This week marked the Autumnal Equinox- when day and night are in perfect balance. I've been thinking about balance a lot this week. In a year of physical and emotional challenges, much of the time I've felt somewhat off balance. But now I am at last regaining my footing.
The world seems very off balance at the moment. The news is full of war, suffering and unspeakable terror. We ingest this news obsessively, feeling that to turn away from it is to dismiss it. But remember that our minds and bodies are sensitive things and we become what we think about. To become discerning of what we allow into our psyche, I believe, is the key to remaining in balance. This is certainly not to say that we should turn a blind eye to the horrors of the world, but that we make a concerted effort to balance our protests, our righteous anger and our pain with something beautiful.
Today, take a walk in the glorious autumn sunshine- read something beautiful- listen to gentle music- make art- make love. The world needs more Loveliness now than ever. Because as Phil Ochs wrote at the height of the Vietnam War: "In such an ugly time, the true protest is Beauty".
