Fall Equinox Meditation

I saw an article today focusing on the spiritual significance of the Equinox in The World of Woo. I understood Woo as anything outside the realm of textbook-approved Science, which is a lot of territory.

Woo includes people who see significance in the way a deck of Tarot Cards land or believe in the healing power of crystals, so presumably they might also think the Equinox matters.

People outside of Woo understand that the Equinox marks a real event. It signifies something of interest; that is, day and night are almost exactly the same. But does that mean anything?

What I am supposed to do about it? Dance around naked in the moonlight? That’s the Woo part I guess.

I’m agnostic on Woo in the sense that I see it all the time but I don’t need to explain it. Lots of stuff happens that is difficult to understand in terms of cause and effect. So I just take Woo as it comes

The Equinox is different. Its importance to humans is clear and obvious.

Not only does the Equinox have a substantial non-Woo basis — it also has a substantial non-Woo significance.

Its meaning comes from its context, not by isolating it from its position in a cycle. The Fall Equinox comes after a Summer of activity and marks the transition to a time when more rest is required. It is also the Harvest time, when we actually experience the benefits of our efforts and show gratitude. We clear stuff away to make room for new life. Then we settle down a bit and let things digest.

These rhythms are essential to sustaining life. Our planet has been around much longer than our species and the earth shows us what is needed, what all life needs

Plant … Work … Harvest/Clear… Rest

Plant … Work … Harvest/Clear… Rest

We are part of nature, not separate Gods and Goddesses looking down on its processes and principles, we just think we are.

I don’t mean we literally Plant for 3 months, Work for 3 months, Harvest for 3 months and then clean-up and rest all Winter

I mean that is the natural cycle of Life that we must observe and stay in tune with every day, every week, and every month, not just over a big long year. We sow seeds in the morning, work on them and derive benefits from our work, clean-up and slow down at night.

This is meaning of the Equinox — what it reminds us to be mindful of

I need to listen to myself here. I’m a hard charging person, just keep working all day, all week, not observing the cycle, not allowing a natural rhythmic cycle to express itself through me

When I fall out of touch and just stay stuck on PRODUCE, my body will eventually send the message, and keep sending it because usually I don’t want to hear it … that’s me stubbornly rejecting the natural flow that is always there to surf on

The Equinox is like a big billboard everywhere drawing attention to the cycles all of Nature expresses all the time, bringing us back to our own cycle of Renewal — the cycle that works

Part of Mindfulness, maybe a part less emphasized, is noticing the cycle part of the present moment and staying with it

We can use our vision to inform the way we move forward, seeing where things are and where they are headed at the same time, like Megan Rapinoe being so in the Now that she can send a soccer ball where it needs to be in the future.

The Fall Equinox in particular reminds us of abundance but also the need to get a lot of stuff to the compost heap before we settle in for a nap. Making space and recharging is where new growth comes from.

So now I invite you to reflect on your Harvest, for whatever period you want. What seeds did you plant a while back? Or this morning. Last Spring, or in 2020, or ever?

What has come of those seeds, for you, and for other people?

And as you look over your Harvest, I also invite you to find a way to express your gratitude, to be fully appreciative of what you have harvested

It is in that Appreciation that you catch the first glimpse of what comes next.

Do this in a meditation and by the end you could just be appreciating each breath, harvesting the energy it brings in, and letting it out to make space for the cycle to continue.

I will lead this meditation at the time of the Equinox on September 22, 2021 in Virtual Reality, in the company of avatars representing people from all over the world, all ages.