There’s a moment every year when the light quietly shifts. I notice it when I'm leaving for school dropoff runs: the light feels richer and the birdsong more intense.
What the Spring Equinox Really Means
The Spring Equinox marks the day when light and darkness are equal. But unlike Fall Equinox where the scales then tip to darkness, Spring Equinox gives us a moment to recognize the symmetry before stepping into the new season of brightness. In many traditions, including the old celebration of Ostara, this season honors fertility, renewal, and the tender courage of new beginnings. It doesn't require much to honor it. Noticing and witnessing it serves as celebration.
Spring Cleaning as Folk Magic
Before “spring cleaning” became a checklist, it was ritual.
Open every window, even for five minutes, to let the springtime magic of sunlight, soft breezes and birdsong into your home.
Shake out rugs.
Wash your sheets and let them dry in the sun if you can.
As you smooth fresh bedding across your mattress, imagine you are smoothing the path for the months ahead.
Plant Something — Even If It’s Small
You don’t need a garden to harness the magic of seeds growing.
I like to pick up items from Trader Joes to add a little extra life: a small pot of herbs in the kitchen window cheers me up. And buying a bowl of bulbs is an extra delight to watch each item sprout and blossom.
You could also try to plant one symbolic seed this week. Write in in your journal what you want to nuture and grow.
Set the Table for the Season
The equinox is a beautiful excuse for a simple dinner.
Switch to lighter table linens and bring in something floral to echo the season.
Serve a meal featuring seasonal produce like asparagus, peas and artichokes. Dishes like a spring frittata highlight a transition from heavy winter foods.
Living by the Light
Start noticing where the light falls in your home and amplify where you can by adding a crystal pendant in the window, creating a reading nook or placing a plant. I hung a crystal in one window and my daughter and I delight in "rainbow o'clock" when the light and crystal combine to project prisms all over the dining room walls and ceiling.