Celestial Dance of Balance 2024
Celebrating the Autumn Equinox
Greetings, dear Sunny Optimists,
Today is the Autumn Equinox in Scotland, a time when the day and night are equal lengths and in balance. As you can see in the beautiful image below, this is Sacred Geometry in action. It reminds us of the celestial dance between the Sun and Earth and of their steadfast relationship. It is also a metaphor for the rhythmic timing and flow of the cycles in our lives. It's just delightful.
The Equinox heralds a time of transition that carries subtle signals of changes to come. Light and temperature shift, birds congregate as they get ready to migrate, the trees begin to change colour, and the leaves start to fall to the ground. There is a beautiful sense of anticipation in the air. Perhaps also a little bit of regret that summer is over.
The Autumn Equinox is a time of celebration for many cultures around the world. In Scotland, this is honoured in the Celtic festival of Mabon. The image below captures the Celtic Wheel of the Year. It details the eight ancient celebrations held throughout the annual seasonal cycle. The Autumn Equinox signals the move from the growing time of summer to harvesting the bounty that will sustain us in winter. Mmmmm!
There is a predictability to the seasons that is so reassuring. Amid all the uncertainty around us, Mother Earth knows what she is doing. She is not deflected or distracted by what is happening. She rises above it all and settles into her natural rhythms and flow. I appreciate how this encourages us to rise above our concerns and relax into the natural flow of our lives. My spirits lift as I contemplate this time of year and celebrate it in our new home. I can feel my optimism rising and send you good energy on this special day.
Here are some ideas for celebrating your Autumn Equinox:
Go for a walk in the woods or countryside and enjoy the beautiful autumn imagery,
Gather autumn foliage and decorate your home with it; involve the children:)
Have a fire or barbecue and spend time with friends and family,
Bake a harvest pie or cake using seasonal produce,
Visit a local farm or farmer’s market,
Learn more about autumn traditions like the Celtic Mabon.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, the Autumn Equinox is a lovely time to appreciate and connect with nature's beauty.
A Wee Addendum
I thought I would share the September guided visualisation from the Dorothea Breitzter-Kings book Meditation Through the Year. It is called Autumn Equinox: Time of Abundance. I love the beauty and simplicity of Dorothea's words. She invites us to connect with nature's beauty and to look at the bounty surrounding us. She also reminds us of the benevolence of Mother Earth, who gives without expecting anything in return. There is great love for us in the natural world if we stop, rest, and renew our innate connection with her.
Please click here or on the photo above to listen. I thank my dear friend Tim Uffindell for the music accompanying this guided visualisation.
Enjoy!
"Without the arising and subsiding of thoughts,
there is a naturally limpid, pristine state,
like the unwavering evenness of a limpid ocean.
Free of the occurrence of or involvement in thoughts,
free of hope or fear,
you abide within the state of naturally occurring timeless
awareness,
the true nature of which is profoundly lucid."
~ From Longchenpa's Choying Dzod - The Precious Treasury of the Way of Abiding
Thank you once again for the beautiful words and images. I love the picture of an eclipse. Amazing!
Appreciating the inspiration you are breathing out to the world.
I had not heard of the Celtic wheel of the year before. Reminds me of the varying moods and colours of nature depicted in music such as the symphonies and other orchestral works of Sir Arnold Bax. Geometry in nature is certainly abundant. Plants often spread their branches in ways ( that I don’t quite understand) with the golden ratio I think sometimes called The Divine Proportion. It’s a mathematical concept but it really does pour it’s influence over the natural world and for me this represents a really mystical aspect of the world and connects science with the artistic and spiritual sides of life in huge ways. Thankyou as always Ann for your article. Well wishes always. Richard x