Traditionally the beginning of spring brings thoughts of rebirth, renewal, and rejuvenation. All living things move from a contractive state into the yearning power of growth. We experience a quickening of creativity as the sun begins to melt winter’s frost from our bodies and minds. The richness of the earth invites us to cultivate and reminds us of the endless fertility of the mother. Soon the days will be filled with sunny hours in which to play and romp. Newness once again becomes the filter through which we experience the world.
The Spring Equinox
In the Northern Hemisphere, March 20, 2023, marks the spring equinox when the new astronomical season officially begins, and the balance between light and darkness is almost equal.
In most locations, the amount of daylight has been increasing by small increments since the winter solstice, but after the spring equinox many places will experience more daylight than darkness, culminating in the June summer solstice which marks the longest day of the year.
Here are some ways to celebrate the sweetness of spring:
Spring Cleaning
The theories on the origins of the modern-day tradition of spring cleaning are plentiful and—depending on who you identify with—may be rooted in Jewish, Iranian, or Chinese cultural and religious traditions. Cynically, my favorite explanation comes from the healthcare manufacturing company Johnson & Johnson who admit to inventing a marketing campaign to sell product after the scientific breakthrough surrounding germ theory: “In 1917, the company worked with retail pharmacists nationwide to sponsor national Clean Up Weeks, focused on public health in the home. These national Clean Up Weeks emphasized the importance of Spring cleaning to protect families’ health and positioned the company and local retail pharmacists as trusted partners in making public health products and information available.”
All the explanations seem to agree that the arrival of warmer weather creates the perfect conditions for people to open up and sweep out their homes. Not only does this enable us to clean our spaces after months of being cooped up inside, it’s also a symbolic way to get rid of the old and make way for the new.
My favorite way to begin spring cleaning is to focus on the energy pathways of the house: doors, floors, and windows. By concentrating on these three categories, I’m able to do some healthy deep cleaning without making myself insane with the expectation that every inch of the house needs be scrubbed. Weather permitting, we steam clean our floors, wash the windows and sills inside and out, and hose down the front and back doors. If I’m feeling especially witchy, I’ll polish the doorknobs with an essential oil like lemon or lavender for good luck. Recently, I’ve also added a digital declutter throughout the month of March, deleting old files, pictures, and emails to clear my desktop. Someday I’ll commit to a system to actually purge these things as they appear, but until then every little bit helps.
Introduce More Greens into Your Diet
With the re-emergence of the sun comes the tender vegetables we associate with spring. These next few months are the perfect time to seek out your nearest farmer’s market and explore the first precious sprouts collected. We try to cook lightly during this period, centering our meals around fish like salmon and halibut with classic vegetable sides like peas, asparagus, early lettuce, and herbs. We recently tried this “Spring Greens Tonic Soup” from Martha Stewart and loved its crunch texture and grassy flavors.
Another easy way to enjoy your greens are to drink them. Of course, many of us are used to green drinks in one form or another—smoothies, shakes, or juice presses—but for a healthy throwback you might try a classic tonic or tisane. This recipe for a “Spring Tonic” combines powdered nettle leaf, dandelion leaf, chickweed, and burdock root for a quick hit of vitamins and antioxidants. If that sounds a little too healthy, you can always mix up an adult version like this “Spring Tonic Cocktail” that incorporates gin, cucumber juice, and basil simple syrup.
Rediscover Yourself Through Natural Ritual
There are many myths surrounding the changing of the seasons, usually dealing with women moving between the realms of life and death. In the Celtic stories the dual nature of the goddess is represented by the Callieach the old hag who rules winter, cold, and darkness transforming into the maiden Brigihid (Brigid) who rules summer, fire, and inspiration. Leaving aside the ageist nature of these traditions, I do respond to the notion of creating an intentional spiritual journey to step into the fullest version of ourselves.
It’s interesting to me that so many of the activities we now associate with self-care have their roots in spiritual practices. Soaking in a bath recalls baptisms. Some of our earliest books are the personal journals of monks and religious leaders. Whether it’s meditation and prayer, candles and incense, blessings and divinations—you can change the context of belief, but the practices and their benefits remain the same.
Humans experience cycles the same way that the Earth, Sun, and Moon do. Sometimes we feel stuck or trapped in a rut, unable to break free even with tremendous effort. The return of spring invites us to revel in the life force within and around us. One of the best ways to do this is to get outside and experience the sweetness of nature to get your body moving. Go for a hike, go stargazing, do yoga on the beach, share a picnic in the park, plant seeds in your garden, or pick up trash in your neighborhood. It doesn’t matter what you do, anything can be a celebration of rejuvenation.
Indulge in Plants and Flowers
When I was in college and living in tiny apartments, I used to order The Whole Seed Catalog and dream of having an English cottage-style garden. (I loved this recent New Yorker article on the pleasure of seed porn.) Please realize how unrealistic this fantasy was given that I lived in Southern California where sweltering summers and drought water restrictions cruelly limit horticultural desires. Basically, if it’s not zoned for “hotter than hell” it’s not going to grow here.
That’s why over the years, I’ve become skilled at container gardening and regularly indulge in the pleasures of cut flowers. Inside the house I like pothos and snake plants, as well as elegant orchids (I think the best ones are from Trader Joes). I don’t do much theme decorating, but you’d always be able to tell the season from my bouquets. Spring means lilies, peonies, and hydrangeas. Outside containers get filled with azaleas, daises, geraniums, and tomato plants. I still don’t propagate from seeds, but for at least three months I’m at the nursery each weekend pretending like I’m Beatrix Potter.
Embrace Play
If we pay attention, the positive energy spring introduces can illuminate what makes us happy. Too often our lives revolve around lists of responsibilities in regard to work and family, and we forget how healthy play can be for us. One of the ways that play shows up in my life is through dancing. Even if it’s moving in the car when a favorite song comes on or slow dancing with my husband in the kitchen, the combination of music and movement never fails to spark joy in my life.
Ask yourself these questions to discover ways to rekindle your playfulness:
- What excites you right now?
- What did you love doing as a child?
- What always makes you smile?
- What are you drawn toward?
- If there were no obstacles, what would you try?
Happy first day of spring everyone!
