How to welcome in the new season
At the equinox, we are at a gateway to a new season. Change is all around us and in us – in our schedules, in how Nature is shifting, and in how we imagine things can be different – better.
We both really love the heat and summer sun, more time by the water and the summer rich crops. We also do a bit of mourning as we turn the page to a new season. So much so we blogged about it here: End of Summer Blues.
This reminds me that we can hold this idea of ‘YES/AND’ at the same time. YES, we can mourn the long, warm days of summer AND we can welcome the opportunity to appreciate more quiet and a bit of release. Being able to hold both ideas can help us spend more time in equanimity, instead of in the extremes.
Practice using YES/AND also means dropping perfection. Here are some additional ideas.
- Yes, I can have a piece of pie AND, I can also still be on a healthy path of eating.
- Yes, I don’t have to feel like training AND, I’m going to do it anyway because that’s what I promised myself I would do.
- Yes, I can take time for myself AND, I can still be a nurturing person to others.
Though we love the long days in the sun – because the beaches, parks and trails are a little less crowded – a sense of peace can settle around us. Nature is also always teaching us lessons (the consistency is confounding!). Like the trees, we can actively choose to let some things fall away and choose to conserve our energy. When you think of that idea – ‘conserve energy’ – what comes to mind? Some ideas: Becoming more discerning in your choice of shows, how much time you spend on social media, understanding who your true influencers are in your life, and understanding if they are of service to you.
Let’s back up a minute. What does equinox mean? It is Latin for ‘equal dark.’ Just like the spring equinox, it is a time of year of equal light and equal dark. From now on, the days will shorten and the nights will lengthen in the northern hemisphere. I can mourn this AND I can embrace it. YES/AND. To be able to recognize both of these has a depth of freedom. I don’t have to be in one season or another to be happy, content or in harmony – it means accepting what I can and can’t change…
Fun fact:
This equinox point in time is also called Mabon – known by the pagan tradition as the ‘second harvest holiday of the season’ – a holiday feast from the recently gathered harvest, shared with neighbors to help each other survive. To dine together means to build community and what a beautiful way to give thanks. Sounds like the start of Thanks-Giving doesn’t it!? Why not start in September?
Rest:
One really important way of cultivating more peace in our days is to rest on purpose {did you read last week’s newsletter?} Not only do we sometimes feel ‘guilty’ about simply sitting down and reading a novel, but so many of our clients talk about the drive to always be doing. During this equinox and change of seasons, we encourage you to practice the art of doing something you love like reading, knitting, crafting, or gardening {insert your favorite thing}. If there is something that is restful, we encourage you to set time aside in your calendar – just like you would a meeting, an appointment or a date with a friend. Setting a time limit may also help you feel less guilty about it. If you are enjoying your restful activity, you can always add to that allotted time.
Celebrating Bounty:
It’s pumpkin season. Of course it is; how can you possibly miss it, right? Pumpkin this and pumpkin that. And most of it that is marketed is basically sugar with a little pumpkin flavor. And that’s too bad because (as you already know), pumpkin, REAL pumpkin is a wonderfully healthy and delicious gourd that is incredibly rich in vital antioxidants and vitamins. It is packed with vitamin-A, and flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants such as lutein, xanthin, and carotenes and fiber in abundance. In translation, pumpkin is good for your immune system, your blood pressure and your HDL cholesterol. These benefits disappear if your pumpkin is paired with a bunch of sugar and/or artificial stuff. Eat naked pumpkin! We like to sweeten it up with cinnamon and maybe a little maple syrup.
A great little recipe we found in one of our favorite magazines, Edible Jersey, is cream of pumpkin soup. If you are eating dairy free, try these substitutions in place of the butter: coconut oil or avocado oil and for the light cream in the recipe, use coconut cream OR cashew cream.
