The Equinox is the balancing moment between light and dark, day and night, summer and winter. It is an ideal time to do this work, but you can do it at any time.
Choose Your Focus
You might feel your whole life is completely out of balance or it may be that just one or two things are imbalanced: too much time on work and not enough time for the soul, for example; or too much time alone, not enough engaged with others. Maybe there are several things you never seem to find time for, such as exercise or creativity. Or it may be a more fundamental balance you seek: you are all fire and wind with not enough earth, or your mind is too dominant and your heart neglected.
If you don’t have an altar already find a place to put one. It can be indoors (in a bookshelf is possible if you’re pushed for space) or outside. If you already have an altar give it a little refresh, move on old charms or spells or offerings, generally tidy and make room – a new spell is coming in!
Create an Altar for Balance
No two altars will look alike – yours should reflect the balance you seek.
Example 1:
For rebalancing internally
- Place a single, strong item in the centre to represent yourself – a statuette, a candle, a photo, a rock – whatever is appropriate for you.
- Divide the remaining space into 3 or 4 sections and treat each section with equal importance.
- You might devote a four-sectioned altar to the elements; earth, air, fire and water. A 3-sectioned altar might represent body, mind and spirit; or self, family and community.
- Place appropriate objects into the sections, maintaining a balance overall.
Example 2:
To call in an missing part of your life
- Divide the altar in half.
- On one side, place the usual things you would like on your altar; candles, images, shells or crystals…. Leave the other side empty.
- Hold a strong awareness of the missing part (i.e.: creativity, relationship, meaningful work, devoted spiritual practise - )
- When you have fully experienced the emptiness of that (which might take an hour or a week) – place 1 symbolic item on that side of the altar (i.e.: a paintbrush, a filled chalice, the ideal job description, a candle).
- Once you start to engage with that missing part, you can gradually place more items on that side of the altar, but do not allow it to become cluttered.
- Work towards having a balance between the two halves of your altar.
Example 3:
To remedy an imbalanced life
- Divide your altar into as many sections as you feel are in your life; i.e.: work, family, spiritual practise, creative self, social life, exercise.
- Then fill them appropriately – so that work and family may be crowded with objects, spiritual practise have an unlit candle, fun & fitness have only a written promise lying there…
- Study your current balance/imbalance.
- Work over time towards the balance that reflects what you want in your life, adding and subtracting to your altar as you go.
You may spend time meditating on the altar. You might create a ritual around balance; setting up the altar with a simple chant, a clear intention, and even an action timeline, if appropriate. Stay with the imagery and intent until you can deeply feel both the imbalance and your commitment to creating a new balance.
JANE MEREDITH