Autumn Equinox, Feng Shui, and the West

On Planet Earth, West is the direction of the setting sun. It signifies evening, twilight, autumn and the coming of night. In the Northern hemisphere, Sept. 23 is the Autumn Equinox, when the energies of day and night are balanced.

In Feng Shui, the west is the direction of the element of metal, and its color is white. Metal, the element that has been tempered by time and the forces of the other elements, must be formed for use. It represents wealth and mental agility, and is the predominant element in the glittering cities of the 21st century.

In the Indigenous traditions of the Northern Hemisphere, It is a time of harvest and preparation for the winter. The fall equinox also represents maturity and the coming of wisdom.

In the time of autumn, the time of sunset, we have been tempered by the seasons of life. Summer, the season of growth, is over. The fruit is ready for harvest, the seeds begin to fall to the group, our winter approaches and we come to the realization that our time on Earth is short and that all things pass away. The question arises, what do we leave behind, what is our legacy? What will take root and grow when the spring equinox comes to awaken the Earth?

In the tradition of the Native Americans, all decisions are made with the idea of how they will impact the generations to come. Wisdom comes from turning away from our personal needs and desires, to caring for the future and all our relations.

Soon enough, winter comes and we will return to the Earth who gave us our life and all our substance. Before we do that, we can ask, how can we use our resources, talents and energy to leave our world a better place for the generations to come?

Standing in the direction of the west, we are asked to harvest, not just for ourselves, but for the many. At the time we can choose to gather our wisdom, talents and resources to leave this world better than when we arrived. If we leave for our children and the generations to come a depleted Earth with polluted water and air, what sort of legacy have we bequeathed?

The directions remind us that we are part of a greater whole on the wheel of life. At the autumnal equinox, the direction of the west, we can pause to thank our ancestors and the Earth and take some time to pay it forward to the generations to come.

Happening right before the Equinox, on Sept. 21, is the International Day of Peace. Please take a moment at noon to join with millions around the planet and, in your tradition, spend a few moments in praying or meditating for peace for this magical world, all the generations to come and all our relations. May peace prevail on Earth.

To contact Betsy Stang, practitioner of Healing by Design Feng Shui, click here.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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7:54AM PST on Mar 3, 2011

feng shuiing some more points for the animals ...

send a green star

10:55AM PST on Feb 21, 2011

feng shuiing points for the animals ...

gerlinde p.

9:27AM PST on Dec 20, 2009

may mankind unite as brothers/sisters filled with love,light,peace and happiness,

JE L.

9:42PM PST on Nov 30, 2009

Thanks

Vetch H.

6:20AM PST on Nov 28, 2009

Thank you.

8:14AM PDT on Sep 20, 2009

Sadly there was no "pledge of peace" that could be signed some two hundred plus years ago when the so-called settlers came and took away from the Native (real) Americans this country which was so abundant at the time.

Had we chosen to live in harmony with the Indians we could have learned from them and their natural way of life. Now, we as a whole are paying the price with our pollution, depleting natural resources to name but a few.

It isn't too late-yet. We can still learn and put into practice what they have known for centuries. The following saying by a native chief ages ago sums it all up: "We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We have borrowed it from our children."

Yes, Namaste . .indeed.

Peace M.

12:38AM PDT on Sep 20, 2008

As each of us joins in this world wide prayer of Peace, please consider signing the World Wide Pledge which states:
I shall always do my best to neither take part in nor knowingly support any action that requires anyone to suffer harm.

http://wholeworldpledge.org/gp/index.php?option=com_jambook&Itemid=89

Peace be with us!
Nameste my brothers and sisters!