Fall (Autumnal) Equinox CST in northern hemisphere: Monday, September 23 at 2:50 a.m. 2019
Celebrate with us at Crow Wing Crest Lodge Fall Relaxation Retreat
on 11th Crow Wing Lake
The word equinox is derived from Latin, meaning “equal night.” On each equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are said to be equal. What helps you restore balance in your life? The earth will be in alignment to help support balance issues in your life.
CWC Retreat weekends are self-motivating. We encourage you to participate/engage as much, or as little as you would like. We strive to provide a safe, nurturing environment with like-minded people also on a journey of self-discovery and evolvement. Let’s lift each other up if/when the moments present themselves! Welcome to the CWC community. – Kim, CWC
Here are 11 suggestions to help you celebrate the balance & transition of an equinox weekend:
- The autumnal equinox is a time of harvest. Make a list of everything you are thankful for as a way of reaping your inner harvest. Better yet, start a gratitude journal. Gratitude brings abundance. If you don’t know where to begin, start with the food you have to eat and the roof over your head. It will flow naturally from there.
- Restore balance in the home by doing a fall deep cleaning. (Take a baby step by looking at the contents of your purse or wallet?) Get rid of anything that you no longer need to make space for the new season. Use the power of rhythm and routines to help you get organized and provide a framework for your day. A daily rhythm can also increase your ability to stay focused and get things done. Anyone have a recipe for setting positive daily habits?
- Celebrate the season by creating a craft item out of seasonal items: autumn leaves, acorns, gourds, etc. “Play” is vital to health and healing. Invite your friends/cabin-mates to be silly with you. Laughter is often the best medicine. Pinterest always has great ideas (set a time limit, perhaps 10 minutes? - otherwise you may get lost surfing in that bottomless idea-bin. 😉 )
- The equinox is a great time to let go of the old and begin anew. As the temperatures begin to cool and people begin to spend more time indoors it is a great time to begin a new project. Make a list of everything you’ve been wanting to do. Make a plan to start one. Go from there.
- Visit a local farm, orchard or winery. Going to a source where food is grown and harvested can be ‘grounding’ and help validate transitions one is trying to implement.
- Create/Cook a meal or nourishing harvest dish. Get your hands dirty! If you are not known for your chef skills – so what? Try something anyway. Have a baking reputation? Try something new just for fun. Bake an apple, attempt a pumpkin soup, harvest the last of the community herbs in the herb barrels near the gazebo here at CWC for a funky appetizer or fizzy drink. The herbs want to support your health – use ‘em with our blessing.
- On the equinox, day and night, dark and light become balanced. Meditate and/or practice yoga to create inner balance. You don’t have to figure it out on your own: others are willing to share their wisdom and experience. Google or YouTube a gentle 10 minute session. Welcome it.
- Go into nature and just ‘be.’ It’s such a gifted teacher. What can birds migrating teach us? Squirrels gathering acorns? Changing leaf colors? Feel free to borrow mushroom identification, animal totem symbology or other reference books from the lodge.
- Pay attention to yourself. What is your body telling you (what areas are tense or blocked, where are areas which seem to soften more easily?) If I stop and breathe through a blocked area, can I listen or ponder what I might be judging about this? What’s a storyline linked to it? What wisdom can I bring to myself when simply giving myself a moment to really listen to my body? The seasons are changing. This is a powerful/auspicious time to really pay attention and utilize the energy for the betterment of our own journey.
- Listen to inspiring Podcasts or Ted Talks or YouTube clips (BE CONSCIOUS of what you choose and eschew the clutter if you can!) (E.g. https://www.oneyoufeed.net/jillian-pransky/ [deep listening], Ted Talk-“The Happy Secret to Better Work” Shawn Achor, Ted Talk “Power of Vulnerability” Brene Brown, YouTube: “The 5 LESSONS In Life People Learn TOO LATE” #BelieveNation) Typically once you listen/watch an inspiring video/podcast, similar clips will be offered by the website’s search algorithm for you (just be mindful.) Share your sources with other retreat attendees and harvest the ideas you receive from others.
- Celebrate with fire: campfire, sauna sweat, or lighting a simple candle. There will be scrap paper left in the lodge for you to use for writing down something you wish to “let go of” at this moment in your life. Could be something simple, or a bigger issue you’ve been struggling with for some time. There is no wrong or right answer. The point of NAMING the item has power. After writing down the item on paper, throw it in the fire to symbolize your wish of letting it go. Allow it the freedom to recycle into ash. The hope is to transition the energy with which you’ve been using on it until now. Wouldn’t it be great to focus on something new (or empowering?)
