It is FINALLY springtime.
THIS WEEK WE HAVE THE SPRING EQUINOX.
Finally, finally.
I don't know about you but it has felt like a long winter.
It felt like the most wintery winter I've experienced in a long time.
This is partially because I had my first Upstate New York winter, and because this was the first winter where I really allowed myself to winter as an adjective.
For me, spring represents the energetic new year. It is the start of Aries season, the first sign of the zodiac, and represents a time when we are coming out of hibernation after winter.
Winter was a season of true deep inner connection...
I hibernated, I slowed down, I reflected, I shed old skin, I set my intentions and then let them take the time needed to germinate, process, prepare.
And, because I did that, I am ready for the next chapter in a way I never have been before.
Spring is when we reawaken and reconnect to the world around us.
Winter was the pause.
Spring is the embodiment.
For me - this is the New Year New Me energy.
Not in a forced way that society has created for us around January, but in a natural way - a joyful, excited, hopeful, trusting way. This is the energy of spring.
Spring brings heightened energy, the desire to connect, to watch our seeds bloom, and celebrate the world coming alive again after winter.
The Spring Equinox is the time to come out of our hibernation holes and celebrate who we are now ready to be.
So, let's celebrate it together.
CEREMONY
Each component of this ceremony can be it’s own ritual. When you put it together, it creates a cohesive ceremony to usher in spring in an embodied, felt way.
A ceremony is a time to take space out of our everyday lives and devote energy and time into ritualising intentional living. I hope you’ll take the time to do so with me.
As always, we start our ceremony before we even begin setting up the space.
We do this so we can get grounded and centred in the energy we want to bring into our ceremony and shake off any energy we want to leave outside of our ceremony.
And, we do this because setting up for the ceremony, is a core component of our ceremony. It reminds us that every step in our life is important, no matter how mundane it may seem. It reminds us that when we bring intention into the mundane, we remember it is truly magic.
I begin my ceremony by lighting my candle and setting my intention. I tune into my heart and see what comes without letting my thinking mind get in the way.
I also tend to welcome in all directions in a circle around me by stating: I welcome in the energy of --
Air from the East
Fire to the South
Water to the West
Earth the North
Guides, Spirits, Benevolent Ones Above (God, The Universe, Goddess etc.. whatever feels good to you)
Ancestors Below
My own intuition and inner knowing
My heart is open, willing and ready to connect. And with that the circle is open.
Use your intuition with this process. Let it feel natural and authentic to you.
(I can share more details on this in the future, if you'd like to know more).
Next we move into setting up our space.
ALTAR SUGGESTIONS
Air - Spring is ushering in a sense of clearing and cleaning. We can use our incense (whichever scent you feel called to right now) to "clear the air" by walking around our space speaking out our intentions, holding our dreams in mind, or spreading the new spring energy through dancing, singing or playing music.
For many of us spring ushers in warmer weather - so I recommend welcoming in the spring air. Perhaps you open your doors and windows or do this whole ritual outside! The new air will clear out the stuck, stagnant or stale energy and welcome in the new, fresh and revitalised.
Fire - To support this clearing the air process, you can place a candle in the corners of your house to symbolise the burning and releasing of the old and stepping into the energy of the new.
I love using candles that are connected to the season or intention we are stepping into. So find your favourite spring scented candles and speak your spring intentions as you light them.
The Spring Equinox ushers in Aries season, a fire sign, so we are stepping into the embodiment of fire energy.
Water - A beautiful water ritual for spring is to wash our altar. Get some water from a fresh source nearby and gently wash your space down, preparing it for the new. You can also go outside and collect water from any fresh water source nearby and place that on your altar.
If you remember, in our Imbolc ceremony, we collected snow from outside and placed it on our altar. So now placing fresh water (versus the frozen snow) on our altar is a representation of the frozen snow melting and turning into something new.
Earth - We can bring earth into our Spring ceremony and altar in so many ways. Perhaps you have seeds that you are planting that you want to place around your home. Or new blooms from flowers you picked outside. You can go to the garden store and create a ritual of picking up some new spring blooms. Perhaps you found a rock on your first spring walk that you collected. Follow your intuition to see where spring is taking you in order to celebrate her new form.
Spirit - I believe that every plant has a spirit, an energy, and a message to share with us. With this mindset, I urge you to pick one of the plants listed in the Herbal Companions section and complete the plant meditation outlined in the Yoga Therapy section. Place this plant and letter on your altar and come back to it as often as feels supportive.
HERBAL COMPANIONS
These plants can be utilised in many different ways, throughout this ritual and throughout the entire spring season. You can use them in an herbal infusion, a salve, body oil, tincture or plant them in your garden.
One of the most impactful ways to reap the full benefits of a plant is to work with it consistently. So, maybe you choose one or all of these plants as your spring companions and use them in some way every day or week throughout spring!
If you'd like pre-made products to support your ritual, these plants are featured in our Spring Seasonal Shifts product range - offered only at our Spring Equinox Ceremony.
Raspberry Leaf - evokes the energy of spring. This herb helps us ground into the present moment, empowers us to embody our authenticity and intuition with confidence and provides a nourishing dose of antioxidants.
Calendula - supports anxiety and grief, allowing us to step into the next chapter with grounding, peace and healing. She calms rashes, soothes scars, and softens wounds.
Yarrow - is a wildflower that soothes any reactivity in our body, mind and spirit. It is known as the protector and warrior plant, here to soften your spirit and strengthen your roots.
YOGA THERAPY TOOLS
Plant Meditation - for this meditation choose one of the herbal companions listed above, or whatever plant you are feeling most drawn to right now. Acquire it in whatever form you feel drawn to. My favourite is in an herbal infusion / tea, but see what feels good to you. If you are not able to physically get some of your plant, you can print out a picture of it or simply channel its' energy.
Once collected, find a comfortable, quiet and safe space to sit with your plant and ask it - what message do you have for me for the Spring season?
And then sit with it for at least five minutes. You can close your eyes and breath as if you are in a traditional meditation, or keep your eyes open. Perhaps you drink your tea through this process, or lather the herb infused body oil on your skin. Perhaps you light a candle infused with the plant or place a few drops of the plant tincture under you tongue. However you feel called to connect with the plant, do so, and sit with it.
Allow the messages to come through.
Once you have sat with it, open your journal and write whatever came to you.
If you are having trouble connecting - write the same question at the top of your page and start a stream of consciousness writing session.
Once completed, place the plant and the journal entry on your altar, or somewhere you can see it throughout the spring season.
Grounding - Or known to some as earthing. It is as simple as it sounds. Get outside and get on the earth. All this requires is that you place some part of your body on the earth.
My two recommendations:
take off your socks and shoes and get your feet in the earth. Really sink your toes in. Feel your feet rooted below you and feel the energy from the below fill you up as you reach your head towards the sky.
lay down on the earth (clothed or unclothed). Start on your stomach and then after some time switch to your back. Let your body relax and release into the earth. Notice the energy shift within you with each breath you take.
REFLECTIONS
Time to grab your journal and ask yourself…
What did winter ask (or force) you to shed?
What was the greatest lesson winter taught you?
How did winter feel for you?
What are you proud of yourself for from the winter season?
What are you leaving behind in winter?
What energy are you feeling ready to embrace as you step into spring?
INTENTIONS
Spring is the time of new beginnings, and of being a beginner.
It is the fresh energy. The baby taking it's first steps. Feeling healthy again after being sick. The first day of your new dream job.
You are ready, energised, excited, and yet uncertain, an amateur, the newbie.
The only way to learn, grow and become the master is to play, try and experiment.
This is the season to live lightly and not take it all so seriously.
Be the baby looking at the world in wonder and awe for the first time.
Protect your fresh, new, sensitive skin, but move about the world with (an aware, grounded and yet perhaps a little reckless) trust.
In order to get to your spring intentions, ask yourself…
What are you ready to start in this season?
What is lingering from winter?
What is bringing you joy right now?
Where are you feeling excited and pulled to pour your energy into?
What do you hope blossoms in your life this spring?
From the answers above, list out 1-5 things in your life you want to embody, create, or bring to life this season. Imagine them as the flowers blossoming from the winter seeds planted.
Write down -- “I am ready to watch my flowers grow.”
Then create an I AM statement for each of the intentions you listed.
For example, if you're hoping to manifest a move, you could say - I am living in my new home feeling grounded, at peace, and safe.
Once you have written out your I AM intentions for each flower you’re growing this spring, put that piece of paper somewhere you can look at it everyday.
CLOSING
At the end of your ceremony, place a hand on your heart and acknowledge yourself - for all of your growth, for your presence, for your devotion to yourself. Acknowledge what you are releasing, commit to what you are stepping into and promise to stay connected to all that was revealed to you during this ritual.
Don't rush this part. Take time to really connect within.
When you are ready - snuf out your candle and say a closing intention.
Just as we began the ritual, we can close it by thanking and acknowledge the directions, perhaps moving in the opposite direction this time.
Thank you…
earth to the north
water to the west
fire to the south
air to the east
guides, spirits, benevolent ones (etc.) above
ancestors down below
to my intuition, my inner knowing and my heart for leading me through this ritual.
The ceremony is now complete but I promise to stay open and connected.
The circle is now closed.
Thank you SO much for completing this ceremony with me. As always, if you want to hear it, head to the podcast. And if you want to do it together, head to youtube.
And head to instagram or DM me here and let me know how it felt for you!!