As the Sun appears at 0° Aries on March 20 this year, the archetypal energies of the celestial ram will exuberantly reemerge from the throes of winter and charge forth into a new cycle of the astrological calendar — nature's new year.

This is the moment of the spring equinox — also known as the vernal or March equinox — when day and night are experienced in (nearly) equal measure all over the globe.

Spring equinox is akin to the sunrise of the year — bringing life-giving solar energy back to the land after a long, dark winter’s night.

As Earth continues her perennial pilgrimage, the Northern Hemisphere will tilt more and more towards the Sun — lengthen our days and shortening our nights. It’s the time of year when light — both literally and symbolical — is born from the womb of darkness.

This is a time of awakening and balancing, preparing and planting, transitioning and growing — a time to pause and reflect on what’s emerging from our depths and what seeds we’d like to plant for our future.

On the Wheel of the Year the spring equinox is celebrated as Ostara, one of four solar festivals. Both Ostara and the Christian festival of Easter are believed to derive their names and traditions from the worship of an ancient Germanic fertility goddess named Eostre — Goddess of the Dawn. Accordingly, both festivals celebrate the return of life’s fertility in the form of hares, bunnies, birds, eggs, nests, and lambs — fresh starts, new beginnings, renewal, resurrection and rebirth.

Consider celebrating this time of year with one or more of the following activities:

• Commit to your spring cleaning — clearing away the clutter of your life to make time and space for fresh and new things and experiences. 
• Gently cleanse your body and mind of accumulated heaviness.
• Shake off the seriousness of winter and playfully begin a new project or endeavor.

Journal Prompts:

• What ideas, insights or inspirations did I receive over the winter? 
• Which of them do I need to prune back and compost? 
• Which of them would I like to explore further this spring?
• What will it take to plant, cultivate and nurture them to fruition?
• What will be the likely harvest?

Listen to our Ostara • Spring Equinox and Springtime Vibes • Children’s Music playlists to more deeply align with the energies of this potent season.

Tell Us: What feels fresh and inspiring for you at this moment in time?