SPRING EQUINOX

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Vernal (Spring) Equinox marks the first day of astronomical spring. It is one of only two times in the year when day and night are nearly equal in length all over the world. 

On the equinox, the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a nearly equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. This is the reason it’s called an “equinox,” derived from Latin, meaning “equal night’’.

 

It’ll be the earliest astronomical spring in more than a century. The spring equinox usually occurrs on March 20 or March 21. The last time spring arrived this early was 124 years ago, in 1896.

Days are  finally longer than nights, and until summer solstice, we’ll have more than 2 minutes of daylight each day! Wonderful news after that confusing winter we just witnessed.

In different cultures spring equinox has always been a time to celebrate rebirth and new beginnings. Our ancestors would celebrate such auspicious days and there’s still remains of these ancient rituals in how we mark the changing of the season today.

With the warmer sun and longer brighter days, spring is a time of awakening, of healing and renewal, of the dawning and planting of new ideas. The world seems young and virgin again.

 

 

How to (low-key) celebrate spring equinox? Here’s a few ideas!

 

1. Spring cleaning! 

The clue’s in the name. The renewal of nature motivates to do some decluttering not only in your home, but your mind too! 

Start by shaking the dust off from furniture and clear windows. Then move on to awareness and mindfulness practices to break out from old beliefs and behaviour patterns that do no good no more 🙂 

 

2. It’s greener and fresher day by day, and the first green herbs indicate it’s time for a cleanse! 

Our ancestors knew exactly how plant medicine can help you cope. One of the toughest and first to rise in spring is dandelion. The bitter herb is known to be an invigorating tonic to wake the body up after the hardships of winter and a remedy to cleanse the blood. 

Don’t limit yourself with dandelion leaves – if you’re not that good in herbalism, or live in a city, just eat a lot of green stuff! Salads, smoothies, sprouts – all that did not work well in winter frost, will do good now that it’s spring!

 

3. All that wants to grow, needs energy and effort.  

Get yourself off the couch, and get moving! Not just for your beach body goals, but to release the stagnant energy. Just being outdoors in the fresh air brings along many health benefits, but even better if being outdoors encourages more activity. Outside is free, you know!

 

4. Spring is to plant seeds. 

Their growth symbolises triumph over death, or being reborn. With the current global situation many of us demand for a change in the system. Many have personal goals. Why not ‘plant a seed’ now, and literally take care of it’s growth!

 

 

Used sources:

https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html

https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/20/celebrate-the-spring-equinox-with-these-8-traditions-egg-laying-bunnies-to-the-horned-god-7388947