Return: An Autumnal Equinox Photovoice Practice

14 days of prompts & asynchronous sharing, two live gatherings.

Live Gatherings:
Opening Circle: Sunday September 14th
Closing Circle: Sunday, September 28th

September 14-28, 2025

A two week 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.

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.

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.

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 is a practice of giving our thoughts and feelings 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 knowing that language didn’t always uncover. So I've reimagined photovoice for self-reflection, a methodology for reflecting on our own lives.

Photovoice

Centering is a practice from politicized somatics. We center to become more 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.

Centering

Which 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?

    • 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.

    • 14 days of guided practice - a daily prompt to inspire your (self) exploration

    • Connection with a small, intimate group of fellow seekers

    • Opening and closing circle to connect and reflect

    • Live centering practice and recordings to support your daily practice

    • Co-created Zine to remember our time together

    • 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.

    • Text thread opens Sunday, September 14th (daily prompts)

    • Two live, virtual gatherings two options to attend (AM or PM), choose one:

      • AM Cohort
        Opening Circle Sunday, September 14th 9-11am CT (not recorded)
        Closing Circle Sunday, September 28th 9-11am CT (not recorded)

      • PM Cohort
        Opening Circle Sunday, September 14th 6-8pm CT (not recorded)
        Closing Circle Sunday, September 28th 6-8pm CT (not recorded)

    • Text thread closes on Sunday, September 28th

    Optional:

    • Centering Practice, 20 mins on Zoom, Monday, September 22 at 1:30pm CT (recorded)

    • Pay what you can: $150 (Sustaining Rate) / $75 (Supported Rate) / $225 (Supporting Rate)

    • Payment Plans available

    • If you would whole heartedly like to be a part of this group but funds are a barrier to access please reach out

    • As a bonus, cost includes access to the monthly Breathwork practice on June 17th from 7:30pm - 8:30pm CT (recording available)

Zines from the Spring 2025 Photovoice Sessions (1&2)*

* shared with consent