Lessons of the Equinox

As we pass through this seasonal change, I am looking at what I can learn from the natural rhythms of where I live. The Earth is a great teacher and our ancestors relied on natural rhythms to structure their lives in harmony with nature. At the Equinox, we are poised in complete balance. The day and night are of equal length. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the temperatures are cooling from the heat of summer. Crops are reaching their peak of Harvest. This is a time of natural plenty. The woods are full of ripening plants, berries, nuts and for those of us in areas of heavy rain, full of mushrooms. For the creatures, this is the time to harvest and store. To receive the bounty of this beautiful Earth.

But what about humans? We have adapted beyond the natural rhythms of Earth to our own rhythms. Let's look at that for a minute. Through technology, we have access to food, clothing and shelter with amenities of our choice. We don't need to store food for the winter or cut wood to keep us warm. We (mostly) have heated homes and access to grocery stores with wide varieties of food year around. While we are blessed by these privileges, are we living our lives in balance? Do we even know what that means?

As a "healer", I work with people who are experiencing various kinds of suffering. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Suffering is a reflection of imbalance in our lives. Most people I know (including myself) are stressed and overwhelmed by the demands of life. In this season of plenty, why does it seem to be "plenty of stress" instead of "plenty of peace"? How can we each find our balance?

In our culture, we are indoctrinated to want more. Plenty is never enough. For some people, every day is a struggle just to survive, even when working several jobs. And for others, the fear of losing what little we have accumulated drives us to always do more. But I know many people who have more money than they can likely spend in this lifetime, and they still push for more. And ultimately, no amount of money matters if you don't have your health. It seems a bit insane to continue a stressful lifestyle to "make it" in this world at the expense of our health. So why do we do it?

One of my personal driving forces is the underlying feeling of never enough. I am never enough and what I do is never enough. In a culture that supports the never enough belief, that subconscious pattern creates stress and overwhelm for me. Fortunately, I have been able to understand my patterns and have worked to change them. More and more, I am learning to live in balance and to receive the blessing of abundance from the Earth and all beings. I still work and am involved in "doing a lot", but as I heal, it no longer feels like what I do is not enough. I am no longer driven by that fear. From this space of balance, my body, mind and Spirit are finding healing and wholeness. I love supporting others on this journey too. Look at your life. If you are seeking more balance and peace, I would love to support you.