Natural Reflections: Autumn Equinox
I’ve been feeling the weight of what’s occupying and being carried by clients and friends this month. At first, I thought it was simply a part of the ‘back to school’ feeling. A hangover from having such a tech-light, outdoor time through much of July and August. But this feels different to previous years, more folk at overwhelm or close to it, and so many people’s capacity to regulate seems to be really compromised. It got me thinking about cycles and rhythms; within and around, human-made and Natural. I’m reflecting on how I shift gear, like moving into the new term or a vinyasa, and what happens when I don’t shift gear, when I don’t pause, when I don’t (or can’t) bring energy and vitality to an experience.
And at Autumn Equinox, the time when day and night are of equal length around the world as the sun is positioned directly over the equator, I find myself putting fingers to keys, finally gathering these thoughts that have been percolating. Is it significant that this is an event we all experience, wherever we are on this planet? Or is this just me looking for some unifying experience amidst the epidemic of polarisation and inequity?
I’m heading off track. I want to talk about cycles, of balance points and the essential movement that a cycle (and balance) invites. That of making contact and then withdrawal, of movement towards and away from, and the pause, a moment to be in what Gestalt refers to as ‘the fertile void’; a place where the emergent happens from well sourced ground. Many ancient cultures understood the equinox to be sacred. It marked the harvest of crops and invited reverence. The pause, the fertile void between fullness and letting go that can help prepare the ground for what comes next.
I’m wondering what in this you might recognise for yourself. To what extent do you share the sense that there is a lot coming at you? And whilst you are doing your utmost to manage and adapt - slowly, slowly - you are heading more out of balance and depleting. Or perhaps your sense of imbalance has another way of manifesting? There is a lot that can tip us. And during this equinox time, I’m finding it a useful pause to reflect on my own balance points and what I can do to return to equilibrium. Such that I can shift gear to meet demands, and enjoy the pause of the fertile void. Remember balance is not a fixed point or destination to get to, it’s a movement. We need equinox moments for ourselves, a pause, to allow us to naturally self-regulate.
Can you find a pause point today? A moment to stop? Perhaps just for a couple of minutes - really stopping to listen or watch what is happening in Nature, or for a longer period to engage in one of the practices below?
Practices and Resources
Letting go
It is easy to talk about this and much more difficult to really do. This practice serves to give you an embodied experience of letting go, which is very good place to start.
1. Find somewhere to sit, ideally in Nature or looking out of a window where you can see some of the natural world.
2. Begin to take some conscious breaths in, and let the outbreath go.
3. Develop this so that the exhale becomes a letting go of sound. What sounds can you let go of? What does a real letting go sound like from your body?
4. Begin to sense what tension can also be released with your outbreath. Try exaggerating that experience by consciously letting parts of your body drop. Your shoulders yes, and what else.
5. Continue this for a few minutes.
6. Finally, let your breathing come back to a natural, neutral rhythm. What do you notice in your body now?
Autumn Forage
Autumn is a fantastic time to forage. Many plants are at their most abundant before they let go and begin their rest and replenish time through the winter months. The process of foraging forces us to slow down - it is impossible not to be mindful when looking closely at the hedgerow for what is ripe for picking.
Many fruits are very easy to distinguish so you can be quite safe if you have a decent guide book. Rose hips (either dog or field) are a good starting point and if you have never made and eaten rose hip syrup you are in for a treat.
Resources
The Forager’s Calendar; A seasonal Guide to Natures’ Wild Harvest by John Wright
Being in Nature; 20 Practices to Help you Flourish in a Busy World, James Farrell and Lee Evans