The Harvests of Our Lives

 

Harvest season is here! As we settle into the shorter days here in the Northern Hemisphere we gather the fruits of our labors from the long summer days.

Perhaps you have a garden, perhaps not. Perhaps you grow some of your own food, perhaps not. Perhaps you grow beauty, perhaps not.

 

But whether or not you engage with Earth during the growing season, still there are harvests. At this time of the year, we look at our all of our harvests: the harvests from our gardens, the harvest of our lives. 

 

We may wonder, is this harvest ‘enough’? Will it get me through?

Am I ‘enough’?

Can I become the fulcrum through which my life can maintain its every-changing balance in order to know I Am Enough?

 

We are like Pamela ‘Pixie’ Coleman Smith’s rendition of the Two of Pentacles in the Smith-Waite Tarot (a.k.a. Universal Tarot or Rider-Waite Tarot), juggling to keep our lives in balance, to keep our balls in the air or in our hands. 

The dominant paradigm conditions us to believe that we will never be ‘enough’ unless we buy this product, take this supplement, travel to this exotic destination. How do we recognize our ‘enough-ness’? 

What if we were truly enough, just the way we are.

 

In the face of changing times we can settle into the still point that rests deep within each of us. An eternal place that resides at our Core, our Center. It is an unchanging part of ourselves that we can count on. 

 

From that internal space we reach downwards into Earth and upwards towards Sky opening within us a strong central column that allows us to maintain our balance as we turn towards this next thing or that, the array of events or needs that the world brings. 

When we find our inner talk saying: “What next?” in an exasperated tone, we can open to our connection with Earth and Sky and use those energies they strengthen our axis.

 

This is a metaphor. Try it.

Breathe into your core: it is that still point within you. Get to know that internal space. Recognize it as a sort of internal ‘home’.

 

Then, connect your imagination with your intention and connect that still point within you to the ground below you connecting you with the Earth, the here-and-now.

 

Let that energy of the Earth, the here-and-now, let that flow up your body. See if you can feel it. Maybe you can. Maybe you can imagine what it might be like if you could feel it.

Enjoy the sensation or possibility of sensation.

 

As the Earth energy flows up your body, invite it to open the internal spaces.

 

Now, turn your attention to the crown of your head. Using the power of your intention and imagination, open the crown of your head and invite in the energy of above, the energy of Possibility.

 

Let that flow into your body. Enjoy the sensations that it brings.

 

Visualize the energy of Below and the energy of Here-and-Now meeting the energy of possibility within your body.

 

Then recognize that there is a strong column that runs from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head. 

Breathe in through your feet and out through your head.

Breathe in through the crown of your head and out through your feet.

Strengthen that central column.

 

With your central column strong you can turn to face any direction and remain present or quickly regain your sense of balance.

 

Life comes to us in so many strange and wonderful and challenging ways. It feels great to know that we can meet it.

 

So enjoy your harvests. And recognize the harvest of your own presence. This is a gift and a practice that offers more and greater