Throughout history and across the world, the Spring Equinox has been observed as a time of rebirth, new beginnings, and a definite sense of celebrating nature’s very own new year.

Throughout the darker months and colder temperatures of Winter, plants and animals have essentially ‘paused’, awaiting just the right time to re-emerge in Spring. In the UK we may recognise Spring as a time to get back outside amongst the flourishing plants, plan a family feast, or prepare for Easter celebrations. Systems such as Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Paganism also have an abundance of rich and inspiring ways to reconnect to the rhythms of the season that we can adopt. If you’re looking for a way to align with nature and mark the beginning of Spring, dive into these ancient and modern rituals.

Paganism

The Germanic goddess of dawn and Springtime Ostara is often honoured at the Spring equinox. Ostara festivals celebrate renewal, rebirth and fertility, and after the hunkering down of Winter, there’s a sense of expansion and exuberance at these celebrations. Ostara is linked to the colours bright green, yellow and purple, hinting at the flowers blooming in nature. To connect to the energy of Ostara, we can celebrate renewal and rebirth by reflecting upon our current state of being. Have we fallen into habits that don’t serve us, are there things we’d like to change at this turning point in the year? Setting an intention or sankalpa now at the beginning of a brand new season can be even more powerful than in the darkness of January.

Practice: ‘Sowing The Seeds Of Intention’

Planting seeds at the beginning of Spring represents new beginnings. Take a few seeds and plant them in the earth outside. Whilst planting them, set an intention or sankalpa for the season or year ahead. As you care for the growing seeds, they serve as a reminder to stay true to your intention. As the plant grows and blooms, you can reflect upon your own personal growth too.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Spring is seen as the time of cleansing, creating, moving and renewing in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Spring is associated here with the wood element (TCM includes wood, water, metal, fire, and earth as elements), linking to the growing shoots of trees and plants. After the stillness of Winter, this is a time of expansiveness and outward movement, and as the element of wood links to the liver and gall bladder in TCM, this is a time of cleansing and detoxing in mind, body and home. As a way to detox the mind, it is important to practice ‘letting go’ at this time of year, especially when it comes to long held grudges, anger and resentment. For the body, try sipping warm water with lemon and apple cider vinegar in the mornings to stimulate bile and support the liver, whilst adding artichoke and radish to your meals to support the gall bladder.

Practice: Love Your Liver

Many Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques include ‘cleansing’ the blood and liver to remove impurities. At the change of a season this is especially important, and even more so after a long Winter. Try sipping dandelion or magnolia berry tea, and consuming more bitter and sour foods. Use acupressure to stimulate the liver and digestion by pressing and massaging the Taichongpoint (an inch or so back from the meeting point of the big toe and second toe) of the foot for three to five minutes.

Ayurveda

Spring is governed by the elements of earth and water in Ayurveda, and the qualities of slowness, steadiness, coolness, heaviness, strength, support and moisture. All of these qualities form the dosha Kapha.With an abundance of Kapha energy in Spring, it is important to recognise how to maintain balance in the mind and body. An excessive amount of Kapha within us can result in lethargy, weight gain, and a build up of phlegm and mucus (think Spring colds or sniffly allergies). Again, Spring is a transitional time of year, so assessing how you are at this time can aid in addressing any imbalances before the new season begins.

Ayurveda is very much about living in harmony with your own nature, and the nature around you, so rising with the sun and setting your circadian rhythms can work as an effective way to realign with nature at this time. Consuming light and easy to digest meals is also an important way to reduce any lethargy, and allow as much energy as possible to flow through the body at this time of renewal and rebirth. Spices such as cinnamon, ginger, fennel, caraway, cumin, turmeric, black pepper and small amounts of cayenne can enhance agni or digestive fire, and are an important addition to any dairy foods at this time of year, which may otherwise cause sinus issues and heaviness. Rituals reminiscent of panchakarma techniques can be useful to refresh and renew the body and mind, such as oil pulling, body brushing and abhyanga (self massage).

Practice: Pranayama Power

To clear the physical and subtle channels of the body, pranayama techniques such as kappalabhati, breath of fire, or the more gentle alternate nostril breathing can energise and awaken the senses. To fire up digestion and boost energy levels as we enter a new season, practice a few rounds of Suryanamaskar (sun salutations) and surya bhedana (right nostril breathing) with the sunrise – even better if you can get outside and reconnect to nature whilst you practice.