Sep 10, 2023

Mabon: Restoring the Balance

Rev. Kurt Hohmann

Mabon’s Wisdom: Restoring Balance in the Wake of Adversity

  • Welcome to Mabon!
    • Festival of harvest and thanksgiving
    • Turning of seasons, sacred time of transition
    • Reflect on the cyclical nature of life
    • Give thanks for our blessings
  • Embracing the Equinox:
    • Embrace the balance between day and night
    • Mabon arrives with the equinox, a time when light and darkness share an equal moment
      • The equilibrium of day and night reflects the delicate dance between light and darkness, growth and decay, joy and sorrow
      • Reminder that life is a constant interplay of opposites
        • Embracing this duality is essential for our spiritual and emotional well-being
      • Vibrant colors of autumn begin to paint the world, air carries a gentle chill, insects sing
        • Remind us that even in times of transition, there is beauty
      • The equinox reminds us that balance is a natural state of existence
  • Acknowledging the Shadows
    • As night and day shift, as the moon waxes and wanes
      • Our lives experience moments of struggle and pain
      • Our lives ebb and flow between moments of despair — let’s say challenge — and hope
      • Mabon encourages us to embrace this balance and find strength in the midst of it
    • Darkness is not to be feared
      • Within the darkness seeds germinate and dreams take root
      • Darkness is an integral part of life’s tapestry, cycles of nature
      • Darkness does not erase light; it merely tempers it, giving it greater depth and meaning
      • Acknowledging shadows does not mean succumbing to despair
        • But recognizing existence of challenges that call for our attention and action
    • In seeking balance, we honor our capacity for resilience and our commitment to creating positive change
    • Just as Mabon marks the transition from light to dark, we too navigate the duality of life’s experiences
    • Adversity has the power to unveil our inner strengths and ignite our compassion for others who may also be struggling
    • By acknowledging both darkness and light, we can find the equilibrium that keeps us steady on our journey
    • A battery connected only on the positive side does not work!

How do we deal with bad news day to day?

Story: The Farmer’s Parable (China/Taoist)

  • Note: Taoism emphasizes naturalness, peace, effortless action, detachment, receptiveness
  • Once upon a time, a farmer had a valuable horse run away
    • “Bad News!” said his neighbor.
    • “Good news, bad news, who knows?” replied the farmer
  • Later, the horse returned to the farm with many wild horses accompanying it
  • Some time after that, the farmer’s son fell and broke his leg while trying to train one of the wild horses
  • Soon after, the army came through town conscripting all able-bodied young men, and the farmer’s son was passed over
  • And so on
  • Do not get too upset — or attached — to what happens
  • Dark and confounding things can turn out to be opportunities
    • When looked on in hindsight
  • Pollyannaish, i.e. excessively optimistic
    • How many have had things not turn out as desired only to find something better was in store?
      • Job Loss
      • Cancer: its gift is stripping all the petty concerns from your life, focus on health, family and love
      • Viktor Frankl said when we’ve lost much, or even nearly everything, sometimes all we can choose is our attitude in the face of trials
        • We don’t know the end of the story we’re living
          • Don’t know the twists and turns to come
        • We never know what gifts will follow “bad news”
          • Need to take both good and bad as simply what happens
          • And choose which part of our character those reveal
  • The Gift of Awareness: bad news is around us all the time
    • Confront reality head-on
      • Acknowledge the struggles and injustices that surround us
    • Awareness is crucial step in addressing issues that plague us
    • Commitment to knowledge and understanding can turn challenges into opportunities for growth and transformation
  • Balancing Empathy and Boundaries:
    • We value compassion and empathy
      • But exposure to bad news can take a toll
    • Finding balance means engaging with empathy while also setting boundaries to protect our mental and emotional health
    • Choose to engage in meaningful ways without becoming consumed by despair
      • Recognize your ability to help is amplified when you are emotionally able
    • Avoid doom scrolling
    • Limit exposure to the bad
      • The worst social media sites
    • Seek out the good: Good News Network
    • Breathe!
    • Shake it out – physical movement
    • Talk it out
      • But no politics after 8pm
    • Learn what works for you!
  • Finding Sanctuary in Nature:
    • Trees stand tall through storms and flowers bloom amidst adversity, so we draw strength from the natural world
    • When overwhelmed, our connection to nature becomes a sanctuary of solace and rejuvenation
    • Spend time in the embrace of the forest, by the side of a flowing river, or under the vastness of the night sky
    • Let Earth’s rhythms remind you that even in darkest times, renewal and growth persist
  • Renewal and Letting Go:
    • Learn to let go of what no longer serves us, making space for new growth and opportunities
      • Reflect on what we’ve accomplished
      • Release what no longer serves us
    • Bad news can cling to our thoughts
      • Need to let go of fear, anger, helplessness
      • By shedding these, we create space for hope, renewal, and the possibility of positive change
  • Kindling the Flame Within:
    • Within each of us burns the sacred flame of resilience and hope
    • This flame is a testament to our ancestors’ strength
      • And our own capacity to endure and thrive
    • When the news is bleak, tend to this flame!
      • Keep it alive through compassion, connection, activism
    • Candle’s light can dispel the shadows
      • Our actions contribute to a brighter path for all
  • Cultivating Hope:
    • Not mere wishful thinking
      • Conscious choice to see the potential for change and progress even in the darkest of times
      • Hope reminds us that better days are possible
    • By nurturing hope within ourselves and sharing it with others, we become beacons of positivity and resilience
  • Taking Positive Action:
    • Be an agent of change
    • Counteract bad news’ effects by taking positive action
      • Participate in community initiatives
      • Support organizations that align with our values
      • Show kindness to those around us
    • Each step contributes to a ripple effect / positive transformation
  • The Harvest and Gratitude
    • Mabon harvest
      • Give thanks for the bounty that sustains us
      • Find solace in blessings that surround us, despite troubling news
    • Acts of gratitude uplift our spirits
      • Remind us that even in times of difficulty, there is much to be cherished
    • By focusing on the positive, we can restore our internal balance
    • Remember to recognize and appreciate blessings in our lives
      • It’s easy to overlook the gifts that surround us
        • Pause, to take stock, and to express gratitude for the abundance we’ve received
      • Express thanks for
        • The relationships that sustain us
        • The opportunities that enrich us
        • The lessons that shape us
  • Community and Unity:
    • Celebrate shared human experience
    • As farmers come together to harvest, we gather as community
      • Support one another
      • Celebrate our diversity
      • Nurture the bonds that unite us
    • Reach out to those struggling, offer assistance and a listening ear
    • Celebrate the tapestry of cultures, experiences, and beliefs that enrich community
    • Our unity lies in our willingness to share, to empathize, and to learn from one another’s stories
  • Conclusion:
    • In a world where bad news threatens to unbalance us, remember the equilibrium from embracing darkness and light
      • Let us be inspired by the values of compassion, understanding, and action
      • Acknowledge the reality of the world while nurturing our capacity for hope
    • Let us not turn a blind eye to the challenges of the world
      • Instead, embrace the darkness as a canvas for the light to shine more brilliantly
    • Continue to seek unity in diversity
      • To confront adversity with courage
      • To be a beacon of hope in a world that sometimes feels dark
    • Together we have the power to reshape the narrative
      • One act of kindness and one moment of hope at a time
      • Let us become the change we wish to see
      • Find balance in the midst of adversity
      • Express gratitude for the blessings in our lives
        • Find strength in the balance between light and darkness
        • Nurture the bonds of community that sustain us
        • Let us be inspired to sow the seeds of positive change
      • May we walk forward with a heart open to both the shadows and the light, finding our place in the ongoing dance of balance and renewal