Return: An Autumnal Equinox Photovoice Practice
September 13 - October 4, 2026
Daily prompts & asynchronous sharing, optional weekly centering practices, live gatherings.
Options:
Circle 1 - AM Opening & Closing Gatherings
or
Circle 2 - PM Opening & Closing Gatherings
or
Circle 3 - No Live Gathering, ** text thread only **
A 21-day practice to cross the autumn equinox with attentiveness and wonder. The cross quarters of the year remind us of the turning and invite us to notice, to feel, to reflect. Somatic centering offers us the opportunity to meet this threshold with compassion and choice. A mix of asynchronous and live online connection, this practice is open to a small group of people who want to move into a new season with intention.
The autumn equinox calls us into the season of the return. The season shifts, and maybe we need new routines to support ourselves. The season turns, maybe there are harvests from the garden or the house empties when kids (or you!) head back to school. September moves us toward Fall, the first hints of color touching the leaves and everything reminds us to let go and let evolve and in all the promised change is a reminder to pay attention.
One way that we can unlearn the harmful patterns of capitalism is to align ourselves with the cycles we see in nature. There are cycles everywhere that we can follow to guide our work, guide our lives. For example, the rising and setting sun (daily), the phases of the moon (monthly), the turning of the seasons (quarterly). There are guideposts everywhere if we are willing to look for them.
Intentional practices offer support in the midst of the complex crisis we’re experiencing in the world around us. Politicized somatics teaches us that we are always practicing something and without intention that can often end up being things that aren’t aligned with our values.
This is not a workshop for setting big audacious goals, this is a call for daily practice, for staying true to yourself and aligned with what you care about most (whatever that is, you get to decide). It’s a practice of care-forward relationship: to yourself, others, and nature.
Core Practices
Photovoice
Photovoice is a practice of giving our feelings & thoughts a voice through a visual medium. Photovoice invites us into noticing the world around us. Photovoice allows us to go a layer deeper, an embodied noticing of our inner world. Photovoice reconnects us to our environment and the natural cycles of our days.
Technically, photovoice is a qualitative research method used in community-based participatory research. I was fortunate to be able to employ this creative, inclusive methodology during my career as an evaluator. I loved how it engaged people and allowed us to find layers of meaning that language didn’t always uncover. So I've reimagined photovoice for self-reflection, a methodology for reflecting on our own lives.
Circle
Centering
Centering is a practice from politicized somatics. We center to get open, present, and connected to ourselves, to each other, to what we care about. Centering helps us to notice what’s happening inside of us and outside of us. We center to remember who we are and what we want for our lives. We center for more choice, so under all the pressures of the world you have a place to come back to. We center so we can take action from an aligned, principled place.
I think of our shared text thread as a circle practice of sorts. Circle is both a facilitation methodology & a way of being in the world. I practice Circle in my work, in my relationships, and in my commitments. Circle cultivates compassion & emotional intelligence to reveal true belonging. We transform a gathering into a Circle with the willingness to shift from opinionated discussion into open and thoughtful sharing and listening.
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A camera, I use my phone, you don’t have to, but it’s the easiest way to interact with this practice.
Access to text messaging. We will keep it simple, daily prompts will arrive via text and it will be our primary way to stay connected between our circles.
Willingness to explore outdoors, notice changes in nature. This can be in your own yard or neighborhood, or through a window.
Willingness to slow down and pay attention to subtle shifts in yourself & nature.
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A small community of 4-6 people to reflect with.
Gatherings to build relationship and connection. An opening (60 minute) and closing (2 hour) circle hosted on Zoom.
Weekly centering practices. A 20 minute check in once per week to practice together and build connection (recorded).
21 days of guided practice with prompts to inspire your (self) exploration.
A co-created Zine to remember our time together. You’ll approve what gets shared.
Added bonus: Photography tips! It’s a passion and hobby of mine, I’ve studied and worked professionally as a photographer. I’ll only offer when asked and ultimately this practice IS NOT about perfecting our photos.
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This cohort spans one week before and one after the Spring Equinox - 21 days in all. There are 3 tracks to choose from
CIRCLE 1
Opening Circle - Sunday, September 13 9:30 - 10:30am CT (not recorded)
Closing Circle - Sunday, October 4, 9:00am - 11:00am CT on Zoom (not recorded)
Centering Practices - Tuesdays September 15, 22, & 29 at 9:00-9:20am CT (recorded if you can’t make it live)
Commitment / best efforts to take & send one photo a day
CIRCLE 2
Opening Circle - Sunday, September 13 9 6:30 - 7:30pm CT (not recorded)
Closing Circle - Sunday, October 4, 6:00 - 8:00pm CT on Zoom (not recorded)
Centering Practices - Tuesdays September 15, 22, & 29 at 9:00-9:20am CT (recorded if you can’t make it live)
Commitment / best efforts to take & send one photo a day
CIRCLE 3 - Text Only
Text only option. No opening or closing circles. Text thread opens on the September 13th and closes on October 4th.
Centering Practices - Tuesdays September 15, 22, & 29 at 9:00-9:20am CT (recorded if you can’t make it live)
Commitment / best efforts to take & send one photo a day
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Pay what you can: $150 (Sustaining Rate) / $75 (Supported Rate) / $225 (Supporting Rate)
Payment Plans available
If you would like to be a part of this practice but funds are a barrier to access please reach out
As a bonus, cost includes access to the monthly Breathwork for Being practice on September 15th from 7:30pm - 8:30pm CT
What qualities/principles do you want to embody in the season ahead?
Where can you practice radical gratitude in this season of letting go?
Which fruits of the summer are still to be harvested?
