The same is true of the seasons and the turning of the Wheel of the Year. People in ancient times were always aware of this turning. They spent more time outside, made their lives and their livings in cooperation with nature's cycles. As we have moved more of our daily lives indoors, we have moved away from this cooperation with nature and into domination of nature and her cycles. Many of our activities are played out as if in defiance of life's natural cycles. Yet even as we proceed with our daily lives in ignorance of these natural cycles, the planet continues her movement through the seasons, ever reminding us that we are a part of a great Whole.
I'm not saying that no one notices or uses these powerful forces any longer. There are many who belong to nature-based religions who celebrate the turning of the Wheel. There are others who, although they have no formal ritual, are aware of the seasons and work in cooperation with them. Personally, I fall somewhere in between, because I find that when I go with the natural rhythm of the planet my life has a flow to it that is impossible to achieve otherwise.
We are approaching the Autumnal Equinox. Known as Mabon to those of the Wiccan belief, it is also known by other names such as Kirn Feast, Ingathering, Harvest Home. In Ireland, the celebration of Michaelmas coincides closely with the Autumnal Equinox. Vela Laiks, or the time of the dead, is celebrated in Latvia. Regardless of the tradition, the time of the Fall Equinox coincides with a celebration of thanksgiving for the harvest. It is a good time to acknowledge what has been accomplished during the previous year and to give thanks to all those, including oneself, who have supported us to manifest those accomplishments.
The hours of light and dark are equal on the day of the Equinox. In the Fall, the days are beginning to get shorter, the hours of dark, longer. They will continue to do so until the Winter Solstice. Just as in nature, the plants are pulling their life force in and down, it is time for us to begin pulling our energies inward. It is time to rest after working so hard for the recent harvest.
The Autumnal Equinox marks the time when the energies are drawn to the heart for cleansing and transmutation. There is celebration for what has been accomplished, but as we draw the energies inward, we examine what remains after the harvest. What continues to serve and what no longer serves? As we go inward, we release that which we no longer need, we purify our hearts and our minds, we balance the body, mind and soul. And as we do this, we begin to decide what new seeds we wish to plant for the coming year. The next few months of darkness will be a time for us to clarify what those seeds are and to bless them as we prepare them for sowing.
To everything there is a season-may we all know the greatest bounty of each harvest and the brightest blessings as we turn the Wheel of the Year!
Blessed Be!
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