Chaco Canyon. Photo: Solstice Project
Of course equinoxes happen everywhere even in places that seem oblivious like midtown Manhattan where I’m roosting for a few days, primarily to see my editor and publisher, Ruth Greenstein of Turtle Point Press. I want to find out what she can do and what I need to do to help readers find my next book, Captured by the Shawnee, which Turtle Point will publish next April. Covid destroyed all opportunities to publicize my last-but-one book, The Silver Swan: In Search of Doris Duke, and probably impacted sales for my more recent, the memoir Little Brother, but will of course not be a factor in the sale of Shawnee although other factors certainly will make their appearance.
Now it is the equinox in the big city with pouring rain. I doubt that one in a hundred here is aware of it. It’s the autumnal equinox, ushering in the shorter days and longer nights of fall. Apparently, if I was on a ship in the Laccadive Sea I would observe the sun hanging directly overhead but since I’m not in that place, I will not see the sun at all, sheathed in heavy clouds. But I will feel the change; more hours of darkness will inspire my pineal gland to produce more melatonin which in turns produces lethargy and sleepiness. Oh please—not at the start of this long journey!
We no longer have the equinox and solstice ceremonies that bound together the people of Chaco Canyon. But it is possible to make our own ceremonies. All it requires is willingness, and perhaps a sage smudge stick, or a candle.
Who is making a ceremony today?
Only after I met friends from Santa Fe did I learn of modern day expressions of ancient rituals concerning solstice and equinox. Beautiful!
As for promoting your book, I am happy to help any way I can. đź’ť
So glad to see your comment today about the solstice. Anyone who wants to be inspired to do a solstice ritual can read Starhawk’s first book, Spiral Dance. Starhawk and the Reclaiming Collective have a website. And there are people all over the country (world) honoring Earth’s changing cycle, certainly a number in your neck of the woods and in NYC as well. Enjoy, all.
This year I really noticed what you speak of — the shortening of the days. I have missed the long hours of sunlight more than ever before. I miss, too, my younger years when winter didn’t diminish my energy, and I loved being in a night dance or orchestra rehearsal or concert or at whatever other good things were happening. But you’re right, Sallie, fall-winter is the time for going within and slowing down.
Good success in finding the increased impetus to your books’ publicity and sales.