Equinox Rituals to Welcome Spring
Welcome Aries! Welcome Spring!
On March 19 at 11:06 pm EST, the Sun moved into Aries, restoring the balance of darkness and light.
This Aries season is full of once-in-a-lifetime astrology. I’ll be sharing more about what is to come, but first, we mark the new season and the astrological new year with the Sun’s entrance into the first sign of the zodiac.
I’m a little late posting and the Equinox was technically yesterday, March 20th, but it’s not too late to honor the Spring Equinox with a ritual if you haven’t. Here are some simple practices you can do this week to honor the returning of the light:
~ Candle bathing. Light a candle and watch the flame with a soft gaze. Try to evoke the feeling of awe as you consider the fiery ball of light that is our source of life on this spinning blue dot. Let the flickering light wash over you, cleanse your thoughts, and put you in a meditative state.
~ Make a wreath like the one pictured using pussy willows if you’re in the states in the northeast like I am or another plant of early spring native to your area. This can easily be done with some string simply by shaping the branches into a circle and tying them together.
~ Sweep your home, imagining the energetic cleansing of your space. Direct your sweeps towards an open door, releasing stagnant energy to the light to be brought back to its source and return balance.
~ Smudge your home with an ethically sourced dried sage bundle or a local alternative such as mugwort. This is done by carefully lighting the dried herb so it has a good burn and blowing out the flame while it continues to smoke. Move throughout your house directing the smoke to every corner high and low. Keep a window or door cracked as you do this so the smoke can clear out stagnant energy. Remain present with only thoughts of cleansing and release or make up a little prayer or song to say or sing while you do this.
~ Revisit your intentions from the Winter Solstice or start new intentions to mark the astrological new year. If revisiting your intentions from the Winter Solstice or Gregorian New Year, refine them based on what you’ve learned and experienced through the deep of winter. Think of these intentions as an anchor over the next four months until the Summer Solstice on June 20th.
~ Watch the sunrise or step outside and view the sun immediately upon waking. Let the light touch your skin, feel the warmth, and give thanks to life source.
If you need help getting out of your head and into your spirit, here is a little prayer / song that I made up to honor this spring that you’re welcome to use:
“With sacred smoke I shall release
the darkness I no longer need,
awaken now from winter's sleep
to ignite my heart with clarity.”
I made this up to recite while smudging, but you can change “with sacred smoke” to “with every sweep” if you’re doing the sweeping ritual, or “with every breath” if you’re doing the other rituals.
Equinox blessings to you all,
nico
