"A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life." - William Arthur Ward

I found that quote today and it kind of struck me as necessary for where I am in my life. Around Lughnasadh, things were terribly out of balance for me - a lot of work and very little fun. I felt depressed and lethargic often as a result of it and I didn't sleep well, which really did little to help me with the mound of work I had to to.

I had to spend a lot of time and energy just making sure I didn't fall off that tightrope.

Looking at that quote this morning gave me a moment of revelation: if I had made the time to go out and laugh a little and have a bit of fun, juggling all of the rest of my duties and responsibilities would have been a hell of a lot easier.

Often times, when things seem frustrating, when things seem like they are not working too well, when there seem to be inefficiencies in the system, the first place I need to look is for the imbalance. Of course, when I am in the thick of impatient clients, massive problems with migrating a site I designed, and having to solve a lot of computer issues at once, it's hard to see where exactly the imbalance lies. It's only when you can get into the calm at the center of the storm can you see what's really going on.

This is where something like Tarot or some other form of divination can be wonderfully handy. If you are feeling like chaos is all around you and nothing is working right, ask your deeper mind through your choice of divination. Divination can help you see what you already know, but are too clouded at the moment to get to. Ask in the divination where the imbalance is and the answer will start to become more clear.

This is also where having an understanding and caring friend, spouse, or partner who can help us see what we cannot can likewise be a blessing. If we have someone close to us (who most likely has been bearing a bit of the brunt of imbalances we are experiencing in our lives) we should ask that person where she thinks the imbalance is. If only I had listened to Greg and went to Hot Springs for a fun little getaway a few weeks ago, I might have been able to approach the difficulties with my work with a clearer, more focused, and more efficient mind.

There will always be things that get us out of balance, but there is a balance in that: an ebb and flow of chaos and calm, separated by periods of activity and inactivity. Life is a series of challenges and those challenges provide a temporary imbalance which leads towards a greater ability to bring about balance. I learned a lot about how to better balance my life in the future from my recent period of stress; I have become stronger as a result of the imbalance.

We see this in the Wheel of the Year. The equinoxes are a time of balance, yet perfect balance of night and day only exists twice a year. All of the other 363 days are out of balance, but in a greater balance in the sense that the strength of the days and nights constantly move and change in a perfectly rhythmic and harmonious pattern - a perfect sine wave.

As in a few weeks, we will be able to observe a perfect balance in nature - equal hours of day and night, this time of year is good to ask where the imbalances are in our own lives and bringing into focus ways to return balance where we can.