To everything there is a season…
And as the season of summer winds to a close I am, unashamedly, grateful for the ending of its turn and the beginning of the next.
This summer… was a lot. Much of it spent in support of others whether on the stage, on the phone, online, or on a daily basis. Please don’t misunderstand, I am not resentful in any way, and I am glad for having the space to serve in those capacities. But doing so takes a lot of energy, and it is no secret that I am looking forward to my favorite season of the year… Autumn. Fall. Harvest. Libra. Scorpio. (Any and all labels apply lol.)
I know a lot of folks mourn the end of Summer. Personally, I’ve never been a fan, but I understand those who are. Longer days, a little more freedom in our schedules, sunshine and heat for those who suffer in the colder weather. I get it. But me? Cooler air, no humidity, growing nights, spook, and mystery? That is where I thrive. It’s where I feel all four bodies of mine are at their best: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
It’s true of course that the light can be found more pleasant. It provides joy and energy. It keeps us busy and distracted. And if we’re busy and distracted, then we can effortlessly avoid that dark and scary place that is… our inner self. * cue shrieking * While the light encourages us to spend time with others, the darkness encourages us to spend time alone and for many of us, that is the darkest and scariest place of all.
Throughout our lives, we are taught to fear the dark - to reject “scary” or “shadowy” things. This is a conditioning that seeps deeply into our mentality and, in my opinion, works as a detriment to our well-being. While the waning light can definitely play into things like seasonal depression, I have long believed that part of the reason for our repulsion of the darkness is simply because we have not been taught its wonders. We have not been taught of its comforts. We have ultimately not been taught the benefits of facing ourselves. Facing ourselves is where we discover who we are. It’s where we learn to heal. It reminds us of our journeys and our strengths. But unfortunately, those things do not always come alone and as we are conditioned to avoid the unpleasant things, we often lean into the light so that we can convince ourselves of the blissful ignorance of that darkness we have had to endure.
This time of year though, and today in particular - the Autumnal Equinox - is ultimately about balance. Libra season, symbolized so poignantly by the scales, is a reminder to us to take the time to find that balance in our own lives, and in life collectively. That’s balance on an individual, and on a global, scale.
It’s true that this world isn’t perfect. Life isn’t perfect. It is made of struggles and challenges. But it is also comprised of times of bright and beautiful jubilation. When we reject the former, hide away, escape, pretend it doesn’t exist, we refuse to confront the parts of ourselves that not only can lead us to the most healing, but that can bring us the most light. My heavy Scorpio and Eighth House placements grant me comfort in those shadowy spaces so that I don’t shy away from them. But it took me a while to understand their value and I feel it’s important to help remind others of that so they may seek their solace there as well.
As I write this, I am grieving the loss of one of my very dear friends who passed away earlier this week. A friend who has been my sister for the last 20 years, almost exactly. I spent most of this evening writing her eulogy that I will deliver at her memorial service this weekend. And while her life has been one rife with circumstances needing to be overcome, she was a fierce liver and lover of life in the deepest of ways.
Conversely, as it happens, next weekend I will preside over another of my closest friends as she unites with her husband in the wedding they never got to have. (Thanks, Covid.) A celebration of love and commitment joining two people whose personal dives into, and recoveries from, those shadowy places I have had the distinct privilege to watch firsthand. They are a couple who have grown stronger together in facing and forgiving themselves and using those struggles to ultimately bring them to a happier, healthier life.
What better metaphor then to serve as a reminder of the balance of life: of the light and the dark, of endings and new beginnings, of death and renewal, then to be writing, preparing, and delivering words for both a wedding… and a funeral? What better illustration of all that life has to offer at its most precious and its most grieving? While the extremes of emotion have sometimes felt a bit tilt-a-whirl for me personally, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to celebrate each of these events and to stand witness to the depth, breadth, and splendor of life. I hope that you too may find what you need this season, and that you and yours may find yourselves both in the embrace of a beautiful and bountiful harvest… and in the warmth and comfort of the dark.
Mabon blessings to you all. 💖💫