It's Springtime!

This week's topic is the Vernal Equinox, more commonly known as Spring. Yes! It is finally Springtime in the northern hemisphere.

The daytime begins to get longer. There is more sunlight available in spring. The plants begin to grow, animals come out of their winter homes and trees start shedding their pollen.

What does springtime mean? How do we impact this season and how does it impact us.

Spring is a time of year where the earth and its inhabitants transition to rebirth and growth.

The vernal equinox is the transitional period between cold and hot. It is a time where we balance opposite aspects as we move through these life experiences. The term equinox refers to this balancing of these opposites.

According to a Stanford Medical study, our bodies experience predictable patterns of change throughout the solar year (Armitage, 2020). This is much like our daily circadian rhythms of wakefulness and sleep. Finding balance and an even keel is even more important at this time of year. The body just knows!

For those who are furtherest away from the sun it could mean that tulips bloom and the snow melts away. For those in other locations, it may mean that the flowering trees are blooming and leaving their pollen everywhere. There is new growth to generate a whole new set of rebirth of the earth.

In my personal observations, some people say they like the "seasons." Meaning they like the radical change of the weather differences throughout the year in temperate climates.

In other geographic locations, the change in seasons is not very radical as we get closer to the earth's equator. In these climates there is still a change, but it takes a little more effort to notice the differences. In other words, there are seasonal changes everywhere. Sometimes more noticeable than others.

Notice the Changes & Differences

As yogis, it is customary for us to observe the changes within and around us. Ask yourself what spring means for you in your location?

If you are in a warmer climate such as Florida, Hawaii, Costa Rica what do you notice about this transitional period of the year?

As our environment impacts us, we impact our environment. What unique impacts do you make in your world that may be different from the impacts you make at other times of year.

That is, what do you do in Spring that you don't do at other times of year? It could be a Spring cleaning, a religious celebration, or something else. Give some thought to this and welcome these rituals and observations into your heart.

Welcome the change and rebirth that means Spring is here. Meditating on or journaling your answers can help you find balance through this next transition of the year.

Resources and Further Readings

Armitage, H., (2020) Human biology registers two seasons, not four, study suggests.

Stemettes Zine. (n.d.) How do plants know it is spring.