“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”
Harriet Ann Jacobs
The spring equinox ~ its name coming from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night) ~ is one of two times in the year where the hours of day and night are in perfect balance almost all over the world.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the equinox occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south to north. This happens yearly on 20th or 21st March, marking the beginning of spring. It also marks the beginning of the astrological calendar in the first house of Aries, making it a particularly powerful moment to set intentions and channel the fiery energy of Aries.
As a time of more light lies ahead, the vernal equinox symbolises newness approaching, a period of change, of things coming into fruition. Work in harmony with the rhythms of the Earth and harness its energy ~ use it to reflect, reconnect, and re-frame.
Check in with yourself during this period of balance. Where are you in life right now? What’s working for you and what isn’t? This is the perfect time to create new habits, new patterns, and new ways of being that align more with who you truly are…
What finds shape and strength now will guide the rest of your year.
Celebrate and harness this fruitful time of year through meaningful rituals
There are festivals all over the world which celebrate springtime and this sacred period of renewal: Easter, Passover, Holi in India, Songkran in Thailand, Hanami in Japan, but there are also plenty of smaller ways to honour this time.
Discover seven different things you can do to align with the Earth and the cultures across it below, and see which your intuition guides you towards.
1. Embrace sunrise and sunset
Find a spot in nature to bathe in the light that begins to fill this day of ultimate balance, and return to watch it relent peacefully again twelve hours later. Soak up the harmonious energy of equal day and night, rest in its strength and awareness. Use this time to think about how you might create and nurture these qualities in your own life.
For inspiration, draw one of our archetype cards ~ reflect on its symbolic imagery, the inherent energy it holds, and what that means for you.
2. Look for wildlife reappearing, nature unfolding
March’s full moon is also known endearingly as the ‘Worm Moon’ as traditionally, it’s when the ground begins to thaw and worm casts appear on lawns, attracting the birds. Take a walk around your local area and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature awakening ~ there’s magic to be found in even the smallest suburban hedgerow.
Notice the cherry trees that have poured their energy forth into a beautiful fluttering of delicate flowers. Tiny buds have opened up to reveal soft, crinkly petals encircling a crowd of pollen-tipped stamens, ready to dance in the breeze at any opportunity. (Appreciation for the cherry blossom’s fleeting beauty is the basis for spring equinox celebrations in Japan!)
3. Listen for birdsong
As the new season arrives, begin your mornings with another of nature’s beautiful phenomenons ~ open a window and just listen.
With the increasing light that signals the beginning of spring, a chemical messenger is produced in our tuneful little friends’ brains, causing the beautiful dawn chorus of each new day, a sound so characteristic of this time of year. Scientists believe that this same hormone and process is produced in the human brain, but thus far its function remains a mystery…
4. Tune into nature’s clock
Deepen your connection to Mother Nature and verse yourself in phenology ~ the ancient practice of studying the Earth and its cycles.
Observing plant and animal activity helps us to understand the rhythms of life around us, allowing us insight into how to harmonise with it. For example, crocuses popping up means it’s time to plant radishes, parsnips and spinach, and when daffodils bloom, vegetables such as beetroots, carrots and chard should be planted. The language of natural intelligence is something in which we’re fluent, and can easily recall when we pay attention to the patterns.
5. Set intentions
Reflect on where you are right now, and where you would like to be in the coming year. Take some time to examine the patterns you engage in, seeing which allow you to flourish and bring you joy, and which slow your growth.
Write down some intentions for the rest of the year and meditate on them for a while. Then go forth into a new moment, energised by a deeper knowledge of self, and a greater sense of how to create outer and inner alignment.
6. Ask your body what it needs
Nurture your connection to your physical self ~ check in with it regularly to give it the love it deserves. Looking after the mind, body, and soul are equally important. Beauty is balance, after all.
As the weather gets warmer, our bodies begin to require more hydration. From the start of the new season, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, and take time to reassess your skincare ritual. A deeply hydrating cleanser such as our nourishing oil to milk cleanser ~ la lune de velours will give your face the extra care it requires.
For the rest of your body, harness the timeless strength of silver and DNA HP’s ability to carry 10,000 times its weight in water with our hydrating body lotion ~ la lotion infinie. This powerful moisturiser means your springtime skin is left balanced, nourished, and full of life.
7. Embody the energy
Most importantly, lean into and embrace this freshness, newness, and growth. Embody the energy by incorporating something into your everyday that symbolises all these things for you.
A new scent can be a wonderfully powerful and playful way to do this ~ explore our library of natural fragrances and see which one you’re most drawn to to accompany you on your unfolding journey.
“You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming”
Pablo Neruda
Change comes whether we like it or not, so swim with the tide instead of pushing against it. Harness the Universe’s creative energy at this fertile time and sink into the timeline of the Earth’s seasons. Then, as spring becomes summer, discover the ritual of our summer solstice celebrations.
Reconnect with who you truly are, with the world around you, and let your intuition be your guide. The rest will fall into place…
with love,
ARgENTUM
