Friday, March 21, 2014

Equinox Altars

Today is Autumn Equinox.
Time to celebrate abundance
and balance, for today the light and the dark are equal. Northern and Southern Hemispheres, whether in autumn or spring equinox, are poised in the balance of day and night.
Here, summer is gently washing away as autumn drops in quietly with the falling leaves.
The sea is calm, the day is serene. 
We give thanks for the harvest of the heart's work;
Seeds of faith planted with faith;
Love nurtured by love;
Courage strengthened by courage.
We give thanks for the fruits of the struggling soul,
the bitter and the sweet;
For that which has grown in adversity
And for that which has flourished in warmth and grace;
For the radiance of the spirit in autumn
And for that which must now fade and die.
We are blessed and give thanks.
Michael Leunig

12 comments:

Hotly Spiced said...

The figs look amazing. I do like the weather at this time of year but I do find myself on edge, fearing the end of the warmer weather and the shorter days xx

Nadezda said...

Happy Autumn Equinox, Juliet!
I see you have harvested wonderful tomatoes and figs. Have a nice weekend!

Juliet said...

Nadezda, thank you. That was the last of the tomatoes, and the first of my friend's figs. Nice to see you. I've signed up to your blog, which looks lovely.

Penny O'Neill said...

Such a fittingly beautiful grace for the equinox, Juliet. Abundance and thankfulness; something to carry in hearts for the darker days, indeed.
Those figs! My Greek grandmother loved figs, her childhood filled with them in "the old country". My dad, her son, would bring home a crate of them each summer's end, and she would eat them like a child until her stomach ached.

Juliet said...

Penny, what a vivid memory of your Greek grandmother, eating figs till her stomach ached. I never saw figs in my childhood; they are still an unusual fruit to me. Thank you.

RuthG said...

Beautiful images, Juliet. Happy Equinox!

Juliet said...

Ruth, thank you. I'm enjoying hearing about your commemorations in Christchurch too - so nice that we are both marking the seasons in this way.

Juliet said...

* Charlie, I've just seen that my reply to your comment hasn't posted. So I'll try again to say thank you, and the figs were very perky to look at as well as delicious inside.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Juliet .. wonderful photos .. and it is so good to be this side of equator now! Longer days and I hope we'll be eating fresh veggies soon .. I'll be out to the farm shop.

Gorgeous altars ... cheers Hilary

Juliet said...

Hilary, the scales have tipped your way now, and I'm sure you are glad about that. Thanks for visiting.

Vicki Lane said...

Blessed abundance! May it come to all of us in turn.

Juliet said...

Yes indeed Vicki. Your turn very soon!
Thank you.