On the equinox, libra, and balance

4 of Cups reversed, 3 of Swords, 5 of Swords reversed
Deck: The Fountain Tarot

Today, as we honor the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere, and enter Libra season, we are invited to reflect on the nature of balance and how we respond to the challenging shifts that we are moving through individually and as a collective. The Fall equinox is a time of equal darkness and light, as the seasons change and move into the colder months. Libra is represented by the Scales, and is our invitation into harmony, community, and loving balance. 

I tend to feel uncomfortable with the way we talk about balance, as if it is something that is elusive, practically unachievable. We are always seeking to attain it. But what if everything already is in balance? What if balance is seeking us? Our presence, our care, our awareness? 

I pulled some cards around this and all three of these deal with balance in some way, especially as illustrated through the beautiful Fountain Tarot. Fours in the tarot are grounded and on stable footing - the 4 of Cups reversed asks: are we open to seeing it? Are we allowing ourselves the space we need to allow the messages and feelings that need to get through to speak to us?

The 3 of Swords and the 5 of Swords reversed further illustrate that the very idea of seeking balance is a product of the mind (swords=air, communication, thought, brain chemistry). We view our grief as a sign of our brokenness, our wrongness. We set ourselves up for battles, internal and external, that ultimately just lead to more heartbreak and frustration. Christ Consciousness and Oneness (aka the eternal principles of Love) teach us that when we see ourselves as separate from “goodness”,  then we become locked in a battle of the mind, of ego, of thought. It’s a way to frame ourselves as if we are in need of fixing. 

We are not broken. We are not inherently imbalanced. We have learned so many behaviors for the sake of survival and of coping. That doesn’t make us unworthy - that makes us human, learning to adapt to the challenges that we face as we grow. We weren’t born afraid or insecure. Our natural state is to be curious, loving, accepting, and open. The darkness is not here to suffocate. It is here to provide contrast, understanding, comfort, and deep, important lessons for our growth. 

Make this equinox in opportunity to reclaim your agency. We only need to look to the seasons to understand the fallacy of imbalance. Do we perceive that nature is broken when she settles into the darkness of winter? Are the trees out of balance when they shed their leaves? Does the moon need fixing when she is new and not perceptible to our eyes? Balance is not something that has to be sought, it is something that we honor. 

Battling and war can only take us so far. We can’t keep fighting and punishing ourselves in the same ways over and over again and expect new results. We have to choose to see peace as a solution. This doesn’t mean being a pushover or allowing injustice to rule. Peace comes from speaking and walking in truth. Again and again, choosing truth, even and especially when it feels hard.  

So here’s a journaling exercise you can do. Write about what balance means to you. Let it come out without trying to get the language right or kind, just get out your honest thoughts about your relationship with balance. Then, look back at what you wrote and respond to it as your higher self. You can use Bunny Michael’s Higher Self series as a reference. What truth is lying behind your anxieties and insecurities about where you are in life, the state of the world, and your place in it? Speak truly from your heart. Let this be a way for you to practice speaking from a soul-centered perspective. Carry these lessons with you into your day to day life. Feel free to add a comment if you want to discuss more or share with others what your process looked like! And don't miss my previous post on my weekend in ritual around the autumnal equinox below!