The Spiritual Significance of the Spring Equinox
The spring equinox conjures up an unmistakable feeling of possibility. There is an energetic buzz in the air as new faces emerge, flowers bud, and creatures stir. Everything left dormant in winter begins to awaken once more. The potential for change is palpable . . .
. . . but without an intentional plan for harnessing the potent energy of the spring equinox it can quickly overwhelm us.
The sense of abundance can lead us to overcommit (and burnout). The potential for change can cause us to lose ourselves in sensation-seeking. And a desire for novelty and excitement tempts us to abandon our goals and lose our center.
So how can you harness the power of the spring equinox in alignment with your goals at a sustainable pace? Read on to unlock several rituals to help you harness the energy in an aligned way.
Keeping Your Center During the Spring Equinox
The challenge of the spring equinox is to stay centered. We will be pulled in a million different directions. New opportunities and people will excite us, but it’s important to prioritize. We cannot do everything all at once. Our energy is not abundant (though the spring equinox might lead us to believe otherwise).
We need to get clear on what it is we want to manifest for the season (and the rest of the year). This will keep us centered. This will help us get clear on what we can commit to and what will only serve as a distraction from our true purpose.
Journal Prompts to Help You Center
Use the following journal prompts to help you decide where to channel your energy this season.
- What are the top three to five goals I want to accomplish this season? This year? What steps do I need to take to achieve these goals?
- What is my top priority this season?
- How much time do I realistically have outside of my responsibilities (work, family, relaxation, etc.)?
- What do I want my life to look like when the season ends? What do I want to bring with me into summer? What do I want to leave behind in winter?
As much as possible, be intentional about your commitments. Recognize when your energy is high and use that excess fuel to push your goals forward. When your energy is low, scale back on things that are not a priority.
Then, you can start to make magic.
How to Harness and Protect the Energy of the Spring Equinox
If we want to harness energy, we have to recognize the energy that surrounds us and the energy that sustains us. This requires moments of mindfulness.
Mindful Energy Sensing Practice
Take an inventory of your body. Notice when your energy feels drained. Who or what drains or energy? Notice when your energy is high. Who or what fulfills and sustains you? Act accordingly.
We create energy when we are present. These moments take root when we are grateful. We are inspired when we practice acceptance; we are freed when we learn to let go. This is the recipe for self-transcendence and moments of bliss. This is how to make the mundane magic.
The Spiritual Significance of the Spring Equinox
Words that represent the spring equinox include: balance, duality, and equality. The yin-yang symbol is a perfect representation of the spring equinox. It symbolizes equal dark and light. Furthermore, it holds the energy of yang and the renewal of yin. Yang is active; yin is passive. They represent opposition but together they create wholeness.
The spring equinox reminds us that we hold equal parts dark and light within ourselves. We are asked to consider the duality of things: life and death, dark and light, good and evil, beginning and end.
Working with Your Shadow Side
Carl Jung, an early psychoanalyst and the creator of Jungian Psychology, believed in the power of paradox. He taught that the only way to find light was through darkness. From a mental health perspective, this means exploring all that is dark within us so that it too may be exposed to the light. In Jungian psychology, that darkness is referred to as the shadow.
“In order to know the light, we must first experience the darkness.”
Carl Jung
There is no light without dark. There is no birth without death. Similarly, there is no beginning without an end. It is here, at the spring equinox, that we hold all things equal.
Viktor Frankl was a holocaust survivor, author, and the creator of Logotherapy. Frankl has roots in psychiatry, psychology, and philosophy. In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, he writes about how he survived the holocaust by creating meaning through suffering. This firsthand account of what is perhaps one of the darkest moments for humanity teaches us how to uncover light in total darkness.
“What is to give light must endure burning.”
Vikto Frankl, “Man’s Search for Meaning”
Both Frankl and Jung urge us to explore the depths of our psyche. They ask us to delve into our own darkness and find the solutions to our suffering. These early roots of psychology speak to the capability in each of us for both darkness and light. Like the yin-yang, we hold equal parts light and dark.
Rituals for the Harnessing the Potent Energy of the Spring Equinox
There is no better time than the spring equinox to explore the duality that exists in each of us. The following rituals are not connected to any one particular religion (although they may stem from religious or spiritual traditions). These rituals are not a prescription or a cure. Instead, they are simply guides to help you harness the energy of the spring equinox. They are designed to invite greater self-exploration for intention setting, and perhaps, even self-transcendence.
Breath Retention
There is a space between the inhale and exhale — the sacred pause. Is there a better way to explore balance than to find stillness in the space between breaths?
How to practice of breath retention:
Find a comfortable seat and relax your limbs. Feel for the duality: the heaviness of your bones and the lightness of your breath; the warmth in your nostrils as you breathe in through your nose and the cool air on your tongue as you breathe out through your mouth; the expansion in your belly as you breathe in and the contraction in your stomach as you breathe out.
Practice breath retention by inhaling and exhaling for an equal length. Pause for one second at the top of the inhale. Then, you can play with pausing at the the end of the exhale.
Sample breath retention practice:
Breathe in: one… two… three… four… five…
Hold: one…
Breathe out: one… two… three… four… five…
Hold: one…
Repeat this cycle for as many breath cycles as is comfortable. To advance, hold for a few seconds at the top of the inhale, the bottom of the exhale, or both. Stop if you become dizzy, light-headed, or breathing becomes difficult.
Remember this is an invitation and not a prescription. Find what feels comfortable for you.
Sun Salutations
Sun Salutations are a sequence of yoga poses designed to invigorate, energize, and awaken the body. Traditionally, they are practiced in the morning, but you can do them any time of day. As the name suggests, the sequence can be done with the intention of saluting the sun.
Metaphorically, we can practice sun salutations at the spring equinox to greet the spring sun. We welcome the longer days. We salute the sun and invite greater warmth into our lives.
To practice a sun salute, consider booking a yoga session with me.
Write a Letter to Your Future Self
We can utilize this moment to take a pause and set intentions for our future self. Make the moment magical by practicing yoga or meditation beforehand. Sit with a comforting drink like a warm cup of coffee or tea.
Journal prompts for writing a letter to your future self:
- Where do I want to be six months from now at the fall equinox?
- How do I want to spend my spring and summer?
- What goals can I accomplish this season and what do I need to prioritize in order to get there?
- What am I currently grateful for? Make a list.
- How can I capture the things I am grateful for in this moment and bring them into future seasons?
This letter can be personalized in many ways. Perhaps, it is a gratitude list. Maybe it is a letter addressed to yourself. It could also be written like a journal entry to revisit at a later date.
At the end, the letter can be kept in a memory jar. Collect trinkets that represent the seasons before. Examples include dried flowers, feathers, letters, poetry, photos, and even scents. Seal your letter in a mason jar and place it somewhere you will find it at a later season.
Make sure your future self will feel inspired, joyful, and grateful to receive the letter. Give them the encouragement you need in this moment. This is a love letter to yourself that will echo for months to come.
Connect with Nature
The spring equinox is the perfect time to (re)connect with nature. For many of us, we spent the winter seeking warmth indoors. Getting outdoors will help you express gratitude for this seasonal shift and welcome in the warmer weather and longer days.
Preparation for sacred connection with nature:
- Pack a bag with a book, a journal and pen, a snack, and water. Remember to leave no trace.
- Dress in layers to prepare for changing spring weather.
- Resist the urge to bring items that will be distracting.
- Put the phone on airplane mode. Use it in case of an emergency but avoid the temptation to snap a selfie, make a post, or respond to messages.
There is no right or wrong way to connect with nature. However, aim to stay present, mindful, and grateful in order to make the most of the experience.
Make the Most of Spring
Spring is a season all on it’s own. While some may view it simply as the space between winter and summer, it is more than a transition. Spring is the season of awakening, renewal, and abundance.
By practicing rituals at the spring equinox, you can capitalize on the qualities of the season. We can turn ordinary moments into spiritual experiences. Furthermore, when we explore the depths of our own darkness we create greater opportunities to experience the fullness of our personal light.
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About the Author
Olivia Schnur holds a master of arts degree in clinical mental health counseling. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. Olivia is also a 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-200). She writes to educate, inspire, and uplift readers. Her writing incorporates her knowledge of mental health, her passion for yoga, and her interests in spirituality and wellness.