This year the Equinox is on September 22nd at 9:54pm EDT. The Equinox occurs twice a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator. At this time, we on earth experience equal hours of light and dark. And as the Sun enters Libra, there is a shift in the cosmic energies towards harmony and equilibrium.
Harmony can be defined in many ways but one definition I like is: the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole. Imagine that as a being, you felt whole – and that you perceived your whole being as PLEASING! What would it feel like? What would it look like? How would the people around you shift as a result if you showed up in wholeness, owning all that you are?
When we consider equilibrium during this Equinox, examine where the balance of your needs lie in contrast to the needs of others. Are you meeting your needs first? Are you in alignment with your truth? Are you shying away from your own truth in order to please others? This can be a challenging question to answer honestly. I consider myself a recovering people pleaser and I have worked at improving my awareness and discipline in order to shift the behaviour. However, I still catch myself in the pleasing pattern, as it is socially reinforced and well engrained. The good news is that I find myself there less and less often, so for all you people pleasers out there: there is hope! Balancing needs is possible! Notice the difference when you are in alignment with your truth – I have observed that the quality of interactions is more clear and occurs in flow when there is no desire to manipulate my truth to please others.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, we experience the Autumnal Equinox. This is the time that energy moves inwards, we progress towards more darkness, and towards the season of fall. This pattern is reflected in nature as trees lose their leaves and plants and animals draw resources towards themselves.
In the Southern hemisphere, it is experienced as the Vernal Equinox. Energy flows outward and it is a time of new growth and abundance. The reflection occurs in trees blossoming and sprouts emerging from the earth, ready to soak up the sunshine and grow into their full potential.
Wherever you are on this fine planet, consider your own routine and whether it is in alignment with the energies of this larger cycle. Take the time to ask yourself: Am I in harmony with the rhythms of nature at this time? If not what can I shift in order to harmonize?
For the Autumnal Equinox it is a good time to slow down, to carve out space for self-reflection and rest. it is a time for gratitude for all that you are harvesting, the fruit of the seeds that you have watered and cared for over the summer months. Consider lighting a candle, taking some time in silence to recognize how far you have come and spend some time journaling about where you are at. Perhaps gather some of your favourite people and celebrate this time together by sharing food and reflecting on months past.
If you are heading into the Vernal Equinox, it is in alignment to be creating intentions and developing an action plan for this time of growth and expansion. Action plans start with one small step, focus on the small things you can easily do to set things in motion. Feel free to dream big but keep it simple in terms of next steps. Light a candle, spend some time in silence considering where your path is leading you and what seeds you want to plant. Spend time writing your intentions for the months ahead and consider making an offering to the fertile lands of mother earth.
This is an opportune time to heal the divide, to look for and potentially find that oneness within yourself. Self-care is a critical component of healing the divide, providing yourself with the nourishment and support you need to create space for the whole of you. Notice how your external world changes as you move towards a more compassionate acceptance of all of who you are, as you lessen the divide that exists within yourself. Healing is a process and rarely happens in an instant, however we all have the capacity to cultivate the awareness of our very own unique being. A heightened awareness helps us to see the patterns and behaviours that are holding us back from shining bright. How do we cultivate awareness? We practice. And we sit quietly. And we get on the mat. And we pay attention to the natural rhythms of nature.
Utilize this Equinox to check in with yourself. Continue to foster the most important relationship in your life, the relationship to self, and to all that you are. May we all come to accept and honour our whole selves, healing the divide within and finding unity first in ourselves, then in the world.
