Equanimity and the Equinox

I’m having such fun with the Contemplating Consciousness posts on Substack that I want to break my pattern and share an additional, short invitation to contemplate with me, between the full and new moons!

The March equinox, celebrated for centuries as Ostara in the northern hemisphere and, if the Celtic traditions reach that far, as Mabon in the southern, offers such a wonderful opportunity for reflection. I would hate to miss it!

Do you feel the paradox?

There’s often a theme of turbulence, especially in the North as spring gains momentum, it’s life-force pushing up against winter’s stagnation. And sadly, this year is certainly no exception. As we’ve seen, the surge of energy can show itself in innumerable ways and can be devastating. My compassion goes out to all those who have been adversely affected in recent days this year.

And yet, for the briefest moment the hours of daylight and darkness find balance across the globe. The moment resonates in me like, an exquisite chime, reminding me to pause and to reset, to readjust myself to that place of balance, to experience equanimity in the face of it all.

Equanimity.

This beautifully rich and nuanced word calls to me, like Sofia wisdom crying out from the rooftops, inviting me home. It is the state that I’m drawn towards, the state in which I aspire to dwell.

Whilst for many years I’ve been told that I’m calm in a crisis, my first conscious meeting with the word Equanimity was about a decade ago. It teased me, cropping up repeatedly, and each time, I had to go to the dictionary to try again an again to get a sense of it. The simple definition of calmness and composure felt flat. I knew there was more to it than that!

It seems I was not alone! Since then, I’ve read many Buddhist essays and descriptions, all trying to land this evasive word for the western mind.

And when feeling unsettled, I’ve tried many practices to edge myself back towards equanimity. One of the easiest and most effective ways for me is to chant the simple refrain from the Plumb Village song of the same name, “clouds come, clouds go, my mind is a clear blue sky.”

Some combination of the vocalisation, the rhythm and repetition, the chanting seems to work a kind of magic in my nervous system. Perhaps it will do the same for you?

Alternatively, I find visuals helpful, so I created another playful piece of word art – inspired by the song and infilled with the words and phrases that have caught my attention or that I have experienced, my contemplation on Equanimity.

If Equanimity is calling to you, why not spend some time with the graphic.

Sit with it awhile.

Which word or phrase catches your attention?

What wisdom does that word or phrase hold for you?

In what ways does it wish to support you to maintain equilibrium as the world silently slips out of balance and outer turbulence retakes centre stage?

May you experience beautiful equanimity

With love.

Annie