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Autumn Equinox and the Direction of the West
posted by Betsy Stang
On Planet Earth, West is the direction of the setting sun. It signifies
evening, twilight, autumn and the coming of night. In the Northern
hemisphere, Sept. 21–International Day of Peace–is the Autumn Equinox, when
the energies of day and night are balanced.
In Feng Shui, the west is the direction of the element of metal, and its
color is white. Metal, the element that has been tempered by time and the
forces of the other elements, must be formed for use. It represents wealth
and mental agility, and is the predominant element in the glittering cities
of the 21st century.
In the Indigenous traditions of the Northern Hemisphere, It is a time of
harvest and preparation for the winter. The fall equinox also represents
maturity and the coming of wisdom.
In the time of autumn, the time of sunset, we have been tempered by the
seasons of life. Summer, the season of growth, is over. The fruit is ready
for harvest, the seeds begin to fall to the group, our winter approaches and
we come to the realization that our time on Earth is short and that all
things pass away. The question arises, what do we leave behind, what is our
legacy? What will take root and grow when the spring equinox comes to awaken
the Earth?
In the tradition of the Native Americans, all decisions are made with the
idea of how they will impact the generations to come. Wisdom comes from
turning away from our personal needs and desires, to caring for the future
and all our relations.
Soon enough, winter comes and we will return to the Earth who gave us our
life and all our substance. Before we do that, we can ask, how can we use
our resources, talents and energy to leave our world a better place for the
generations to come?
Standing in the direction of the west, we are asked to harvest, not just for
ourselves, but for the many. At the time we can choose to gather our wisdom,
talents and resources to leave this world better than when we arrived. If we
leave for our children and the generations to come a depleted Earth with
polluted water and air, what sort of legacy have we bequeathed?
The directions remind us that we are part of a greater whole on the wheel of
life. At the autumnal equinox, the direction of the west, we can pause to
thank our ancestors and the Earth and take some time to pay it forward to
the generations to come.
This Sept. 21, please take a moment at noon to join with millions around the
planet and, in your tradition, spend a few moments in praying or meditating
for peace for this magical world, all the generations to come and all our
relations. May peace prevail on Earth.
To contact Betsy Stang, practitioner of Healing by Design Feng Shui, click
here.
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Reply
| | From:  susaru | Sent: 9/20/2008 1:16 AM |
As one who is in the "autumn" of her life, this is a powerful time for me. I have been on a personal journey for almost a year, now. I have grown in so many ways, it is just phenomenal! This Mabon is a time to thank the earth. We all need to treat our "Mother" with kid gloves, as though there were no tomorrow if we don't. Because, there might not be a tomorrow for our children and their children, et al., if we don't.
Thank You for letting me share on this celebration of our earthen Mother.
Su |
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