The vernal equinox, is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and falls on March 20, in 2023. There is a powerful spiritual significance of Springtime, where hope thrives.
We begin to emerge from the hibernation of winter, and look forward to lighter and warmer evenings. This evokes images of freshly cut grass, and a sense of new beginnings.
Read about Astral Projection and its spiritual significance
The arrival of the spring has many religious, spiritual, cultural, and scientific implications.
But what happens to signal the beginning of Spring? Why is it so special? What is the spiritual significance of springtime?
Why is it Spring today?
The Earth moves around the Sun. It takes one year for it to make one full journey.
The Earth is also tilted to one side. As it moves around the Sun, different parts of the globe get different amounts of sun each day. This is why we get seasons.
On the Equinox, the Earth’s axis is neither tilted towards nor away from the Sun, which means that the length of the day and night are approximately equal. ‘Equinox’ actually comes from a Latin word meaning ‘equal’.
Spring energy
As the Earth moves around the Sun, the angle at which the Sun’s rays hit the Northern half of the Earth gradually increases day by day.
You may have noticed that weather forecasts will sometimes also show the time of sunrise and sunset for that particular day.
As the amount of sun increases, we get longer days and more direct sunlight. It’s a time of renewal and growth, as birds fly back from winter migrations and fill the air with song.
Plants bud and bloom, trees sprout new leaves, and animals emerge from hibernation and begin to build nests. It’s also the mating season.
The energy for physical loving generally just increases in the natural world.
Spiritual beliefs on spring
Spring features heavily in human history as a key season of new beginnings. The Christian festival of Easter falls in Spring, which has rebirth and renewal at its heart.
In the pagan tradition, the vernal equinox is known to some as Ostara; the balancing of light and dark and the return of spring. In India, the festival of Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
However it’s celebrated, many see Spring as nature’s expression of the great life forces that exist within the universe, and potentially have large impacts on how we feel and behave. Spring is a time to re-open yourself, engage in healing, and continue to grow your higher self.
Some suggest that the increased sunlight and warmth enjoyed in Spring can lead to improved mood and reduced feelings of depression.
Unlike New Year’s Day in January, this period of looking forward is generally much happier and inviting because it’s warmer and sunnier.
What is a good way to celebrate spring time and the equinox?
There are many ways to celebrate the arrival of spring, depending on your cultural or personal traditions.
The famous blooming of cherry blossom in Washington DC in the United States, and in Japan, also occur, inviting us all to just venture outside more and feel the healing power of the wind, sun, and fresh air.
It’s a time that the Cultivated Zen team tend to go out more on longer trail runs, taking a fat joint and enjoying some picturesque views whilst high.
Whatever your activity or ceremony of choice, just taking the time to appreciate the beauty and energy of spring can be a powerful way to connect with the natural world. Embrace the spirit of renewal and growth that the season represents!
Springtime. What a time to be alive.
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