Septem

Coinciding with the Autumn Equinox, and “Corn” or “Harvest” Moon September, from septem (“seven”), was originally the seventh month in the old Roman calendar. Though now it holds the ninth place, its root still whispers of a former order. September has long carried the air of harvest—a time when what was sown in spring and ripened in summer must now be gathered, stored, and borne into the darker half of the year. This is a month of weight, responsibility, and preparation.

Like the farmer’s back under the burden of grain, September calls us to bear what is ours with steadiness and strength. It reminds us that agency is not only expressed in outward sovereignty or joyful expression, but also in the quiet capacity to hold, endure, and sustain.

Deep Back Arm Line

The DBAL runs from the little finger, through the forearm flexors and triceps, into the back of the shoulder and scapula, linking ultimately with the spine. Where its superficial partner (the SBAL) gives us broad action and expressive gestures, the DBAL supplies support and resilience. It is the line that steadies a climber’s grip, powers the archer’s draw, and provides the foundation for any act of sustained pulling or carrying.

Functionally, the DBAL represents our ability to shoulder responsibility without collapse. It does not seek the spotlight; it provides the grounding strength behind the act, the endurance that allows effort to be carried through. When healthy and integrated, it gives us not just physical stamina, but a deeper trust in our own ability to hold steady amid strain.

Responsibility

Responsibility, like the turning of the season, asks us not for words but for practice. Embodying responsibility requires a willingness to be held accountable, not just for our actions, but for the orientation of our beings. The strength of the Deep Back Arm Line reminds us that every extension, every push, and every reach into the world is anchored by the structures that support it. In the same way, our choices are only as strong as the inner integrity that steadies them.

Ways to embody responsibility this month:

  • Reclaim agency: Each week, write down one area of life where you’ve been “passing the buck”. Choose one small, concrete action to step into ownership there. Responsibility begins with clarity about what is truly yours to carry.

  • Practice embodied integrity: In daily tasks — lifting, pushing, carrying — pause to notice how your arms connect back through your shoulders and spine. Ask yourself: Am I supporting this action with integrity, or compensating with tension? Aligning your body in truth trains your mind to do the same.

  • End the day with reflection: Before bed, take three minutes to ask: What was mine to carry today? Did I carry it well? Write down one win (where you rose to responsibility) and one opportunity (where you avoided it). Responsibility matures not in perfection, but in the ongoing willingness to return.

September teaches us to bear our share with clarity — to distinguish and take up what is truly ours, neither denying nor overreaching.