In the Spirit: Balancing light and darkness

What: Dr. Laurel Reinhardt leads a forum in celebration of the Vernal Equinox. Participants will be invited to reflect on how balance (or lack thereof) is being expressed in their lives.

Where: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1735 Fifth and West White Pine Dr., Hendersonville, NC.

When: Sunday, March 16th, 9:15 a.m.

Why: Many spiritual traditions offer parables that describe the balance of light and dark, how that is expressed within us and the problems that arise when one side is ignored. The Vernal Equinox is a time where we can honor the equality of both the light and the darkness in ourselves and in the world, and understand that the side that grows is the one we feed.

“Recovering psychologist” Dr. Reinhardt is now a life/dream/joy coach with Inner Landscaping. She spoke with Xpress about the upcoming forum and Equinox:

Xpress: What is the importance of acknowledging both light and darkness in the world and in ourselves?

Reinhardt: I like to use the analogy of a seesaw: If the two participants are well balanced, the game of going up and down can be quite fun; there is a nice, gentle flow to the movement. Even if one person weighs a little more, you can adjust for this by having them move a little toward the center. It changes the experience, but only slightly. But if one of the participants is twice the weight of the other, it takes a lot of effort to go up and down, and it won’t be a gentle ride — if there is any movement at all. Internally, the experience can be similar: without balance, life can become stagnant, boring and effortful. 

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About Jordan Foltz
Exploring the subtle and esoteric aspects of what drives and inspires people to take action— including religion, spirituality, ethics, and aesthetics.

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