For us, it’s the Spring Equinox today, while for my dear friends “down under” it’s the Autumnal Equinox.

This is a day to honor yourself and your journey!

We spend so much of our lives running away from the darkness, the pain, the hurt, the sadness. Whatever it is for you that fits in the box that you personally label darkness, chances are you’ve spent a good portion of your life running away from it. For whatever reason, we just don’t get taught that the darkness is a natural part of our human existence—a part to be invoked, explored, and celebrated.

Today the Earth sits in a momentary point of balance between dark and light. On both equinoxes, day and night are in balance, after which the sun continues to strengthen as the days grow longer or shorter depending on which hemisphere you are in. This culminates in the Summer or Winter Solstice, the longest or shortest day of the year, and then the sun begins to decline or increase again as the days grow shorter or longer (again depending where you are).

All throughout the history of the ancient world, we find that the Spring Equinox is a time of great confrontation between the forces of darkness and light. We see it in the death and resurrection myths of central deities all throughout ancient sects, cultures, and religions. We see these stories play out in various traditions over and over again. To me, it’s fascinating and it shows me that we are all on the same journey as the ancients who came before us. The journey to self-realization, which ultimately brings enlightenment and freedom from samadhi, begins when we face the darkness and accept it as much as we do the light—within ourselves and the world.

I read something today that articulated it perfectly, which I want to share with you:

“It is easy for us to rationalize and understand separation and duality with our logical minds, but when you enter into the higher realms, you understand that everything is connected and we are all one and the same. This can be seen in the yin and yang symbol. There is a little bit of everything in everything, and together it all makes up a whole.

Perhaps we are reminded of this fact on the Equinox.

There is no lightness reigning supreme over darkness, there is no darkness overcoming lightness, instead everything is in balance.” ~ Tanaaz

On this sacred day of balance, we can start by sitting with ourselves and our breath. We can go outside, sit in the sun for a few moments and connect with the Divine Mother Gaia. Take any stones you might want to work with today (snowflake obsidian, sheen obsidian, kambaba jasper, dravite, citrine, or anything that speaks to you).

As you inhale, first breathe in the night. Take in the darkness, bringing it into your lungs. Visualize the night as it fills you up and feel it throughout your body all the way down into your Muladahara (Root) Chakra. Honor it and greet it with open arms and receptivity.

Now exhale and as you bring it up from the depths of your being, feel it as it transmutes into light. Send this transformed darkness back to the world.

On your next inhale, call in the light. Breathe it in, pulling it into your lungs and down into your belly. Let it fill you up, feeling its golden warmth as it fills you from Sahasrara (Crown) to Muladahara. Allow it to spread to every part of your physical body. Visualize the light fading to darkness and greet it happily. This is sacred darkness. It is honored, held, and healed.

As you begin to exhale, pushing the breath out, place your hands on the earth next to you as you send this transmuted integrated darkness down into the ground and out into the wind. See it as it greets others to serve as an example and a comfort of what can be found in the darkness.

Repeat the breathing exercise three to five times and then pause in your own momentary state of balance. Reflect on what is coming up in you. Perhaps you want to journal about your feelings or thoughts. Pay special attention to any wounds or pain that are coming up—these are opportunities for great healing. Practice the breathing exercise with the specific area of pain or darkness that is coming up for you. Cycle through the breathing. Call in and transmute both darkness and light as you send it directly to the specific area. Do it as many times as you need to.

When you feel as though you are in a space of integrated balance, make a list of what you want to create in your life in the year ahead. Keep this list where you can see it regularly and practice creating those ideals in your life each day. Take one small action each day that puts you closer toward your ideal—rather than stepping away from it.

Today is the perfect day to tap into your own unique design of light and dark. It’s the day to honor your journey—every moment of it, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the chaotic, because every ounce of it made you who you are today.

Namaste.

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Author: Lindsay Carricarte

Image: Wikipedia

Editor: Travis May