Welcoming the Autumn Equinox
I have always been fascinated by the night sky — especially the moon, which works its way into many of my poems. The moon, stars, planets, and galaxies remind us that we are part of a vast and mysterious landscape. There is a story behind the story of our lives, or as Bernard of Clairvaux put it, a “real behind the real.”
Here in the Midwest, we witnessed a particularly vibrant harvest moon this week. It is the last full moon before the autumn equinox occurs. Because of its intense brightness and seemingly close proximity to earth, the harvest moon has captivated people’s imagination for millennia. It is as if the normally shy and distant moon decided to visit our doorstep, if not come knocking on our door.
The ancients were keenly aware of cosmic changes, like the harvest moon, summer solstice and autumn equinox. The June summer solstice brings the longest hours of light. Here in northern hemisphere, it is like a wake-up call, rousing us to get ready for the warm weather, the outdoors, and the late-night activities summer affords.
By contrast, the autumn equinox is about balance. We experience daylight and darkness in equal measure. That makes this moment a particularly good time to reflect on our lives. What parts are ready for harvest? What parts are out of balance? Where could we use an adjustment, a bit of retooling, or even a change of direction?
I like to list June, July and August on a sheet of paper and reflect back on the main events that have occurred in my life since the summer solstice. What patterns emerge? Where was the Spirit leading me?
Then I write, September, October, November and December. I list what I’d like to focus on in the time still left to me this year.
This is also a wonderful time to become more conscious of the wonder that is all around us. The more we learn about the universe through images from the Hubble Space Telescope, or electro-magnetic technology, or the satellites exploring the moon, Mars and the far reaches of our galaxy, the more wonder-filled our universe appears.
Consider dark matter, morphogenic energy fields, quarks, and black holes.
The spiritual writer Judy Cannato asks, “How are we to respond to the (scientific) information and images that are becoming part of our everyday reality? May I suggest awe, wonder — radical amazement — as we encounter the mystery that is everywhere around us.”
She explains that radical amazement “is the chief characteristic of a religious attitude toward life and the proper response to our experience of the divine.”
This week, can we take time to gaze at the moon, to reflect on what a grace it is for this distant body to return to us each evening, faithful as a monk at his prayer.
In the words of that great mystic of pop music, Neil Young:
“I want to see you dance again
On this harvest moon.”
