Welcome to your autumn equinox meditation.
This meditation will involve answering some reflection questions,
So if you would like to have pen and paper nearby to jot down your thoughts,
You are welcome to do so.
I've included these reflection questions in the description of this meditation for your convenience.
Let's begin by finding a comfortable seat.
Any position that allows you to find a relaxed yet present stillness.
Allow the surface beneath you to fully support you and sink into your space.
Bringing your focus to your breath.
And closing your eyes if that feels comfortable.
Noticing the speed of your breath.
The depth of your breath.
And where in your body you feel your breath the most.
Tuning in to the rhythmic wave of your breath.
Feeling how your ribcage,
Your chest,
Your belly expand with every inhale.
And slowly deflate with every exhale.
Allowing yourself to be fully present in this moment with each breath.
Giving your body permission to relax.
Riding the waves of your breath.
And as you breathe here,
You may notice your breath start to slow,
To deepen as you sink deeper into a relaxed awareness.
Keep flowing with the rhythm of your breath.
Continue breathing here.
The autumn equinox marks the first day of autumn.
The leaves on the deciduous trees start to fall.
The air starts to cool.
And the days get shorter.
The autumn equinox marks the transition from the bold outward energy of summer to the reflective inward energy of winter.
And of course,
Moments in nature like this are invitations for us to think about how we can align our own lives with what's happening all around us.
How can we let go of the leaves we no longer need?
What in our lives needs to cool down?
But despite what it may look like on the outside,
Autumn isn't just about letting go.
Yes,
The trees are losing their leaves,
But underneath the surface,
They are building.
They channel their energy into developing a more expansive and deeper root system.
And so we have this natural balance between releasing and fortifying.
This balance that is born from the transition from summer to winter is perfectly demonstrated by the autumn equinox.
One of just two moments in the year where day and night,
Light and dark are of equal length.
So I invite you now to reflect on the balance in your own life through the lens of the transition from outward energy of summer to inward energy of winter.
Keeping in mind that what felt balanced before may not feel balanced now.
Reflecting on the balance between giving and receiving,
Rest and action,
Letting go and welcoming in.
So you can ask yourself,
Where in my life do I feel balanced right now?
Could be something small,
Like I feel balanced with the number of times per week I cook dinner versus the number of times I get takeout.
Or it could be something bigger,
Like I feel like all of my friendships are balanced in what we give and receive from each other.
So asking yourself,
Where in my life do I feel balanced?
I'll leave you for a few moments here to reflect on this question.
And naturally,
As we reflect on the balance in our lives,
We will start to notice things that could use more symmetry.
So you can ask yourself,
What in my life could I release to find more balance?
Maybe it's something tangible,
Like an obligation.
Or maybe it's something more abstract,
Like an expectation.
What in my life could I release?
Take a few moments here to reflect on this question.
And then you can ask,
What in my life could I fortify to find more balance?
What could I send energy to?
I'll give you a few moments here to reflect on this question.
And wrapping up your thoughts,
Now,
We will end our time together by inviting a sense of balance into our bodies.
Starting with a balanced breath.
Breathing in for a count of four,
And breathing out for a count of four.
So together,
Breathe in through the nose.
Ready,
And breathe in,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Breathe out,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Breathe in,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Breathe out,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
And now at your own pace,
If you'd like to expand your breath to a balanced six count,
Or even a balanced eight count,
You are welcome to do so.
Also feeling free to stick with the balanced four count breath,
If that feels right.
And as you sink into this balanced breath,
As you allow it to become an unconscious rhythm in your body,
You start to tune in to the sensations of your body.
Observing the physical sensations of the breath,
The air moving through your nose,
The rise and fall of your belly,
Tuning in to the feeling of contact between your body and the surface beneath you,
Noticing any areas of the body that may be holding or gripping.
And just as we found balance in the breath,
See if you can find a sense of balance in the body.
Finding an equal sense of grounding and rooting down,
As well as elongation and spaciousness in the body.
An equal sense of heaviness and lightness.
Are there any areas of tension in the body that you can let go?
Are there any areas that could use more support?
Maybe through your breath,
Maybe by adjusting your position.
And when you're ready,
Slowly bringing your focus from your body back to your breath.
Taking three last deep breaths together,
Breathing in through the nose,
Breathing out through the mouth,
Breathing in through the nose,
Letting it go through the mouth.
And last breath here,
Breathing in and breathing out.
And slowly coming back to this room.
Gently opening the eyes when you're ready.
Thank you so much for joining me.
This ends your autumn equinox meditation.
Great work.
