Autumn Equinox 2020: Trying to Find Balance in an Unbalanced World

“The Leaf Charmer” by Martin Eager

Today is September 22, 2020, and once again the Autumn Equinox is upon us. I love the changing of the seasons; I am blessed to live in an area where these changes are very much felt and seen. Autumn is my favorite time of year; it marks the beginning of the Season of the Witch. I love observing nature’s changes during this time: frosty mornings, leaves changing colors, squirrels hoarding acorns, spiders spinning their massive webs outside… my love for this time of year is endless.

The Equinox is the seasonal tide that brings balance, and reflection. We are reaping the last of our harvests from the summer growing season, and preparing for the winter ahead. Our own backyard vegetable garden actually saw it’s last harvest about a week ago, and we are prepping for what may be a long, cold winter here in Upstate New York. Today is a balance of light and dark, and I eagerly await the longer nights and shorter days. I love cocooning myself in the dark and nurturing my inner self. Samhain marks the Witches New Year, and today’s ever important seasonal change before then is a day for reflection on the days past. We traditionally use this time to look back on the last several months and celebrate and give thanks for our blessings, and we mourn what we lost. We try to balance those energies and feelings in order to harmonize ourselves and use those energies in the coming year.

The events of this year thus far has thrown the world into UNbalance, and right now I am feeling anything but balanced. I’m sure many feel the same. COVID took over the world, and threw us into a state of fear, despair, and hopelessness. We saw millions fall ill, nearly 1 million tragically die worldwide, millions more economically impacted by the pandemic. However, what we also saw were countless heroes in our communities helping anyone they were able to help whether it was financial or health assistance, or some form of community outreach. My own community formed groups to help homebound/vulnerable people go grocery shopping or otherwise help them with daily tasks that they were unable to do on their own. We saw birthday parades for children in our town, drive through graduation celebrations for our high school and college graduates. I spent much time searching for positive news stories during this dark time and learned that communities across the US and abroad came together in very similar ways and it was very uplifting to my soul.

Here in the U.S., we are in the middle of a volatile presidential election season. I have never witnessed anything like this in my life. We are literally fighting for the soul of this nation right now, and the stress of this fight is sometimes too much to bear. I fear for our future. The Trump administration has systematically destroyed our democracy and rule of law by bypassing checks and balances within our own government that is supposed to protect this nation from an UNbalance of Power. With the devastating death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a few days ago, the stakes were raised exponentially and we are now in a fight for our lives. The future of health care, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights are in the crosshairs. A third Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justice threatens to undo much of the progress this nation has made in the aforementioned areas.

My resolve to fight has only grown stronger. My daughters and son have also taken up this fight for our nation. My older daughter will be a first-time voter this year, and I cannot wait to take her to her first presidential election to cast her ballot for our country’s future. We will be voting in person together.

The turmoil of this election season is unlike anything I’ve seen, and I am trying to find balance. It’s not easy, but, I am discovering that it can be done. I’m learning to take my anger, stress, and grief and transmute those emotions into a force for positive change. Social media is one tool for wider community outreach, but nothing beats getting out in your community and engaging with people in your area. I’ve learned that our youth is very invested in this election, and they are our future. They are so intelligent and engaged and seeing their passion gives me hope. As many of us witnessed the complete lack of accountability in our governing body & Department of Justice with regards to rampant corruption in the office of the President, we must collectively take up this fight and mobilize every American who is able to vote and hope that our efforts will be successful.

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In the midst of all this, I am always ever reminded that Hekate is a Goddess of Transformation and Change. She is there, facilitating and observing. It is very difficult for a devotee of Hekate to not be politically engaged, especially now in these tumultuous times. Human rights are always at the forefront. Being a voice for the voiceless. Being an Ally. Being an advocate for those who are unable to take up their fight by themselves. Fighting for what is fair and just, taking special care of those that society deems “unworthy” due to their own prejudices. Sometimes, “tearing that shit down” is the only way forward.

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En Erebos Phos,

Melissa