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All Things Equal
Gazing at last week's beautiful full moon I was reminded it was the Autumn Equinox. The word equinox derives from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night), and not only marks the first day of fall north of the equator but refers to the time that occurs twice a year when nighttime equals daytime-12 hours of each. Now the daylight hours decrease until the winter solstice, when they begin lengthening again.
Although I love the different seasons, I can sometimes feel out of balance with the cooler temperatures and shorter days, knowing winter brings more indoor activity and a slower pace. So instead of feeling post-summer blues-and before getting caught up in the holiday frenzy-I have found the equinox to be a perfect time to ground myself by exploring the light and dark, my quiet time and my busyness, my work and play-in other words any area of my life where I would like to create better balance. Try asking these questions about your own equinox:
- How can I take care of myself better physically with sleep, exercise, or diet?
- What do I need to do to "get ready" for winter? (i.e., join a gym, purge my closets, make plans for the holidays)
- Am I happy with how I am spending my time and energy working vs. playing?
- Am I creating the connection with my family, friends, partner-or even myself-that I yearn for?
- Is there a class, practice, or hobby I want to start or get back to?
- What do I really want to accomplish in the last quarter of this year, both personally and professionally?
While we never reach the perfect equality of equinox, we can strive for a conscious balance in how we spend our time and energy, aware of the ebb and flow in our lives that mirrors the changing of the seasons. Being able to appreciate what each season in our life offers helps us stay grounded, and the contrasts can enhance our gratitude. I invite you to take some time to assess the areas of your life where you would like to reflect this season's special balance.
Namaste,
Diane
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