Dancing in Balance

Breathe in. 

Savour that sense of fullness.

Breathe out. 

Acknowledge that sense of emptiness.

Do it again. 

And now,

do it again.

Recognize that every day of your life you do this countless times. This is Life breathing through you.

Now, at the time of Equinox the day and night, the dark and light are in balance.  For just this tiny space of time, it is as though Life holds its breath, waiting. 

In fullness. 

For what comes next. 

The earth has given us of Her bounty.  And we give our gratitude in return as we harvest our summer crops, making way for fall plantings.  We pull out the finished plants and spread compost to ripen in the soil towards the return of spring.  We mulch cleared ground.  And we wait, savouring the fullness of storage crops, of root vegetables and cold-hardy greens.  Taking another breath, we prepare to enter the darkness of the year.

But now, right now, it is the time of balance.  It seems simple, but balance is actually an elusive quality.  We consider it precious and treat it like a treasure to keep and to hold.  As though, once we attained it, balance would be our ally and our friend forever.

I frequently find that Balance is just a bit slippery.  It comes and it goes.  And nearly always is just out of my reach.  On a good day I might dance along within it, or run after it, or push through it, or wander around it.  And now and again I might align with it. 

Balance is not static, but dynamic, always moving always changing. The Two of Pentacles in the old Smith-Waite Tarot deck comes to mind.  In what way am I the merry juggler balancing on a single foot while s/he juggles the ‘stuff of life’ on the lemniscate of time? 

So, this evening, at the Equinox and the Dark of the Moon, go out under the starry sky or cloud cover and feel your feet on the ground.  On this precious, precious earth.  And breathe it in.  Breathe in all of those beginnings that these days hold. 

Then lift one foot.  And find your balance.  Balance found, consider the many pieces of life that fill your time.  And, in your mind’s eye, notice the ways that you find to keep on going. Appreciate your good work at balancing your life.

Then change feet!  Again, notice the many ways and varied activities that call out to you.  Watch as the pieces of your life spin around the solid center of the Core of your being.  And, again, give yourself gratitude for the many and creative ways that you dance and caper to keep some semblance of balance. 

Now put both of your feet on solid ground.  Breathe in deeply of this night.  At this time of Balanced Beginnings, decide which of the many and wondrous pieces of life you want to keep going.  Notice those that you are ready to put down.

When you recognize them, put them down.  Offer them as a gift to Earth, a gift of compost.  Feel the lightness of you, as you prepare to move forward, re-entering the dynamic dance of balance.

Breathe in to the boundless night.  Let the light in the core of you blaze forth and find your own place in the grand balance of life.