Our earth is a small star in the great universe
Yet of it we can make, if we choose, a planet
Unvexed by war, untroubled by hunger or fear,
Undivided by senseless distinctions of race, color, or theory.
Stephen Vincent Bennet

The Autum Eqinox is in many cultures the cosmic symbol of balance and harmony: balance between light and dark, between the universal and the local, between giving and receiving, between women and men, and between our inner and outer worlds. History records humanity's preoccupation with the sun's annual cycle. Sites such as Stonehenge in England are thought to have been erected specifically to trace the path of the sun through the heavens.

The sun has always had symbolic meaning. As that most ancient Sanskrit prayer, the Gayatri tells us, the sun is a disc of golden light giving sustenance to the universe. Plato used the image of the sun to represent the idea of the One, the Good. In the age of the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt, the concept of harmony, order, and balance were personified by the goddess Ma'at, the winged woman who replicated on earth, the celestial balance of order and beauty.

In Chinese culture, the principle of harmony and balance is represented by the Taoist elements of Yin and Yang. If one element becomes too strong, imbalance results. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the weaker element so that harmony can be restored. There must be a skilled understanding of energy flows to understand the appropriate balance. Understanding the conscious restoration of the balance of Yin/Yang energies owes much to the Tao Te Ching attributed to the 6th century BCE Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu .

At the same period, Greek philosophers concentrated in the Ionian cities also stressed the need to understand the techniques of the redistribution of energies in order to achieve balance. Heraclitus (cira 504 BCE) of the city of Ephesus is probably the best known of these thinkers. He too stressed that harmony is created by a balance of opposite forces.

The efforts to restore harmony by a balance of energies can often be long as there are structures and institutions which, although lifeless, take a long time to crumble. One needs patience. Yet, there are also times when unexpected shifts are possible. One must always be sensitive to the flow of energy currents.

Thus, 22 September is a day of recognition of the world-wide balance leading to harmony. It is a day during which we can all recognize the growth of greater consciousness and concern for the common good. Therefore, the Association of World Citizens stresses cooperation and visions of a better future. Harmony and balance include tolerance, acceptance, equality, and forgiveness of past pains and conflicts.

Due to the efforts of those with a world vision, people throughout the world are recognizing their responsibility to each other and are attempting to revolve entrenched global problems though there is still much to be done. Today, we see a new spirit of cooperation as we move toward a cosmopolitan, humanist world society. We see a growing spirit of forgiveness, reconciliation, and dialogue. We are one human race, and we inhabit one world. Therefore, we must see the world with global eyes, understand the world with a global mind, and love the world with a global heart.

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Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens