Autumn Equinox is about the mid-life phase of a woman's life, and also about the poignant seasonal turning toward winter and inward time. We encounter opportunity for personal assessment, asking ourselves pointed questions as we explore the psychology of harvest-time. We can name, ground and ritualized our harvests for the year: things that have come into being, that have gone well, things for which we are grateful.

The autumn of a woman's life occurs at mid-life, and if she and this time are honored and respected, it can be the harvest of a lifetime, helping us set our course for the rest of our lives. We name those things that we still truly desire, which need more tending to bring them into full Harvest. Maybe there are aspirations in  dormancy–resting or waiting to be reactivated under the right conditions. Autumn assessments encourage us to be aware of people with whom we have had conflict, and consider working to clear things up before the Inner Time. We have opportunity to grieve our significant losses in ritual, to honor those who have died, to start fresh.
   Women at mid-life often are tired of focused care-taking others and ready to concentrate on their own needs and desires. Fall Equinox time calls us to go voluntarily into the Deep to attend our inner pursuits and do important soul work.

Nature is withdrawing . . . and we go with her

   The Inner Time Deep is opportunity to tender our woundedness, our depression under patriarchy and in the face of calamities on the planet, our beloved planet home.
   We go toward Hecate: the name given to our inner Wisdom, where we listen, reflect and heal.
Kim Duckett © Mother Tongue ink 2016

 Kim Duckett Ph.d. (Asheville, NC) Priestess/Ritualist/Teacher of Women's Studios for 30 years; Founder and Elder Priestess of WHISPER: Land of the Sky, "A Year and a Day Sacred Mystery School for Women," and WOTY: The Wheel of Year as an Earth-Based Spiritual Psychology for Women training. From more information about the Wheel as psychology book, contact Kim at followheartkd@gmail.com

Sandy Eastoak (Sebastopol, CA) paints and writes for Earth healing. She has shown in over 150 solo group exhibits, and has written nine books, mostly poetry.  Loving intelligence of other species and intimacy with spirit infuse her work.