything you've said! Around the first part of August every year, I can feel autumn coming. This year, one day a few weeks ago, I was out walking in the late afternoon. There was the feel of fall, then all of a sudden I felt fall arrive, just like that. It was if I'd walked across an invisible threshold. Extraordinary.
What an amazing experience! And a gift that you were open to it. I believe that there is so much we aren't aware of in the busyness we let yourselves get sucked into. And when we slow down and open our hearts and our awareness, the living community of this earth reaches out to greet us.
YES!💖
Moving into some of my favorite seasons, Susan. Thank you for your lovely essay.
The Equinoxes are days that I practice the ritual of home care and protection. It's a way for me to restore balance in my spiritual and corporeal life. I love these rituals...bringing the extraordinary into focus in our ordinary hours, providing balance and stability as we move through the seasons.
Sending you much light as you follow your path. Kathleen
Thank you for reading and adding your thoughts, Kathleen! Rituals of home care and protection make sense as part of the equinoxes, and I'm going to think about that as part of my rituals of attention at this time of year and the spring equinox. I find that the solar calendar is so much more attuned to my rhythms these days than the Gregorian calendar, and I am inspired by those like you who are mindful of the progress of the natural year, and deeply connected to landscape and place. Blessings and a warm hug!
Your rebalancing ritual is a wonderful practice for this time of year. Thank you. For me the fall equinox marks the beginning of the descent into winter -- it's the Persephone myth that we live out each year. I tend to get quieter and more pulled into myself this time of year. I'm going to do the exercise of holding, releasing and rebalancing that you suggest here.(Susan, I think you rock!) Big hugs.
Stephanie, Thank you for sharing your connection to myth and archetype with all of us. I always learn from you and am inspired by your writing. As for Persephone and her descent into the Underworld, I feel that pull to go inward and reflect this time of year and on through winter as well. I cherish fall and winter for that urge to get quiet and read and ponder. Hugs back to you!
Reading this and seeing your photos has me missing my life in Colorado. My balance has been off lately, but I am forever hopeful it will be restored.
Karen, I am so sorry that your balance has been off. Do you mean your physical balance? If so, I hope you know about the Vestibular Disorders Foundation, an amazing resource for people with balance issues. (https://vestibular.org) I heard about it from two friends who are both struggling with balance and other issues. If it's your metaphorical balance, that's tough too. Either way, I send hugs and hopes that your balance returns to you soon.
Rebalancing on this equinox. Thank you
May the rebalancing be fruitful and bring you new ease and new insights! Blessings.
Autumn is my favorite season because I am naturally inclined to examine and balance. Summer is a hectic time for me, and I feel the slowing of time and busyness as autumn approaches. I am hoping you are finding some balance in your new journey!
I think the rhythm of the seasons in the natural world has a big influence on our own internal pace and rhythms, and summer is usually a hectic time for me as well. I wish for you an autumn of slowing down and reflecting, both fruitful and rejuvenating activities. Oddly, I am feeling quite balanced in the midst of the madness of planning an interstate move. Despite the difficulty of uprooting myself again and leaving one beloved place, I can see where I'll land and it feels right.
I have been thinking about your unplanned move and hoping that you find a place that offers you the physical, emotional, and spiritual conditions that make you happy. I hope you consider writing about those issues. I would welcome your insights and wisdom. I struggle every day with the idea of finding a new place.
I will indeed write about the factors I've weighed and balanced and the trade-offs I've made. I just need to be not on the road--I'm in northwest Wyoming now, 800 miles from Santa Fe--and get rested up and digest what I've learned before I write!