Celebrating the autumn equinox

We are experiencing the autumn equinox, the point in the calendar at which day and night are of roughly equal duration. The long days of summer have ended and we find ourselves moving into a phase of shorter days and lengthening evenings as the sun departs on its journey to illuminate and warm the southern hemisphere.

Last weekend we were blessed by sunbaked days of continuous blue skies and summer temperatures of 22 degrees. It felt like July, in fact it was an improvement on this year’s rain sodden July. I was fortunate to be spending the equinox with like minded company at the Out of the Ordinary festival (OOTO) in Sussex. While the classic elements of the green festival scene were in full effect such as chai stalls, workshops, saunas and great bands, the timing of the event enabled us to celebrate the equinox, making the most of the fading light around campfires, chanting and drumming together. The sunshine boosted the mood and helped create a memorable, magical event.

Back in Glastonbury, the equinox was honoured by a ceremony at the well head of the White Spring, at this very time I was holding my weekly drop-in yoga class at the Rowan Centre on the High Street. With the equinox in mind we used nadi shodana (alternate nostril) pranayama to reflect internally the balanced situation of the sun, finding a moment’s pause at the end of the inhalation and exhalation as we have perfect equilibrium in the solar cycle.

As a final farewell to the summer sun, many friends will be gathering at Coed Hills rural arts community in South Wales. With the sun continuing to pour its blessings steadily upon us it looks to be a lovely gathering, with workshops, a healing space and cabaret to keep each other happy and well. I am negotiating a last minute workshop proposal for a pranayama and mudra session as my contribution, I am hoping that this will go ahead.

Howsoever you spend the weekend it looks set to stay sunny, enjoy!

www.outoftheordinaryfestival.com
www.coedhills.co.uk

Summer draws to a close

Strolling through the leafy lanes of Glastonbury, nature's signals are unambivalent: summer is drawing to a close. We may be blessed with long days of warm sunshine and yet the berries are ripening in this gentle heat: hawthorn, elder, blackberries. I took a new path today on my walk and found myself in a disused orchard. A glade of unkempt apple trees their fruits fully ripe, some of which had fallen were fermenting and decaying, a perfect illustration of the cycle of life as I recall how delighted I felt at the emergence of blossom so much earlier in the year.

In the UK we have just enjoyed the late August Bank Holiday, and from here on we are focussed towards the autumn and beyond. Reluctant school boys are wriggling reluctantly into stiff new trousers, we may be preparing our winter wood store, our diet begins to subtly shift to welcome in richer flavours and velvety textures.
I enjoy the ritual of storing summer clothes and reconnecting with the warm colours and comfort of an autumn wardrobe: velvet, corduroy and wool.

It is time to create a new routine and become re-established at home after the travelling and merriment of a summer of festivals. I am pleased to be starting yoga drop-in classes in Glastonbury next week, thus beginning a period of settled regularity. I am looking forward to this greatly.