In A Fog?

•  by Dawn King  •  If you’re feeling that a lot of uncertainty currently exists in our world, you have company! Let’s explore why we might be feeling this way.

The same day as our northern hemisphere celebrated Fall Equinox (September 22), there was a partial solar eclipse over the Southern Hemisphere, casting its shadow on New Zealand and Antarctica. Eclipses have always gotten our attention and been a cause of awe and introspection. An eclipse occurs with an alignment of the Sun and Moon during which their gravitational forces work together; this causes extreme tidal movements on Earth. Since our physical bodies are largely liquid, we can also experience these tidal effects.

A body with mass has a gravitational field; the interaction of the solar wind with any mass generates an electrical field around that mass. Because all planets, comets, asteroids, etc. have gravitational and electrical fields, they effect Earth. So, phenomena in the sky have effects on Earth, and can be seen as a mirror of what we experience here.     

How interesting that at this same time of the equinox and eclipse, Neptune, the gigantic planet associated with watery dissolution, was the closest to Earth that it ever gets. Neptune is about 57 times the size of Earth in volume, and 17 times in mass. It spins completely around every 16 hours, and has supersonic winds. The fluidity of spiritual reality is represented by Neptune. From our perspective on Earth, this distant planet takes 165 years to make a complete circuit around the Sun. Neptune is also associated with illusions, dreams, confusion, doubt and suspicion.

Another large, slow moving planet, Saturn, takes 29.5 earth-years to go completely around the Sun. if Earth was the size of a nickel, Saturn would be about the size of a volleyball. In astrology, Saturn is the Law and Order planet, symbolizing material stability and “reality,”  associations that are opposite to those of Neptune.

When Saturn and Neptune were last conjunct (in1989) the world saw numerous societal shifts; the Berlin wall came down (because of miscommunication); China’s Tiananmen Square massacre took place; California experienced the Loma Prieta earthquake, and Alaska suffered the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Earlier conjunctions of Saturn and Neptune saw the fall of the Soviet Union, the end of World War I, and the start of the United States, to name a few events.

Every 35 years or so, Saturn and Neptune occupy the same part of the sky, as seen from Earth. This unusual combination (conjunction) began most recently in early July, and will continue off and on until May of 2026, a period in which it can seem that long-range planning is difficult. On a human level, we each may be challenged to re-evaluate what we hold as important in our life.

At this time, how can we gain a greater feeling of stability and order in our lives while making spiritual progress? Speaking for myself, connecting with Divine Spirit through prayer, intention, reflection and meditation is my rock, a Saturnian stability. But, it is also my source of inspired dreams and ideals, things associated with Neptune. Our balancing act is to live in the middle place, between extremes of energies, emotions, and mental constructs—in this world but not of it. Sitting quietly each morning and evening to be grateful and to “check in” can guide us with a greater wisdom, one that is in harmony with all life, all of creation—a true revelation of soul.

We are called to a new mind on the matter of what makes us tick and how we are intended to fit into God’s universe as he created it. – D. C. Collier

Starting Anew

•  by Dawn King  •  Sunburst, and the world, are starting anew with the Fall Equinox. It is a beautiful opportunity to realign ourselves with our authentic Self, Life, Spirit, Joy. At Sunburst, we celebrated the Dance of Venus with a Sacred Geometry workshop led by Craig Hanson (photo below). We stepped along the beautiful pattern this planet creates as it revolves around Earth and Sun over an 8 year period.

We at Sunburst also enjoyed a transformative labyrinth walk on the morning of the Equinox (9/22, photo at start). This beautiful observance is restorative and life-affirming, as we join in the ongoing cycle of nature. Craig shared with me the story of an autistic boy who spoke his first words after wandering the many turns of the labyrinth. We know it has a psychophyiological effect—mind and body interact. I felt personally renewed and inspired with creative ideas.

Many cultures around the world celebrate this time of year. In the Northern hemisphere we have harvest festivals such as Poland’s Dozynki. Ancient Welsh Druids called this time of balance between night and day “The Light of the Water,” water being symbolic of life, a depth of emotional stillness and contemplation, both of which we can enjoy in winter. In Jewish lore, this is when Adam and Eve were created; it’s also the time when Jews repent and atone for past errors—to be renewed in a new civil year.

To me it is interesting that the Southern Hemisphere celebrates the start of Spring at the same time we see the beginning of Fall. Likewise, the Sun enters Libra at this time of year while the full Moon shines from Aries (opposite of Libra). And so the duality of our plane of existence is observed in every direction this month, as it is in each month that passes.