Happy Spring Equinox!
The spring equinox marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere and is celebrated as a time of rebirth, renewal, and new beginnings. It's the time of year when the hours of daylight and darkness are almost equal.
Spring is my favourite season. As a keen (but often fair-weather) gardener, I’m delighted when I start to feel the air getting warmer, see leaves and flowers emerging, and hear the birds chirping away.
The spring equinox also marks the start of the astrological new year, and personally I find this the best time to set my intentions for the rest of year. I have more energy and motivation as we head into spring, rather than in the depths of winter when I’m still in hibernation mode!
I have a little ritual I like to follow around the time of the spring equinox (I do this at the autumn equinox too). I make myself a cuppa, grab a notebook, settle down in a comfy chair and reflect on the previous 6 months. What were the highlights? What would I like to change for the future? What am I grateful for? This is a huge one for me. So often I can get caught up in worrying that I should be doing and achieving more but concentrating on what I’m grateful for in my life can help shift my focus from what I don’t have to what I do have.
Then I like to set some intentions for the next 6 months and I don’t mean the ‘get the perfect beach body’ or ‘I’ll never eat junk food again’ type of unrealistic and punishing New Year’s Resolution type goals we often see bandied around at the start of the year. I have long-since learned that this restrictive approach to goal setting doesn’t work for me. I do much better when I focus on how I want to feel in 6 months time and what steps I can take to help me achieve this.
This spring my intention is to feel more joy in my life. It is often the small things that bring the most joy so these are a few of the things I will be focusing on:
? Spending more time in my garden – it’s my happy place! As the poet Alfred Austin is quoted as saying, “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.”
? Listening to music – I’ve got into the habit of listening to podcasts and audiobooks and out of the habit of listening to music but I realise that I miss the way music makes me feel so it’s time to make room for my favourite tunes again.
? Dusting off my sewing machine – another hobby that has faded into the background as life has become busy but I love losing myself in a creative sewing project and I’m planning to start by making some eye masks for the treatment room.
? Laughing – laughter really is the best medicine but over the last few years it doesn’t feel like there’s been much to laugh about. Life will always be serious but remembering to see the funny side of things helps to make the tough times more bearable and has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. I’ll be making time to watch my favourite comedians and funny films and spending time with the people who make me laugh.
What excites you about the change of season? What seeds will you plant in your life?