Autumn Equinox, 2008

It is equinox today – a day later than usual and for the first time I noticed how much darker it is in the mornings now. I do love autumn – but will miss the summer energy. I hope you are enjoying a day filled with thoughts of balance!

Calling the circle
So…as we contemplate equinox, we summon the fresh breath of the spirits of the East, spirits of springtime, new beginnings, new starts. The promise of the sunrise, the strength and energy of youth – the cool air, blowing away doubt and stagnation. The power of life. We call the spirits of the East and ask them to join our circle.

We call now to the spirits of the South, spirits of summer – the power of the sun at midday as it creates passion, motivation, energy, movement. strength, power, warmth, clarity, motivation, energy, movement. The power of light, illuminating us. The fire that is our passion, burning deeply within is always. We call the spirits of the South and ask them to join our circle.

And we call to the spirits of the West. The power and truth of our deepest intuition – our love, our emotions. A sunset over a calm ocean, a still lake reflecting back the sky, the still waters that run deep, deep within. Element of water, emanating the power of love. We call to the spirits of the West and ask them to join our circle.

Now we call the spirits of the North. Spirits of midnight, dark moonless skies in winter, places where truths are told. Element of earth, grounding us. Power of law, karma, ancestral wisdom, we call to the spirits of the North and we ask them to join our circle.

And we call to those spirits above us, the moon in her many faces, angels, stars, heavens, light beings everywhere, those souls not yet incarnate. Children of our children. We call the spirits above and ask them to join us.

And we call to the spirits below us, to the earth that grounds us and keeps us steady, the green kingdom with its deep roots and to the lava beneath the crust that impassions us. We call the spirits below and ask them to join us.

Finally, we call to the spirits of the center, where all the directions meet and merge and where they meet and merge in each one of us. The central flame. The sacred spirit. This circle is closed, a safe and sacred circle where everyone is welcome and free to express themselves.

Equinox thoughts/Talking stick
I was trying to think of something to say about balance – as equinox always brings balance to mind – and I guess I am still too much in the ant mode that I described at the full moon – I see one side of where I am but can’t quite see the other. Maybe I am balancing between what is seen and what is unseen. I like that because it also reminds me that I must be in faith – not about being mindlessly led, but about the notion that I am the sower of the seeds of my life, all of them: both conscious and unconscious, and that in harmony with the universe/God/dess I am creating this existence. And if I don’t like a day, a month, a year of it I can think new thoughts, plant new seeds, and edit until what makes it into this consciousness is more in line with what I want it to be. I’d like to think that the part of me that is expanded in consciousness knows more than my conscious self – and hopefully that part of me is reaching out for the good, the light, the happiest existence.

We attended a harvest festival with Owen’s school at the local church at the end of last week and although I remember complaining vigorously about it my first year now I just love it. Yes, there are the moments when an old hymn strikes a particularly sour note in me if it uses words like meek or sin, but perhaps because of the light hearted and loving approach that this particular pastor takes with and toward the children, it is easy to relax about that. But the main reason I love this particular service is that it has no other function except gratitude. It is a whole service dedicated to it. And I am trying so hard these days to spend as much time in gratitude as I do in worry (at least!) to help me to live more in the moment and less in the uncertain future. So perhaps I will be conscious of that balance as well.

Meditation
Imagine yourself lying on the ground beneath a beautiful but leafless old oak tree, in the middle of a field, under a starry, windless sky. The ground feels warm but the breeze is cool, whispering in the breath of autumn. As you breathe in and out feel that you are breathing in time with the stars, that you are a part of the setting that surrounds you. Then allow yourself to imagine that you are getting smaller – smaller and smaller until you are so small that you can stand up and walk into the tree that you were lying underneath. Walking into the tree, looking up, note the vast branch system, how tall and high it is, looking down, note the vast root system, reaching down into the earth farther than you can see. Then, notice that one of the roots is larger than the others, and resembles a spiral staircase. Imagine then stepping onto the 13th step, the step of transformation, then spiraling down and around and inward to the 12th step, then down and around to the 11th and the 10th, spiraling down and around and inward to the 9th, then the 8th, then around and inward to the 7th and the 6th step. Then, pausing on the sixth step, note that as you look up you can no longer see the top, and looking down, that you can no longer see the bottom. You are standing in the middle of the spiral, in a moment of infinite perfection. If there is anything that you are carrying that you don’t want to take with you on your journey, you can leave it on this step. Continuing then to the 5th step and the 4th, spiraling around to the 3rd and the 2nd and then finally the 1st step, then stepping into a clearing with four doorways, each pointing in one of the four directions. Imagine yourself walking down the pathway that heads west.

It is late in the day, a cloudy, but bright sky, tinged with pink as the sun is beginning to move lower into the sky. You follow a path that leads into a cave, going deep into the earth. There is light from fires on either side of the path, so you are able to see well but you are aware that without that light, you would be completely in the dark. Finally you come to a cavernous clearing; and there are others already gathered there forming a ceremonial circle. There is a fire in the center of the circle, and everyone has found a place around it. You recognize those present as your friends, family, ancestors and guides who have come to this place to share this moment with you. The last one to enter the circle is your wise woman, who comes to stand beside you.

You stand in what feels like the center of the earth, feeling it fill you with a deep sense of peace. The air is still, but full of the power of change – the change of light, the change of seasons. You are aware of the passing of summer – the time of manifestation as your wise woman asks you to step forward to the center of the circle. You stand close to the fire, feeling its warmth and light. Anything that you don’t need in your life you are able to toss into the fire where it will remain. When you feel that is complete, your wise woman gestures to the fire and it goes out, leaving the room in complete darkness, complete silence. You feel as much a part of the darkness now as you did the light before. If there is anything that you need to release into the darkness you are able to do so. It is in this place of deep stillness, deep in the heart of the earth where listening you are able to hear one clear truth that will help you on your journey forward.

Once this wisdom has been passed to you, your wise woman gestures again and light returns to the chamber as the fire burns brightly again. You return to your place in the circle and when everyone is ready, your wise woman steps forward and the energy of love and light becomes so powerful that you find you can direct it wherever it needs to go – to all the people and places that need that light.

When you feel that your time in the circle is complete, your wise woman leads you to a beautiful stone table that has appeared, filled with all kinds of food and drink, and those in your circle join you at the table for a beautiful celebration. You can converse freely with them here.

When the meal is finished and it is time to go, you step back into the circle with the others. The love is powerfully emanating from the fire and you are able to take that energy once again and direct it wherever it needs to go, knowing that love heals everything. When you are ready, you say your goodbyes to your guides, friends, ancestors. Finally, you say goodbye to your wise woman, and head away from the circle, back along the cave path that brought you here. You walk back in the darkness, but knowing each step. Finally you make your way out of the cave and when you get back to the doorway that led west, you give one last look then walk through the door.

Stepping back up onto the first step, spiraling upward and outward to the second step and the third, and upward and outward to the third step and the fourth. Then spiraling around to the fifth and the sixth step, and pausing now on the sixth step, retrieving anything that you left behind before, or just leaving it behind in that perfect moment in infinity. Climbing now to the seventh and upward to the eighth, upward and outward to the ninth, then the tenth, and around to the eleventh and the twelfth and then finally to the thirteenth step, the step of transformation, then back into to the tree. Stepping out of the tree, you find your place beneath it, again enjoying the sweet night air. Then feeling your consciousness return to the space you are in, and, when ready opening your eyes.

Prayers for our circle

I’d like to send out powerful prayers for Chad, who needs some great timing, synchronicity and a bit of magic to find the right position. May the path with the biggest heart find you!

Also, prayers for another friend who might not like being named, but who needs love, light, rest and a good dose of joy. That will be my prayer for you all year.

Love and many blessings,
Tara