The Autumn Equinox occurs when the sun passes over the earth’s equator.
Energetically, the Autumn Equinox is a transition (balance and pause) between the bright and the dark time of the year.
However stark the news about the pandemic, economic unsteadiness, crimes against humanity in Ukraine and women, global warming, no doubt it has shaken your optimism. You may find yourself asking often ‘what is going on?’
Rather than direct this question outward, direct it inward.
Autumn is a meaningful time to plan, prepare and appreciate the process of impermanence in the ebbs of change and cycles.
If ever there is a time to make you acutely aware of impermanence, it’s the gradual change of fall colors.
There is a calm anticipation with a crisp promise as frost wafts upwards in mist against the sun’s rays. The sharp contrast of moist, dry deep red, brown, orange, and yellow leaves coat the ground to nourish the earth.
As your feet rustles and steps gently over the leaves, you inhale cool air deep and at once all disappears except for one brief moment of awe that is yours alone.
The cyclic dance of the moon and sun illuminates the delicate balance of your present moment.
What you do sense within you?
You know falling leaves is a reminder of the fleeting nature of everything.
Impermanence is a Buddhist doctrine that states, all of existence is “transient, evanescent, and inconstant.” In other words, everything you experience is in a state of flux.
No matter how hard you try you can’t shy away from impermanence.
Everything is cycles. Moments come and go. This world, seasons, tides, sunrises, sunsets go on and on in a cyclic order of creation and decay, is ‘beginning or end’ even fixed?
Whether it’s the smile of a loved one, a hug, sweet tang of apple pie, the soothing comfort of cinnamon spice tea – you want to savor the warmth because it feels so good. Yet you know everything you experience is not going to last. This is impermanence.
You know this process of change is inevitable.
Even though change is necessary, it’s a bittersweet awareness all is well or will be okay in the midst of upheaval.
With each season and moon cycle, you get to rinse and repeat.
Sometimes successful sometimes not so much.
Fears, mistakes, and joys requires a resilient aspect of yourself which you forget if not for the relaxed sounds of birds’ chirps, crunching leaves and trickling streams to slow you down.
The Autumn Equinox makes it easier for you to enjoy each precious moment as you let go of the old and make room for what’s to come in the new year.
This is your special time to allow your internal silence to beckon you to retreat into the now.
You create space for your intentions and vision to grow by being still.
Give yourself permission to appreciate impermanence and explore small things you can do to honor all the good in your life? Begin with one or all of these tips:
As you shift inward, and pause, you may experience unexpected waves of emotions.
It’s part of the unconscious shift of impermanence – all things are temporary.
As you allow yourself to go through this, it’s important to be mindful and kind to yourself.
These self-care tips help you accept change and be a potential catalyst for your inner growth.
The purpose of self-care is to bring you into balance. Balance is a constant moving equilibrium. You seek a calm state of mind.
This then enables you to cope with shifts in your daily routines and difficult times. When you conclude nothing is permanent, you’re likely to face change with grace.
As you turn your attention to yourself (body, spirit, and heart) listen to what is being asked of you.
Are you being called to focus more? Begin a new commitment? Dismantle old beliefs? What can you be flexible with?
The nudge of impermanence you feel is real.
In the buzz of global disruptions, apple picking, Hallowe’en haunts and tasting fresh maple syrup with friends and family, what if you let your nudge move you to equanimity?
You may wonder why equanimity is important. When you are pulled into crisis or conflict, your natural instinct is to react (fight or flight). Equanimity gives you the space to remain grounded and deal with your crisis with one or all of the four kinds of love as identified in Buddhism:
Equanimity is the ground for wisdom and freedom. When you are present (moment to moment), without falter, and with deep intention, then you are closer to happiness.
According to Buddhist practice, a mind filled with equanimity is “abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, and without ill-will.”
This means you develop the ability to see without being caught up by what you see.
Equanimity protects you from what are called in Buddhism, the Eight Worldly Winds: praise and blame, success and failure, pleasure and pain, fame and disrepute.
At any given time, you experience these emotions (winds) as you go through life.
For example, when you’re attached to praise and blame, what causes you to suffer? What physical symptoms occur? Are there emotional triggers? How do you react to others?
When you understand your triggers, you show greater resilience and care when others also suffer.
You exude an aura of happiness rooted in living these seven states of being:
Integrated, these states of being help you move to living in equanimity. You experience harmony (peace and tranquility). Inner peace is joy.
The digital world has trained your mind to accept overstimulation for happiness. Let go of this belief.
Cultivate your mind towards equanimity
Choose friends who have no attachment to people or objects.
Take time to feel the impermanence of life.
It’s your chance to look at your intentions and decide what stresses or uplifts you. Even start over if this feels right for you.
Don’t try to make sense of what’s going on. Instead, try to see all sides, decide in each cherished moment nothing lasts forever, and with love and compassion, know all are equal.
Feel your tears. Laugh at your foibles. Relish the memories from old relationships and adventures that helped you grow into the best version of you now.
Sit and write down the things you’re thankful for, big or small. Keep your list nearby – a night table, for example. Continue to add to it as you’re inspired to.
Because in the ebbs of seasons and cycles, you feel the change you yearn to be.
Her Story: Self-reflection in impermanence and equanimity shows how equal we all really are.