Autumn’s Equinox

Despite the dizzying sense of speed, the structure of fall’s equinox provides a moment of stillness, a symbolic cross  road that divides the year into one of its four seasonal quadrants.  Like spring’s Vernal Equinox, along with the Summer and Winter Solstices, Autumn’s equinox  is an astrological transition when we open a door to the coming three months.  This year, September 23 is when the earth’s axis inclines neither toward, nor away, from the Sun, putting the center of the Sun in the same plane as the equator, which makes day and night fairly equal. (Latin, aequus-equal and nox-night.)  It is also moves the Sun from Virgo into Libra, signature of balanced grace.

“So what?” You ask

“Here’s what.” I say:

As the world becomes boundary-less, we need boundaries.  We need markers to give import to chosen moments so we may stop, take note, and with any luck, decide to move forward with higher intent. It is a re-asesing view from  summer spaciousness to fall boundaries.

As we race from moment to moment for more harried face-booking and texting, it’s imperative we create space not only to stop and consider what we are face-ing’ and texting, but to create the richness of ritual so we have an opportunity to imbue life with velvety-wines, and deeply connect with others of like-spirit.

With the balance of night and day, we are again offered opportunity to validate the night, the feminine and receptive, the listening Goddess within –to day’s solar masculinity.  The Sun’s demand of ego and identity pushes more and more production at a faster pace.   When the earth stills this impulse by portioning light and dark, we are offered a divine gift of creating inner equilibrium.

When driving a 100 miles an hour it’s important to know where we’re headed.  Some of us think we know, others have no idea, and still others know they don’t know but wished they did.  Now is a great time to sit by the side of the road, have a soda, have a nap, have a re-adjustment/dance.  Celebrate Gaia, and the gifts she proffers upon us.  Celebrate our profound connection to her cycles, her needs/our needs, and the balance-sheet between us.

Pose with Seasonal Energies

Asana: Samasthiti/ in Tadasana-Stand Tall-Still -in perfect balance, perfect presence. Not only is this a wonderful place to begin any Practice, it’s helpful to return to during a crazy day.  It’s a reminder, like a book mark, of a favorite poem, a paragraph of importance.  Each time we become mindful enough to return to its quiet spaciousness, we can move out renewed, in greater tranquility.  The pose is as basic as remembering to deeply breathe.

Health Notes: Standing in Samasthiti one can feel their wings growing.  Oh joyous flight in being so perfectly present.

Astrological Energies: We are spastic-mystics for the most part–One part angel, one part loose cannon.  We need strong boundaries for the extreme energies calling us onward.  The coming New Moon on Sept. 27th, and Friday’s Fall Equinox, emphasize the charged changes that Pluto & Uranus bring.  More is more.  And it is simply more wild & wooly transformation.  Are you surprised? Not.  The last quarter phase is a time of questioning, of observing, of seeing where we are, and where our visions want to take us, of preparing the ground for the New Moon seed.  Expect the un-expected, maintain a centered balance as best you may, (Samasthititi) “for the times they are a changing.” Stand your mat in quiet pride, centering down into the core of the earth.

Ayurvedic Energies: With fall changes, vata energies grow imbalanced, and those who are strongly vata need more grounding than most.  The following are helpful for creating balance during a vata season, and in a vata dosha body.

Use warm oils with gentle touch, or massage;  Calm music, or silence; Take in rich, nourishing food with salty, sour and sweet tastes. Like the tastes, warm, calming smells off-set Vata’s disconnected imbalances.  Try using eucalyptus, jasmine, rose and sandalwood bath oils and incense. If chanting, use the seed sounds of Hrim, Shrim, or Ram for concentration and memory.*  (From Ayurveda and the Mind by Dr. David Frwley.)