Spring Equinox: Celebrating the Return of the Light

Sunny skies and some of the best weather New Yorkers have seen in awhile ushered in this year’s Spring season. The Sun entered the sign of Aries on March 20th, 2011 @ 7:21 pm EST, announcing the Vernal-Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere and introducing the astrological New Year.

Celebrated as the Return of Light, the vernal equinox highlights the point where the days and nights are of equal length, with the days continuing to build in length and the nights shortening until the time of the Summer Solstice in June. It is during the vernal equinox that we can sow our seed intentions for the current year. In ancient times after harsh weather conditions, shortage of food and perhaps times of isolation, celebrating in community for new births, increased prosperity and increased expansion was the norm.

The March equinox coincides with many cultural events, religious observances and customs that center around stepping into the light, rejoicing in renewal, rebirth and regeneration. Some of the holidays associated with the Vernal Equinox are Alban Eilir, Eostar, Festival of Trees, Eostre, Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lady Day, NawRuz, No Ruz, Ostara, Ostra and Rites of Spring.

While some attended Vernal Equinox celebrations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens... many were just excited to experience the promise of warmer weather. Keeping in tune with our deeper mind, body, spirit cycles as colder weather promises to delay our long awaited renewal, here are some practical tips to bring in Spring!

This winter has felt for most…prolonged and never-ending. During this time many may have stayed inside or maybe “let things go a bit." Whether your mind, body or spirit has collected some quite real or psychological dust…its time to brush it off!

The beginning of the astrological year in Aries, highlights new beginnings, the self, trying new things and bursting forward from idea to manifestation.

* Take a moment and connect to your breath. Breathing in through your nose and releasing through your mouth. Allowing your eyes to gently close. Imagine that you are releasing what you no longer need through your exhalation and bringing in new energy with your inhalation.

* As you sit paying attention to your breathing and connecting more to a mindful and present state ask yourself if there is a quality that you need to bring into your life? Ideas: compassion, hope, joy, acceptance, peace, optimism, love, right action, patience, courage. Repeat this word and let it become your personal mantra as you take time each day to breathe and bring in your much needed quality. Write it down on an index card, make it your wallpaper on your screen.

* Create a short list of your goals for this year. What is easily attainable and more likely a short-term goal? What appears to be a long-term goal? Does your quality somehow tie into your goals? Realizing that everything begins with the first step…take it.

* Go a step further. Get a picture frame and create a portable vision board. Arrange inspirational words and images of things that feel like renewal and rebirth. Include images that support your persevering and attaining the goals that you have in mind. Leave it on your desk or even somewhere at home that you will see everyday. Manifest your own inspiration!

* Have you wanted to try a new hobby, activity or always dreamed of running a marathon? With the energies at hand and the additional sunlight, get out there and try something you’ve been putting off! A body in motion remains in motion. Get yourself moving and ready for new experiences, opportunities to explore your hopes/fears and break free from limiting habits, behaviors and thought patterns.

* Get thee to Nature! Take a walk, a jog, a visit a local park. Connecting to nature tends to bring even the most inflexible parts of ourselves into greater balance. You don’t have to think, or do anything. Just show up and let yourself BE at least for that time.

No list can be complete without the duly named, Spring Cleaning.

* While most of us don't subscribe to the ancient proverb that "cleanliness is next to godliness", there are few of us that would argue how great it feels after an in-depth Spring cleaning. Yes, a general cleaning of our home AND work space can assist us in feeling renewed and ready to step out into the world feeling refreshed! Roll up your sleeves and get to it!

* Go through wardrobe, furniture, papers, “stuff” that can collect during introspective or inactive times. Let it go, recycle, sell it. Do away with what no longer serves you. Releasing the old makes room for the new to enter your life.

* Update your diet. This new season calls for more activity. Eat fresher food and take the time to savor what you are consuming.

* Look around. Do you think your environment needs an energy lift? Scientists have been researching how color affects mood for years. Take the time to explore what large/or small change you could do for your home or work space that will support you in stepping into a more renewed sense of well-being. Splashes of red, orange and yellow add energy and enthusiasm while blue, green and violets tend to represent tranquility and relaxation.

* Take a look in the mirror. Perhaps a new haircut, highlighting or something that makes you feel revamped, renewed, reinvented…

* And last but not least…I know of no better way to feel renewed or welcoming the light then to gather friends and family over a meal or even calling on them to get involved in a larger cause. Connecting to community, gathering our human forces to assist others going though unsettling times is a great way to express gratitude. Honor the cycles of giving and receiving. Renew your mind, body and spirit by connecting to our global human family and make a difference that can return the light to someone...after all, isn't Spring all about the hope for a better and more fulfilling life? Let's share that hope with our global family.