The Fall Equinox begins a shift for so many of us. On the day of the equinox, we stand in a space where both day and night are of equal length. As we move beyond, the days become shorter and shorter. Our culture doesn’t allow us the time or the space to honor this shift in our bodies and our routines. We champion “busy-ness.” We stay up later and get up earlier when the sun is telling us that the work of the harvest is complete and we can begin to rest.
Space and time to honor the rituals of nature can feel like a luxury in this day and age. Our smart phones, computers, and tv screens flood our eyes with artificial light. We find our daily rhythms are subject to the whims of society. We eat salad in the winter and root vegetables all summer. How do we break free of “busy-ness” and get back to ourselves?
In 2009, the art and science of Ayurveda spoke to something buried in my soul. I was 30 and I recognized that the flow of my current life no longer served me. I was gifted the opportunity to study at Kripalu with Vasant Lad, a leading Ayurvedic physician and educator. I learned so many interesting and fascinating practices in that course, but the one that I come back to time and time again is so simple:
View the sun at sunrise and again at sunset.
It’s so simple and yet so profound. This simple practice provides an amazing reset for your internal clock. Unable to sleep? View the sun at sunrise and at sunset. Sluggish around noon or shortly after? View the sun at sunrise and at sunset. Hard to get going in the morning? View the sun at sunrise and at sunset.
Tune into the natural rhythms of life. You may not do it every single day but even the occasional reset can do wonders for our mental and physical health. May nature help you set aside “busy-ness” and tune in for only a few moments to the wonders around you!
