“The Equinox

 If We Pay Attention With Intention We Just May Make The Connection”

September 19, 2008
Rev. Regina Maria Cross

What is an Equinox?

“Either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic intersects with the celestial equator. The two times during each year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and the lengths of day and night are equal”, so it is described in both The New Dictionary Of Spiritual Thought & Webster. Rev. Parrish continues in The New Dictionary Of Spiritual Thought; “The Vernal Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox denote the changing of the seasons to spring and fall, respectively. At spring or Vernal Equinox the sun enters Aires (the first sign of the zodiac) approximately March 21 annually. Autumn, or fall equinox occurs approximately Sept. 21 as the sun enters Libra.”

In other words, there are two days out of the whole of the year when both the northern and southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight and the length of day and night are the same hence the name Equinox meaning “equal night”. If you were to stand at the equator there would be exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.

The invitation into the spring season, Vernal Equinox, is the time when life seems to birth itself (Aires) renewing the earth and all it’s inhabitants where as the Autumnal Equinox shows us the earth’s shedding and what was once young in spring has grown to maturity in the fall season. Energy seems to speed up in spring and slow down in fall. There is a lifting in spring toward the sun as we enjoy the appearance of flowers from seedlings and a falling to earth in the autumn as we feel and hear the crunch of leaves under foot and once again see what was hidden behind the tall corn stalks now harvested. The Equinoxes are a time of intense change while we, the earth and the universe come into a renewal of balance (Libra) physically, emotionally, mentally and yes, spiritually.

Each seasonal change if we watch our pet companions and the outside animal kingdom we get a hint as to what our authentic self yearns for if we stop long enough to take note. In the autumn often there is a desire to hibernate to go within. We have a desire to know better what it is we have learned over the ever coming ending year, where it is we shall harvest through our seedlings of growth, along with the Cosmic Hierarchy of the Christ Consciousness, The Supreme Being, the Universal Life Force Energy. In the fall we draw our attention back to ourselves wherein spring we go outward. In the spring we open the doors, push open the windows, go barefoot in the grass while in the fall we, reluctantly as it may be, close the doors, pull down the windows and when outdoors even our feet hibernate inside now a closed shoe or boot. Spring brings us out of that which we learned the year before while fall prompts us to reflect, go inward, toward that which we have yet to realize.

Which seedlings did you drop into the soil of your heart and soul this past spring? Depending on the quality of seed will be the harvest of the lesson. If the seeds were clear, organic shall we say, the teachings will be easier to understand in our inward school. If the seeds were full of pesticides, negative thought forms, the teachings can still be aroused but the reaping of the harvest will be that much more challenging to achieve. Our thoughts, reflections, ideas, attitudes are the farmers of our soul. Go natural; go organic in the spring of life and the harvest will be a healthier authentic self. Prepare your seedlings with pesticides and chemicals if not now, later there is a possibility of having to clarify through the quagmire of existence. Each Equinox is a gift of prompting the self for preparation and reflection as we newly prepare and come to review our lives yearly.

This is why our intention in spring is of the utmost importance as we create the atmosphere, the attitude, and the medium by which we wish to manifest growing our soul toward its successful harvest. As the farmer of our soul we must remember too that our ideas, thoughts and lives in general need watering, weeding, sunlight and self care as we create a receptive environment for growth toward a healthy harvest outwardly and inwardly. Last weekend Kenny, my husband and I ventured into a new antique store (Is that possible?). There on it’s wall and now ours was the most perfect sampler:

“He who sows courtesy reaps friendship;
And he who plants kindness gathers love.”

Why wait until the New Year for resolution? As we begin our inward journey coming into the home, literally and spiritually, why not look around now for excess or clutter ridding ourselves of that which no longer serves us and giving away to those to whom it would? Have a recycle your life party in celebration of this moment’s turning point in season and self while blessing those things and their symbology, which will continue blessing others in it’s benefits.Late winter in the dark we plan and plant our seedlings in tiny pots. In spring they peak their tiny sprouts up blessing our efforts. Through summer’s activity they raise to the adoring sun maturing in growth and in the fall we harvest that which we clearly intended for growth. We give a deep sigh for that which we have co-created and after a time of rest begin anew in planning the next crop. Personally I start my “What shall you have me do next year?” prayers in October. This gives me time to prepare myself for the upcoming season of “What is mine to do” and believe me sometimes with the unexpected answers I receive I need that time to work on myself and “Thy will not my will be done.”In Japan there is great reverence for the Spring and Autumnal Equinox. Six days of observance called Higan-e, meaning “other shore”, are celebrated, three before and three after each equal night. Six because of the six spiritual perfections they are based upon – giving, observance of precepts, perseverance, effort, meditation and wisdom – moving the soul from the shore of this life (samsara) to the shore of heaven (nirvana). Rituals include repentance and forgiveness of sins (“Self-Inflicted Nonsense = Belief held in the Non-Self that draw personality into false identities; challenges that provide learning experiences” as quoted from The New Dictionary of Spiritual Thought by Rev. Carol Parrish) and prayers for enlightenment in this lifetime and the next. During the six days there is time for remembrance of loved ones who have passed on and visits to family burial sites.Nature and the Celestial Universe have given us a most wondrous gift called Equinox, the most temperate seasons of the year ideally existing for our own reflection on the meaning of our life and our soul’s growth through it. It’s Just A Thought but if we pay attention with intention I believe we will make the connection with our own inner and outer natures as taught to us by this gifting called the Equinox.

This year Autumnal Equinox is September 22 at 3:44pm. Light Paths – Center For the Healing Arts, will hold its second Reiki Prayer Circle at 7:00pm that evening.

Please know everyone is invited and welcome to join the Circle. Please call 410-758-2579 or email lightpaths@me.com by September 21 to let us know you will be there so that we may prepare a seat for you.

Light Paths * Centre For The Healing Arts and The Sophia School Of Wisdom, an accredited outreach center for Sancta Sophia Seminary are nestled in the woods only 3 miles from downtown Centreville. Classes are small, intimate and spiritually enriching as all are welcome in the Light of the classroom adjoining Rev. Cross’ home. For more information call 410-758-2579 or e-mail us at lightpaths@me.com