Autumn equinox: A time for self-reflection and deeper sensual healing
The autumn equinox symbolically reflects a time of introspection, gratitude, and balance. The word equinox comes from Latin, meaning aequus (equal) and nox (night). This day of the year marks the beginning of autumn and consists of equal hours of daylight and darkness.
Throughout history, people and communities have connected with the rhythms of the Earth, the moon, and seasons to mark new beginnings and deepen self-reflection. If you are on a sexual or personal healing journey, this is a great time of year to tap into this symbolism and connect with your inner wisdom and introspection.
In celebration of tomorrow’s autumn equinox, I will share three themes and accompanying journaling practices to support you in deepening your inner knowing, accessing your wisdom, and honoring your sensuality and sexuality.
Gratitude: The autumn season is connected with the harvest and symbolism of abundance. As you reflect on this, connect with your own healing and the journey that you have been on this past year.
Journaling and reflection questions:
What are you grateful for around your body?
What do you appreciate about your sensuality and sexuality?
What healing practices have you engaged in this year that have felt nurturing?
What has supported you on your sexual journey?
Balance: As we venture into the day of equal darkness and light, we can connect with the ways in which we have been out of balance. This can be a particularly powerful mindfulness and self-reflection practice when exploring sexuality.
Journaling and reflection questions:
What is your relationship with sex?
Are there any ways in which your relationship with sexuality has been out of balance?
In what ways have you used sex to numb difficult emotions?
In what ways have you not prioritized pleasure or your sensuality?
If you feel you have not had a balanced relationship with your sexuality, what has contributed to this?
What would support you in having a more balanced, embodied, and mindful relationship with your sexuality, sensuality, and your body?
Connecting with your senses, body’s rhythms, and the Earth: As we navigate our busy lives it can be difficult to connect with our needs, our bodies, and our rhythms. The autumn equinox provides an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with our bodies, our senses, and the Earth.
Journaling and reflection questions:
Are you connected to your body’s needs such as for nourishing regular meals, hydration, or rest?
If you struggle with prioritizing your body’s care and needs, what gets in the way of this?
What feels grounding and connects you to your body and your sensuality?
What earth based or nature based practices feel supportive for you?
What steps do you want to take to nurture your body, sensuality, and sexuality more?
These journaling questions offer a space for you to deepen your introspection and connect with the qualities and symbolism of the autumn equinox. Our relationship with sex, ourselves, and our bodies changes throughout our lives. This autumn season is an invitation to reflect on what has felt nurturing to you this year and what helps you to feel joyful, fulfilled, and honored. It is also an invitation to look at parts of your relationship with sexuality and sensuality that have felt out of balance and that you would like to heal. Throughout your autumn equinox inner reflections and journaling, be kind and gentle with yourself. Connect with these questions from a place of curiosity. With each step of deeper self-knowing, we can move towards more pleasure, passion, and self-compassion.