22nd Sep 2007
This time of year is an “acquired taste” for me. It’s all about endings, and beginnings have historically been easier for me to navigate than endings. Being a lover of the sun, I’ve always felt a sense of sadness as the first storms of Autumn come rolling in, covering the sky in that gray impenetrable cloak. Although, over the years, I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate the gifts of this season. The vibrant colors as the leaves turn, the deep quiet that descends after the hustle and bustle of summer vacation (in my house, three pre-teens and their friends pretty much take over for those three chaotic months); the low lying bright orange harvest moon, the abundance of fresh veggies from the garden, and those wonderfully vivid late summer sunsets. Here in the Pacific Northwest, warm sunny weather often extends late into September – giving us Summer’s last stand before the rains come again.
Autumn Equinox occurs around September 23rd, when the sun enters Libra, the sign of balance. September is also the 9th month and in numerological terms, “9” is the number representing the completion of a cycle, a time to wrap everything up. Libra, being a social and very much “partnership” oriented sign, influences this time of year. As the days become noticeably darker, we tend to gather together those nearest and dearest to us and take refuge in each other’s company. We naturally feel the need to nurture our connections to others, to our families, tribes, and communities. We feel an inner desire to share ourselves with others, to extend a hand in support, to show each other that we are not alone.
This is a time to ask the questions – how can we best share our harvest? Our harvest can be the physical harvest of our gardens, and also the harvests of our time, creativity, love, support, guidance, friendship, and the offering of spiritual wisdom that we have gained during our journey. When we give a piece of ourselves from a true state of Divine love, that love is always reflected back to us in abundance, in some form or another.
How have our dreams from Spring manifested? Look back at your intentions. Reflect and learn from your experiences. What wisdom will you carry into the next cycle? What seeds will you gather in store for next year? This is the time to give thanks not only for the blessings that have already manifested in your life – but also for the unknown blessings that are currently on their way to you, ready to spring into creation when the time is right.
For more information about Autumn Equinox, including ways to celebrate, click here.
No Comments