The
Road
to
Balance...

Fall Equinox
September 23, 2006

The fall equinox is a time of year when one should take the time to truly see all the blessings in their life. If you are having a hard time seeing any positives within your world right this second … Stop… Look around you… See your life differently for a few moments. You may see it differently from now on. If you're in the middle of a crisis and the world looks like there is a thundercloud over head…look up. Can you see the ceiling above you? It might seem like a necessity, but there are tens of thousands of people in the world that don't have that ceiling above their heads. They don't have a home, long enough a computer to read this on. Every single necessity that is fulfilled for us is a blessing. Past the necessities the rest is pure Heaven.

Each of us could probably think of at least a dozen things that we would like to have. Some might be frivolous and others might be serious. All wind up on our wish list. Take the one thing that would benefit you and the world the most and work towards it. The reward from that goal will be tenfold because you are working towards the good of the whole.

This is the time to give thanks for all of our bounty and to give back to Mother Earth for sustaining our lives all year long. Here are a few ways to send your prayers of thanks to Her.

White Candle Ceremony: very simple, very plain….very effective. Simply place a white candle (taper, pillar or votive) in the middle of your dinner table. When everyone is ready to sit down and partake of the meal, light the candle with a word of thanks. Something like this may be used: "We thank you for all the things in our lives that we are so accustomed to having that we tend to take them for granted. This food, this home, the love that surrounds us, even the negatives that come our way. They are all here to help us learn and grow. May we give back to humanity as much as we have been blessed with. Peace be to all." You have just told the Universe that you care about your life, your surroundings and the rest of the world.

Stone Ceremony: also very simple and effective. In your daily travels find a stone that 'calls' to you. Go for a walk and see if there are any stones along the way. Does one stand out more than the rest? Pick it up and take it home with you. Sit quietly with it in your hands. Close your eyes and mentally place all of your blessings into the stone. With each addition you may say: "Thank you God for this gift." Place the thought into the stone and then add the next one. When you feel that all your heart holds dear is now in the stone take it outside. Look around your yard and find the tree that you like the most. If you have no trees in your yard this can also be done in a park or wooded area. Once you have found the right tree for you… take the stone and bury it under the tree. While you are burying the stone you may say: "With all my heart I thank you for all these blessings I share with you today. As I place my happiness within the arms of Mother Earth I ask that She tend these seeds and nurture them to grow. May I share my happiness with others enabling them to feel as strong as this stone is today."

Celebration Feast: more involved….very rewarding and effective. You can celebrate this magical time of year with your friends and family. Prepare a 'feast' in honor of your blessings, your friends, your family, and your ability to give back for all the blessings you've received. You personally can prepare it or you can do a 'potluck' dinner. This is where each person brings a dish and everyone shares in the 'wealth'. Whether you do it all yourself or each person prepares a meal….the important thing is the prayer. While preparing your part say a prayer of thanks over the food. You can also ask for blessings for others while you cook. My Grandmother used to have a jar that she would use while cooking. She would 'sprinkle' things over the food as it cooked. Things like: Love, Peace, Health, Prosperity, Understanding, and the one I liked the most was Angel Dust. Whenever she used Angel Dust answers would come flowing out of the meal. She may have been trying for a week to find something or figure something out and by the end of the meal the answer was there. She always finished the meal with "Thank you for your help." Now the one thing you should know is ….the jar was EMPTY. I looked one day when I got older and questioned her on it. She told me if I looked hard enough I would see that the jar was filled with faith. She used a jar. I have a salt shaker that I absolutely love. So as you're cooking say a prayer for a friend in need or a thank you for yourself for not needing anything. Then set the table and truly enjoy the great food and love that surround you.

If you feel that your life is truly blessed and you need to give back more than any of these celebrations allow for, there is something else that you can do. Volunteer! Take the time to help someone you know that really needs the help. Go to a senior's home and read for them. Simply sit and listen to the Elders. Seniors are sometimes so forgotten about that they become useless in society's eyes and their own. They hold knowledge that they would love to share with the rest of the world …. if it would just stand still for a little bit and listen. By simply taking the time to be there you can make someone feel better about their own life. You definitely will make a difference.

All of these are ways to give thanks for what you have and bring balance into your own life by giving back to the rest of the world. May this Season fill you with Gratitude, Love and the Light.

I am grateful to be able to share these times with you and for the opportunity to serve humanity. Peace be with you.

Dawn Ellen