The Vernal Equinox, also known as Ostara, is cause for great celebration across many cultures and creeds. It is officially the first day of spring!
As the Earth begins to awaken from it’s deep winter slumber, the length of day comes into balance with the length of night. We have survived the darkest days and happily welcome the resurgence of the Sun. We rejoice in the fertility of the Earth as the possibility of growth and renewal runs wild.
Common themes of spring are celebrated on this day: fertility, growth, rebirth, and the return of the Sun. We use symbols such as eggs, bunnies, and flowers to invoke these same themes.
Literally and figuratively, this season is a great time to plant seeds. It is common to throw open the windows and begin clearing the clutter collected over the winter. Spring cleaning isn’t just for your house, however, and can be applied to your car, your working spaces, and most importantly, your mind and body.
I highly recommend thinking about and meditating on those ‘seeds’ you want to plant in your personal, professional, and social lives. We all know that those New Year Resolutions have a tendency to be long gone out the window by now, so it’s a wonderful time to revisit your goals and aspirations for the year. (Shameless plug: It’s my job as a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach to help people identify and attain their personal wellness goals, so hit me up if you need help realizing or actualizing your intentions at everbetterwellness.life)
Here are 3 things I recommend doing on the vernal equinox to help you regain your personal power after a long winter.
Get intentional:
- First, write down three things you would like to see, do, become, or receive this year. No matter how far away these things seem, write down what you want to experience. You might find that you end up wanting to write down more than three things, and that’s ok too. You have the power to build the life you wish to live so take the time to diligently create it. (Pro-tip: do this now, before finishing this article!)
- Next, find a cozy space -preferably outside- where you can soak up the sun’s life-giving rays and meditate on what it would be like to see your goals come to fruition. Think about what it feels like to succeed and all that you would gain from making these changes. Really solidify what you want and get familiar with the feeling of hope, attaching possibility and positivity to your ideas.
- Then, write down three actionable steps that you can take in order to reach each of those goals. Three goals, three steps toward each. You can do this. Get really clear on a few things you can begin doing immediately to move you closer to harvesting the fruits of your labor.
- Finally, Action. You have the power to build the life you wish to live. Do something about it. Today is the best day to begin.
Plant Seeds.
This is a ritual I love to do in the springtime and something you can get the whole family involved in, too!
Pick some seeds or plants that you enjoy and plant them while thinking about the major themes of spring and what they bring into your life for the rest of the year.
Fertility of the Earth brings growth and renewal in the same way that the springtime reawakening of the soul brings the fruits of your labor. Know that what you plant in the ground now and what you intentionally nurture in your life will grow. Be intentional about these things. The garden is greener where you water it.
Start your Spring Cleaning!
We often associate spring cleaning with open windows, clearing clutter, and dusting the debris of winter from our homes. It’s also important to offer that same love and care to the mind and body during this time of renewal.
In the spirit of Spring, I highly recommend doing a digital detox in order to clear some mental space for this next season of abundance. Set limits on your socials and take regular breaks from your phone or computer. Setting aside even just an hour each day can have such a positive effect on mental health and personal productivity. Put your phone down and go do something for your body.
Speaking of, there are so many ways to rejuvenate your body. Drink more water, eat whole foods, start an exercise program. Springtime is also a wonderful time to do a liver detox program that focuses on supporting the liver’s natural detoxification processes through eating nutritious foods and eliminating harmful substances. (Just talk to a medical professional before you start any program to make sure it’s safe for you!)
Finally, as a wellness professional, I will always highly recommend getting a tune up by a local bodyworker. With the world springing into action, it is necessary to care for our bodies before garden-tending, enthusiastic hiking, or overzealous frolicking inadvertently causes us an unfortunate injury to unsuspecting joints.
Massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and most ‘alternative therapies’ are actually wonderful primary prevention techniques that can help keep you primed and ready for all that you want to do. (Another shameless plug, check out the awesome wellness collective we are building at Synergy Social Wellness in Canandaigua, NY! We have a ton of events, workshops, and holistic wellness practitioners to help you ‘Spring’ into your future!)
To Recap:
Happy Ostara! I hope you rather enjoy this vernal equinox. Setting aside time to intentionally cultivate your own wellness is essential to living a long and happy life. Plan out your success, plant those seeds, take care of your mind and body, and I’ll see you around town!
-Alyssa K. Davis, LMT, HWC
EverBetter Wellness 