Autumn Equinox

 The equinox occurred at 1:22 a.m. this morning in the Pacific Northwest. Summer is over and darkness has again overcome the light. School has begun, Canadian geese are on the move south, the leaves are turning and beginning to drop, and night temperatures are cooler. Everything in nature is paring down, and moving energy to the roots and into the earth.

This is the second balancing point in the year, when we might gently shift our attention from the physical side of life to the spiritual and mental- to indoor projects and thoughtful pursuits. As the nights lengthen, we have more dark time to be alone and to think; to be structured, meticulous, and clear; to nurture inner seeds that may not sprout until spring.

I give myself permission now to try something absolutely new- start a new study of an unfamiliar subject, practice a new way to paint, focus on a new inner challenge, or experiment with new ways of organizing my days.

Mark the Start of Autumn:
1. Journal:
Center, and consider the balance in my life.

How can I balance my personal needs with my commitments to the outside world? 
How well do I balance my physical, mental, and spiritual needs?
What new studies or practices do I want to undertake this season?

Think also of the balance in the world; meditate upon what this half of the year will bring, dark and light, and how best I can take right action in the world.

2. Fall cleaning:
Fall cleaning has an entirely different feel and focus than spring cleaning. In the fall we finish up, pack away, and "batten the hatches"-- we put away all the outdoor stuff, air out the sweaters, and prepare for winter. 

This week I'm starting in the kitchen and the courtyard just outside. I plan to:

• Remove the summer sun screen from the window.
• Clean the windows, inside and out.
• Repaint and re-glaze the windows outside.
• Put away the wheelbarrow, and tidy the view through the kitchen windows (and maybe hang something on that blank fence).
• Clean and refill feeders for the wild birds who will soon be finding it harder to find food.

Here's my Inspirational Fall Cleaning Scheme: Every morning I will choose one task from my list, and then close my eyes and visualize it completed. Everyday at 11:30 my phone alarm will remind me to stop writing and tackle that one task before I eat lunch.... I'll let you know how it works!

3. Fall clearing:
Nature is beginning the process of paring down and simplifying to the bare essentials, and so are we. My hubby and I have been clearing out excess belongings-- we've sorted and discarded bags and bags of clothing, and chosen books to sell or donate. 

This week I'm focusing on my sewing supplies, including fabrics, and W is working on music: These might take each of us the rest of the winter! 

I dump out an entire drawer, bag or box of fabric, then shake out and refold each piece, discerning whether I love it or am ready to toss or pass it on. Then I have to sort it into colors, sizes, uses, etc., and put it away again... I can't manage more than about an hour of that at a time. The good news is that touching all these fabrics is making me feel inspired to sew something!

4. Decorate the house:
After the equinox I begin to deck the house with the oranges and golds of fall, and with the fruits of the season: Gourds, pumpkins, corn, and wheat.

Fall flower symbols:

• purple asters for love and patience
• sunflowers for truth
• zinnias for friendship
• chrysanthemums for strength and endurance

5. Make a straw doll:
Wheat and straw weaving is an ancient art form, done all over the world, as a symbol of the harvest. 

The custom in Europe was to make a straw figure out of the last sheaf of wheat that was harvested, so the spirit of the grain had a place to live through the winter. Then it was planted again in the spring.

I wanted to make a simple figure this year so I got out my box of straw- collected from fields and from the craft store- and sorted out just a few stalks. 

Supplies: Straw, carpet thread, scissors, water, cloth scraps

1. I cut a handful of straw to 6-1/2-inches, leaving some of the grain heads longer. I tied them just below the grain heads with the carpet thread.

2. I soaked 4 big, shiny pieces of straw in hot water for about 10 minutes (longer would have been better, but I am impatient), and flattened one out with my fingers. 




I used the flat piece to wrap around the head, and used more thread to tie it at the neck.









3. Then I tied the other 3 shiny pieces together at both ends, trimmed them short, and curved them a little for the arms.



I inserted them under the head, and tied them in place, wrapping thread in a X across the chest.



5. Finally, I added a few scraps of bright cloth for a vest.