What's being Illuminated in your Life this Spring Equinox? 4 Ways to Celebrate
Hello, Spring!
There may be snow still on the ground in Klamath Falls, but it is officially Spring as we welcome the Spring Equinox on Monday, March 20!
Do you already celebrate the Spring Equinox?
Have you created your own traditions, follow traditions from your culture, or incorporate a little bit of both?!
Spring Equinox is a pivotal time in nature, throughout history, and within your own inner cycles and rhythms. We’re sharing traditions around the globe and some ideas you can incorporate on your own. Whatever you choose, take advantage of this fertile time of new beginnings!
What is Spring Equinox?
Spring Equinox marks the halfway point between winter and summer. The apex point where the day and night are of equal length, unlike the Solstices where light or dark dominates. Spring Equinox is said to be a time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings – kind of like the essence of Spring as flowers, trees, and plants begin to bloom, coming out of dormancy.
We begin to move away from the darkness and toward lighter, longer days, and this can be experienced on many levels. As we move out slow, dark, and introspective winter, we’ve had the time and space to reflect on the last year – what was accomplished, what worked, what didn’t. With the infiltration of light, we begin to receive glimpses of insight and actions we can take towards our new goals, new dreams, and new desires.
What will your Rebirth look like?
Take a moment to sit with that question. As you emerge from your cocoon, your den of dormancy, what is being illuminated?
Where do you want to create more abundance in your life?
What have you already released?
What areas of your life require change and transformation?
Where in your life are you being drawn to take action?
How can you declutter your life?
Celebrating Spring Equinox Across the Globe
Spring Equinox is celebrated and revered in various ways across the globe.
Babylonians created a lunisolar system based on the phases of the moon, and began this calendar of sorts with the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.
The Hindu New Year actually begins with the Spring Equinox.
The Indian Lunar calendar begins on March 21-22.
The Jewish Passover occurs on the first full moon of Spring Equinox – in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Christian celebration of Easter occurs on the first Sunday following the first full moon of Spring Equinox.
The Iranian New Year, Nowruz, on or near the Spring Equinox, and marks the start of a new calendar year.
In Pagan and Celtic traditions, the Spring Equinox is termed, Ostara, and also symbolizes a period of growth and rebirth.
Within many of these cultural celebrations there is a focus and emphasis on a new year, a new beginning, growth, fertility. Similarly to how we think of Spring in the United States.
Celebrate Spring Equinox… in your own way.
You may already celebrate Spring Equinox based on a certain cultural or religious tradition you already follow. Or, maybe you don’t currently, but would like to begin celebrating these cycles within nature, in your own way. Or, maybe you’d like to do both! Incorporate traditional ways to celebrate Spring Equinox and incorporate your own unique traditions at the same time! There’s room for it all!
Out with the Old, in with the New
Ever heard the term, ‘Spring Cleaning’? Because Spring Equinox is a time to plant new seeds – literally and figuratively – and make room for new plans, new dreams, and new goals, it’s first essential to make some space for these new abundances! This is a perfect time to emerge from your den and spruce it up a bit!
Deep clean your house
Declutter little spaces – like that junk drawer that just won’t stop growing!
Donate old clothes, toys, movies, books, kitchenware
Start cleaning up the yard and deck and patio spaces
Spend More Time Outdoors
If you live in a colder climate, this one is perhaps one of the most exciting ways to celebrate! Get outdoors! Feel the sunshine on your face!
After a long period of dormancy indoors, it can take its toll on your psyche and inner world. It’s no surprise anxiety and depression rates increase during the winter months. We receive less Vitamin D from the sun, and our connection with the Earth and its healing may dwindle as well. Celebrate this Spring Equinox by going on a hike – and include some friends! Or enjoy a sunny afternoon in the park. Once that sunshine hits your face, it’s an instant mood-booster!
Celebrate with Loved Ones
Dormancy is ending and it’s a wonderful time to reconnect with friends, family and loved ones. Sometimes during the winter months it’s necessary to retreat and become more reclusive. There’s healing in isolation too. And, humans are naturally social beings! And it becomes a whole lot easier to gather with loved ones when the weather is more agreeable. Take advantage when you can and reconnect!
Incorporate More Movement
While winter can be a time of moving more slowly, you may notice a boost of energy with the infiltration of more sunlight. Suddenly you may crave those heat-building yoga flows or high intensity workouts. Listen to your body’s cues and indulge yourself with some healthy movement! You can check out our heat-building flows here.
Celebration is for Everyone
Regardless of your beliefs or traditions, Spring Equinox can be celebrated in whatever way resonates with you. Remember, this is a time to come out of your metaphorical cocoon and begin taking action of whatever you’d like to create for the year to come. Now is the time where your motivation begins to increase, your mood begins to lift and lighten, and inspiration abounds. This is a fertile time to create, so take advantage!
We’d love to hear more about how you like to celebrate Spring Equinox, what areas of your life require a cleansing and rebirth, and what you’ve gleaned from your reflective time throughout the winter. Share your insights with us by clicking this link!
