Off balance?

These days, some of us are off balance, a bit edgy and weary. It happens to us all regularly, but it’s a little more intense right now. There are a few ways to sidestep a medical diagnosis and try some of the Nature Heals approaches – explore different natural rhythms, textures, surprises and reminders of seasonal time. We live in an ever-changing meadow of time and space, culture and politics. Nothing stays the same. There’s always something emerging, like that Double-Spiral image, spiraling in both directions. It’s the roadmap, an invitation to rebalance by holding dualities and opposites at the same time; a reminder that Life is really not linear, but circles back on itself. Nature offers the clues we need.

What about those cicadas this spring? A 13-year cycle. The noise, the crunchy little shells on trees, the beauty of those wings. Messengers that life comes in all shapes and schedules. Cicadas are part of the bug family that includes the lowly stinkbugs, aphids and dreaded bed bugs

September 22 is the autumnal equinox, followed two weeks later by the Harvest Moon. It’s one of two times a year when the amount of day and night are equal, when the edge, border, veil between them is thin. Our body recognizes such changes in season and light and may let us know it’s a time for rebalancing, recharging; getting head, heart, hands back in same place.

The equinox is also the time for gratitude, to the land for the harvest, and to those people who’ve helped make us who we are. Maybe have an autumn playdate or walk with them. A high point of my childhood was going “nutting” with my grandfather each autumn to find acorns, chestnuts and black walnuts.

Finally, I suggest a visit to a waterfall. Yes, a waterfall. There are several dozen in the region. Besides the adventure, awe, relentless sound and cascading movement, the air near waterfalls is filled with negative ions. That’s actually really positive. As they reach our bloodstream, they seem to affect serotonin levels. We feel happier, less stressed and more energized. Think of times at the beach or just after a rainstorm or even after a shower. Ah! Negative ions help get us rebalanced.