Hello lovely souls,
As September unfolds around us, there’s something magical happening in the natural world. The leaves are beginning their gentle shift from green to gold, the morning air carries a crisp whisper of autumn, and we’re approaching one of the most significant moments in our yearly cycle: the September equinox.
This year, the autumn equinox arrives on 22nd September at 7:20 PM BST, marking that extraordinary moment when day and night exist in perfect harmony. It’s nature’s gentle reminder that finding balance isn’t just possible, it’s essential for our wellbeing and growth.
The Sacred Art of Finding Balance
The equinox has been celebrated for thousands of years across cultures worldwide. From Mabon in Celtic tradition to the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, humans have long recognised this time as sacred for reflection, gratitude, and recalibration.
But what does finding balance actually mean in our modern lives? It’s not about perfect symmetry or splitting everything equally down the middle. Rather, it’s about understanding the natural rhythms of expansion and contraction, action and rest, giving and receiving that flow through every aspect of our existence.
Just as the earth tilts towards and away from the sun throughout the year, we too have seasons within ourselves. Sometimes we’re in a phase of growth and outward expression, other times we naturally turn inward for reflection and restoration. The key is learning to honour these cycles rather than fighting against them.
Research from Harvard Health Publishing shows that our attempts to maintain constant equilibrium can actually increase stress levels. Instead, they suggest that resilience comes from our ability to adapt and flow with life’s natural fluctuations.
The Science of Seasonal Balance
Research from the University of California, Berkeley demonstrates that spending time in nature and practising mindfulness significantly improves mental wellbeing and cognitive function. The equinox period offers an ideal opportunity to harness these benefits as we transition between seasons.
Our ancestors understood something we’re rediscovering: that aligning with natural cycles supports our physical and emotional health. The gradual shortening of daylight triggers changes in our circadian rhythms, melatonin production, and energy levels. Rather than fighting these shifts, we can work with them.
Creating Your Personal Equinox Practice
Beyond our group sessions, here are some gentle ways to honour this season of balance in your daily life:
Morning Ritual: Begin each day by stepping outside and taking three conscious breaths, acknowledging the changing light and temperature.
Evening Reflection: As darkness arrives earlier, create a simple ritual of gratitude for the day’s experiences, both challenging and joyful.
Seasonal Foods: Embrace autumn’s harvest by incorporating seasonal produce like apples, pears, and root vegetables, which naturally ground and nourish us during this transition.
Nature Connection: Schedule regular walks or time outdoors, noticing the subtle changes happening around you. As I explore in my forest bathing sessions, conscious connection with nature offers profound healing benefits.
The Gift of Imperfect Balance
One of the most liberating realisations about finding balance is that it’s not a destination but a continuous journey. Like walking, balance requires constant micro-adjustments. We don’t expect to step forward once and remain upright forever; similarly, life balance requires ongoing attention and gentle corrections.
The equinox teaches us that equal doesn’t necessarily mean identical. While day and night share the same duration at this time, they offer completely different qualities of experience. Similarly, our work and rest, solitude and connection, effort and ease, don’t need to look the same to be balanced.
This understanding can free us from the impossible standards we sometimes set for ourselves. You don’t need to meditate for exactly the same amount of time you spend working, or balance every social commitment with equivalent alone time. Instead, you can learn to recognise when you’re leaning too far in one direction and gently guide yourself back towards centre.
As discussed in my previous post on balancing body and mind, true wellness emerges from understanding the interconnection between different aspects of our being.
September’s Journey of Transformation
This September, I’ll be supporting a busy schedule to support you through this season of change, offering various pathways to explore balance in body, mind, and spirit. Each session provides tools and techniques that you can weave into your daily life, helping you navigate not just this seasonal transition, but life’s ongoing dance between stability and change.
Week One: Deep Restoration
We begin the month with Breathe Deep, Rest Deeper on Sunday 7th September, 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM at Zenergy Wellness in Bromsgrove. This 3.5-hour immersive workshop combines Conscious Connected Breathwork, Sound Bath, and Yoga Nidra, creating a powerful experience of release and renewal.
Conscious Connected Breathwork is often described as “a year of therapy in 60 minutes” by participants. It’s a therapeutic technique that helps release held tension, emotions, and stress from the body through a specific circular breathing pattern. Combined with the healing vibrations of sound and the deep rest of Yoga Nidra, this session offers profound restoration. Investment: £45.
Week Two: Private and Retreat Experiences
Friday 12th September brings a private Sound Bath session from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, demonstrating how sound healing can be tailored for small groups seeking intimate healing experiences.
The weekend of 13th-14th September, I’ll be joining Tracy Sadler at the beautiful To The Trees retreat centre in Gloucestershire. This weekend retreat combines the grounding energy of nature with transformative practices. I’ll be delivering Saturday evening’s Nidra and Sound Bath session as part of this gorgeous escape into the countryside. Investment: £200 for the full weekend.
Sunday 14th September offers something special: a FREE Forest Bathing session at Worcester Woods Country Park from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This session forms part of my Forest Bathing Institute training portfolio, and you’ll benefit from both my years of meditation experience and the latest forest therapy techniques. Your feedback helps me whilst you experience the profound healing power of conscious connection with nature.
Week Three: Sound and Masculine Energy
Wednesday 17th September brings Sound Asleep to The Fold in Bransford (7:00 PM to 8:30 PM). This unique 90-minute experience combines Yoga Nidra’s conscious rest with gong-based sound healing. You’ll be guided into a state of alert relaxation where deep restoration occurs naturally. It’s the perfect mid-week pause to reset your nervous system. Investment: £20.
Sunday 21st September offers two distinct opportunities for finding balance. The Men-ditation™: Reset & Recharge Day Retreat (12:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Zenergy Wellness) provides a space specifically designed for men to reconnect with their energy, focus, and purpose. This 5-hour retreat addresses the unique challenges men face in maintaining balance between external demands and internal wellbeing. Investment: £129.
Later that same evening, the Restore and Rebalance Sound Bath (6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, also at Zenergy Wellness) offers a gentler way to end the day. The therapeutic sounds of Gongs, Himalayan and Crystal singing bowls help shift your energy and bring you to a state of balance and inner harmony. Investment: £20.
Week Four: Monthly Rhythms
As September draws to a close, we return to our monthly practices that form the foundation of ongoing wellbeing.
Sunday 28th September features our Monthly Sound Bath at Soul Sanctuary Yoga Studios in Worcester (6:45 PM to 7:45 PM). These sessions are wonderful for immersing you in the healing vibrations of gongs, Himalayan bowls, and crystal bowls. Investment: £12.
The month concludes on Monday 29th September with our Monthly Conscious Connected Breathwork session at Soul Sanctuary (7:30 PM to 8:45 PM). This ongoing practice helps you develop a relationship with your breath as a tool for transformation and emotional release.
Looking Ahead
As we move through September towards the official arrival of autumn, remember that this season of finding balance continues to unfold over the coming months. The practices you cultivate now, the insights you gather, and the connections you make will support you through winter’s introspective period and prepare you for spring’s eventual return.
Whether you join us for one session or several throughout September, each experience offers tools and techniques you can integrate into your daily life. More importantly, each gathering creates space for you to reconnect with your own innate wisdom about what balance means for you.
I’m deeply grateful to share this seasonal journey with you, and I look forward to exploring the art of finding balance together throughout September and beyond.
If you’d like to know more about any of these sessions or discuss which might be right for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
With autumn blessings,
Ian
