Annually, there are 4 important dates that are especially linked with nature. They are: fall equinox, around September 21st; winter solstice, around December 21st; spring equinox, around March 21st; and summer solstice, around June 21st.

Technically, the equinox refers to the 2 days of the year in which the sunrise and sunset are 12 hours apart, giving equal hours to day and night. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, and the winter solstice is the longest night of the year.

I observe these 4 days as nature holidays and use them to take time out, step back, and remember the specific nature process that is related to the equinox or solstice in effect that day. Through the years, nature has taught me the following about each of the 4 days.

FALL EQUINOX
In nature, this is the new year, the day that begins the next year's cycle. It is the day when the call goes out for the new cycle to activate and begin its formation processes on the deepest of energy levels. At Perelandra, at the precise moment of the fall equinox I, as creator of this garden, initiate the call by saying aloud,
I request the next cycle and wish to assist its full unfolding.

For this, I usually make a small gesture — such as lighting a candle. Nothing hinges on this. It's only an option.

NOTE: When I say precise moment, I mean the precise time of the day the equinox or solstice occurs. For example, 1986's fall equinox was on September 23rd at 2:59 A.M. (Yes, of course I gripe and groan about an equinox or solstice that hits at such an ungodly hour. I'm not that crazy! But I observe the moment anyway. I feel the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience.) There is a strong release and surge of dynamic energy within the forces of nature at this precise time that is above and beyond the energy of the day itself, and I choose to link what I am initiating with the enhanced energy. The time for the equinoxes and solstices can be gotten from the almanac, and in most areas they can be gotten from the local newspaper or TV weather report.

It took a while for me to rearrange my thinking about the beginning of the new year not being January 1. And it was a little difficult to still be looking at the growing garden of the present cycle while at the same time calling in the pattern for the next year. But as I moved through the rest of the equinox/solstice cycle, I soon learned how appropriate this shift was.

IMPORTANT: I have incorporated another dimension into this little ceremony, and that has to do with my personal cycle. Each year at the time of the fall equinox, I also call in the next step in my own evolutionary process. I make the commitment to receive and act on that cycle, and I activate this commitment by consciously including it in the ceremony. I have learned from nature that all that exists on planet Earth is grounded fully and completely in form and physical action through the energy of nature. That energy commingles with the human dynamics of thought and creativity and serves to fuse into these dynamics the matter, means and action necessary for grounding. It is the natural law of the planet. It is called involution/evolution balance. The energy of nature (involution) links with and energizes the creative, forward-moving spirit of humankind (evolution) to create one cohesive, efficient unit of life energy. I have seen this principle demonstrated often in areas outside the usual nature environment. It seemed reasonable to me that my personal process would be greatly assisted if I formally and consciously participated in the fusion process between it and the nature energies. My logic was verified by nature and for a number of years now, I have combined my personal cycle with the nature cycle. I continue the cycle by including my personal process in the winter solstice, spring equinox and summer solstice celebrations.

I can't give you hard evidence that there has been a drastic change in how I move through my personal cycle each year. However, I feel that there has been an enormous amount of clarity added to the process, its purpose and direction — and this could certainly be attributed to my conscious participation in the fusion of nature energy through the vehicle of the equinox/solstice cycle. It's like the pieces of my life and the direction I am taking within this year's period are appropriately energized and enhanced 4 times, and the result is that those pieces fall into place smoothly, even effortlessly — and I experience clarity.

It is also important to point out that I do not predetermine or speculate on either the garden's direction or my own at the time of the fall equinox. For both, I clearly put out the call for whatever is to be and I leave it at that. I'll say, I call in my next personal cycle. For many people, this is hard, if not impossible, to do. They want to speculate about what's coming for them. They know what's in store. Personally, I never speculate about my future. I haven't the vaguest idea what's in store. If I did, it would probably scare the bejeesus out of me anyway. In my mind, to speculate on, predefine or predetermine the direction would put me in the position of second-guessing or even manipulating the garden or myself into a direction out of pure desire. I don't want my will to be the guiding force in this. I want to do what I am to do — for both me and the garden.

WINTER SOLSTICE
This is the celebration of the devic level and its role as architect. It is at this moment that I can feel the next natural cycle come together on the devic level and form one balanced, cohesive unit. It is also the moment when I can sense the energies of my cycle as a unit, as well.

For the ceremony, I have a more elaborate setting. This is around Christmastime and to give nature its fair share of the season, I set up what I call a Life Table. On it, I create a nature setting of greens, nests, nuts, berries, and birdfeather ornaments. I also include several jars of canned fruit or vegetables from the latest garden season and handmade crafts to symbolize the creative coming together of man and nature. For the winter solstice, the Life Table candle is lit and at the moment of the solstice, I focus my attention on the devic quality of life — the creation of the blueprints.

Just after the solstice moment, I draw 2 cards from the Aquarian Tarot. For the first card, I connect with the devic level (for me, the Deva of Perelandra — for you, the deva of your garden) and request that this card symbolize the spirit of the next garden cycle. The second card pertains to my personal process and I link with my own higher self for this one.* I then place the 2 cards on the Life Table. They give me the first glimpse at the direction of the 2 new cycles.

(* A very simple process. I talked about it in Chapter 2. All you do is ask to be consciously connected with your higher self. You may feel a sense of energy sweep through you which will signal that you are now connected. If you feel nothing, verify its connection by testing, trust that the connection has been made, and draw the card. Believe me, that connection is there for you.)

NOTE: I do not even attempt to do the garden charts I talked about in Chapter 6 of the Perelandra Garden Workbook until after the winter solstice. I feel that then the architectural blueprint is complete and its information is accessible to me.

SPRING EQUINOX
For this one, I concentrate on the nature spirit level. At the equinox moment, I sense the transfer of the entire garden reality in energy from the devic level to the nature spirit level. I also sense a shift in the overall dynamic of the garden from one of planning to one of action. Although I may already be working the garden in early March, I use this particular day to consciously recognize that vital devic and nature spirit interaction.

For my personal cycle, I feel the very same dynamic as with the nature cycle: the transfer of energy and the shift of intent from planning to action. I usually start to see my personal direction start to unfold in clearer, more tangible ways after the spring equinox.

Regarding the ceremony itself, it's another simple moment at Perelandra: the lighting of a single white candle and the conscious focusing on the matter at hand at the exact moment of the equinox.

SUMMER SOLSTICE
This is the time for celebrating the result of the whole natural process — the devic pattern successfully and fully fused into form with the active assistance of humans and nature spirits. It is the celebration of the coming together of all levels and I experience it as a celebration of joy, sunshine and laughter within all realms of nature.

To prepare for this one, I link into the nature spirit level via Pan, and am told 1 or 2 colors that best carry the vibration and intent of the specific summer solstice being celebrated.** I then buy ribbon and make a bunch of bows combining the colors, if more than one, in each bow. I place the bows at key spots around Perelandra: the garden focal point, at the edge of the Elemental Annex, my office, the reptile pond, the barn, the mailroom, the UPS station, all the other various Perelandra offices, our family areas — and on anyone or anything that happens to pass when I'm putting these things up! This visually unites Perelandra for the solstice. I leave the bows up for the week following the solstice day and carry the intent and celebration of the day throughout the week.

(** You can get the colors by linking with Pan or the nature spirits of your garden, requesting that you be given the appropriate colors, and kinesiologically testing a list of colors. The positive results are the ones.

At the precise moment of the summer solstice, I light a candle and sit quietly. I often feel the energy shift at the precise solstice moment, and often I get a visualization. Once I saw the solstice energies lower into the garden area, then move toward the center of the garden, form into a stem which grew and grew right out into the universe. There a white lotus opened and showered the universe with solstice energy in the form of sparkling lights that looked like fireworks.

As far as my personal cycle is concerned, by this time I have a sense of what I called in and how I am moving, and it is this knowledge that I celebrate. I've always found this to be a pretty amazing process to see unfold. When I call in the cycle in the fall, I have no idea what I am getting myself into.

This completes the yearly cycle and, in the fall, I start the whole process over.

OVERLIGHTING DEVA OF PERELANDRA

It is important that one consider the power and impact of action when performed within the state of conscious awareness. The recognition of the nature cycle within the framework of the equinox and solstice rhythm is a perfect example of the fusion of action and awareness. In this particular case, we have two levels of the example. First, there is the recognition of the special dynamic energy activated and released during these four days that is directly linked to the annual natural progression of the planet. Second, by taking a moment out to stand back from the day-to-day process and consciously acknowledge the specific stages of that process, one is able to re-infuse his commitment to the process itself. What I am saying is very similar to the relationship the Christmas or Easter festivals have to the Christian. He may struggle on a day-to-day basis to live out his life within his perceived context of Christianity, and his focus throughout the year is on the quality of his response and action within a given moment. The Christmas and Easter festivals serve to allow him to step out of the forest, as it were, where he has been most busy concentrating on each of the trees, and give him the chance to experience the overview of what he is doing. The result is a revitalization of his commitment to the day-to-day process which, in turn, enables him to step back into the forest and once again work with each tree.

The annual solstice and equinox cycle functions much in the same manner for those individuals who choose to participate. It does not matter if one is actively working in some area of nature. The overriding commitment during these times is to the natural process between spirit and matter which exists throughout the entire planet. Of course, if an individual is actively working in a natural environment, the participation during such a moment translates fully into his personal sphere of interaction and directly enhances that work process in every way.

The equinox and solstice cycle has existed on the planet since the present establishment of the patterning between the planet, its moon and its relative positioning within the solar system. I say this to remind you that cycles such as this go on around you whether they are recognized by humans or not. The elements of the planet which are already naturally aligned to such cycles receive the beneficial energies these cycles contain. Humans who have no conscious awareness of the equinox and solstice cycle also receive benefit by the mere fact that they are on the planet at the time of these shifts and releases, and by the fact that they are directly linked to the three kingdoms in nature through their physical body.

The energy contained within and released during the cycle, as Machaelle has described, relates to the natural process on all levels. If left alone, if not consciously recognized, that energy is released and results in a general recommitment to that process on the planet. But when humans enter the picture and add to it their free will in the form of a conscious choice to actively participate in the moment, they empower that moment many times over. This, in turn, empowers that commitment not just within the individual but within the planet as well.

To make the point further, anytime an individual fuses conscious awareness to heretofore unconscious action, he empowers the action many times over. Awareness is a vital dynamic within the broad picture of reality. It is not some empty personality trait, as many humans seem to feel. It is a reality itself with its own power and it can be used for the benefit or detriment of humans. It is an aspect of human reality which can be directly linked into the world of nature, thus benefiting both. And it is another example of co-creative partnership.

So, as the individual consciously links his awareness into already existing natural cycles, he empowers that cycle to the degree directly proportional to his level of awareness. As his awareness broadens and deepens, the cycle is that much more empowered, and energies released permeate the planet and all that exists on the planet more directly and clearly.

In the case of the equinox and solstice cycle, it is most appropriate to include the individual's personal evolutionary cycle consciously because that which is inherent in the process of the personal cycle is precisely that which is being recognized, energized and released in the equinox and solstice cycle. If one did not recognize this similarity, there would still be beneficial input into one's personal evolutionary cycle. You see, by definition the latter is already a part of the former. Their dynamic process is the same. In order for one's personal process to become physically accessible to him in every way, it must move through the natural laws of the environment in which the individual operates. How one demonstrates his process and progression depends on the level or dimension of reality in which he exists. Therefore, when on Earth, one demonstrates his process in physical action and form. The key to physical action and form on the planet Earth is nature. The framework of the process within nature that relates directly to the translation and fusion of energy or spirit into matter or form is contained in the annual cycle of the equinox and solstice. Therefore, when one consciously includes his personal cycle with the nature cycle, he is in fact taking a specific dynamic (his personal cycle) which is already a part of the whole (the equinox and solstice cycle) and bringing it to the fore, thereby spotlighting it and empowering it many times over in those areas that are related to the whole. This same will occur for whatever part of the whole an individual wishes to define consciously and spotlight. Simply by bringing it forward in awareness, the individual empowers it with the prevailing dynamic of the moment.