So on Monday it was 70 degrees and sunny and then on Thursday it was below 30 and snowing…and that’s just the dichotomy of spring in NYC!
We will probably continue to get fooled with warmth until May. Which means it’s the perfect time to begin our slow transition from winter hibernation into spring bloom!
March 19th is the spring equinox, a time for new beginnings. As nature starts to wake up—leaves sprouting, birds chirping, flowers blooming, bees buzzing—our body and minds do as well. Just as the seasons shift, so do we & you will probably start feeling that energy soon if you haven’t already.
Winter is a time of rest & recovery, reflection & restoration. Spring is the true reset. People say the new year starts January 1st, but I think a better and more realistic new years is the start of spring. A time for shedding the old to make room for the new. Letting the rain drops to clean the slate and making room for seeds to sprout, grow & bloom!!
So with that being said, these are all of the rituals and habits I love to aide in that mind & body transition and fall into rhythm with the new season!!
My Spring Equinox Rituals
1. Clean Out Stagnant Energy
In order to make room for the new, we first must clear out the old. & I mean this physically and mentally. The more cluttered my physical space is, the more cluttered my brain is, and vis versa! So my favorite place to begin is by decluttering in all aspects. I truly feel that old things in the home that don’t bring joy or have a purpose hold energy that keep things stagnant, physically releasing these things allows for the flow of positive energy and I truly feel that difference.
Physically (environment)
Do a deep clean of each room and space
Sweep, vacuum, steam, dust
De-clutter and organize drawers
Clean out closet and dressers
Color code
Donate or throw away things you haven’t used/don’t need
Find everything a home!!!
Deep clean, itemize & take inventory of fridge, pantry, spices
Change filters: shower, water, air purifiers
Clear out email + spam
Clear out texts and respond to people
Organize phone + desktop
Sage the home
Physically (body)
Release stagnation in the body
Lymphatic drainage: dry brushing, hopping, vibration plate, manual massage
Deep stretching and yoga, hip release
Steaming hot shower with essential oils: eucalyptus, rosemary
Hot lemon & ginger water in the morning
Deep breath work and visual release
Acupuncture &/or Acupressure
Vagus nerve stimulation
Sweating
Grounding
Yoga and meditation
Mentally
Journaling + writing out thoughts
Forgiving, releasing pent up anger, frustration, negative emotion, letting go
Connecting with loved ones
Spending less time on phone/screen
Tuning out external noise, making intentional time to quiet the mind and tune into intuition
2. Set Intentions
Ok now that our space is cleaned and that’s not constantly in our subconscious bothering us…at least that is what happens to me. I end up procrastinating and getting so much less done when my physical + mental is cluttered, so this first step is just a huge deep breath within itself. NOW we’ve cleared out the old, it’s time to make room for the new!
If you made resolutions on January 1st and didn’t stick with them you are not alone! That’s actually quite normal, that is what happens when you try to completely flip your routine upside down in the middle of when we’re supposed to be hibernating. So forgive yourself and let’s move forward. Now is the time to set those intentions, reset our priorities, and align those with our routine. Now I am still not a fan of setting a goal that is completely unreachable because that is just setting yourself up for failure, but I think setting realistic intentions that you know you can start with is the best place to begin, because then you can accomplish them and prove to yourself that it is possible.
For me, that starts with every day habits. I define the type of person that I want to be, and then I make my daily habits and choices align with that person. The more that you do what you say you are going to, the more trust builds within yourself.
3. Create vs. Consume
I say this so often because it is so important. This is a habit I try to constantly implement even during the winter because it is just truly life changing, but it’s definitely harder when it’s freezing cold snowing outside.
We live in a consumption-forward society, and we are slowly starting to lose the art of creation. It is soso important to spend more time doing activities that are offline.
Spending more time in nature, exploring more, getting out and doing creatively fueling activities, putting pen to paper, reading, learning something new, using our hands, cooking, baking, gardening, basking in the grass, sand and sun. Creating just to create! For the joy of it! It doesn’t have to be something that you are talented at or can make money on, but creation just because. Mindless consumption numbs the soul. Self expression and creation is healing and you don’t have to be “good” at it for it to be valuable.
Through creating vs. consuming, we can tune out the noise and reconnect with our inner voice. Consciously creating space to reduce noise and be quiet and still with ourselves is so important. Each of us has our own unique creative voice but we spend so much time getting caught up with everyone else’s. Our brains are soooo overstimulated and it has become a privilege to step away from that.
The more time we spend reconnecting with the earth and nature away from technology and screens, the more we are able to silence our mind and tune into our unique creative voice. Nature & creation resets you on a cellular level. It is healing!!!
4. Reset Circadian Health
Since daylight savings and the seasons shifting we have more sun! Let’s wake with it and wind down with it. It’s true what the people say, you will feel better getting sunlight in your eyes first thing in the morning and being outside when the sun starts to set. The more we are outdoors when the sun is in the sky, the more we thrive.
After months without vitamin D, I am so ready to bask in the sun each and every day that it is shining. With constant screens, it is really hard to regulate circadian rhythm and honor our bodies internal clock, so creating slow mornings and wind down rituals is something that really benefits me. Some things I love doing:
Eating protein in the morning
Getting outside in the morning, even if just for 5 minutes and getting natural light in my eyes
Going on a walk outside throughout the day, and before the sun goes down
Not wearing sunglasses when outside
Staying off my phone the first 30 minutes of my day and the last 30 minutes of my day (at least)
Reducing night time screen time, choosing reading
Circadian rhythm friendly lighting or candle light, NO fluorescent lighting (this is truly life-changing)
Letting fresh air into my room at least 30 minutes before going to sleep
Not eating/drinking a lot right before bed
Good quality sheets. I prefer 100% linen. I also like wearing a sleep mask and I have been experimenting with this weighted one as well
528 Hz while winding down
Sleep is priceless!!!!!
5. Be a Villager
Winter is the time for hibernation, and spring is the time for socialization. We’ve conserved our energy and now it’s time to thrive!!!
Hangout with friends and family, go on walks together, cook dinner together, be creative together, play games, I feel like we’ve created this idea in our head that hanging out with friends has to be some event like going out to dinner or going to a show but the best hangouts with friends are the one’s where you are doing a mundane task that you usually do by yourself, together.
In the beginning of the year I said one of my intentions is being a better villager. Being more neighborly, talking to strangers, supporting my friends, doing favors and acts of kindness just to make the people’s around me’s life better. Showing up for people even when it costs time energy and comfort. The biggest theme I’ve noticed is that the cost of community is inconvenience, but that’s the beauty of it. I would way rather be inconvenienced and have close friends and relationships than protect my peace to the point of loneliness.
Local volunteering is also another great way to be a better villager, and also helps so much with the feeling of overwhelm. Giving back to others and doing hands-on, physical work that goes beyond just monetary donations!
6. Bring New Life & Color into Home
Color is an instant mood booster. When I think of spring, I think of all the colorful flowers blooming. This week at the farmers market I got some bright pink tulips and put them in my pink vase to fill my home with spring color! I also have been wearing more colors lately. Brightening out surroundings brings more life into our home!
I also love going to the farmers market, picking out some colorful seasonal produce and making myself a colorful seasonal meal or snack plate. I also love using the late winter citrus to make a simmer pot and fill my home with a fresh scent. Lighting more candles, opening up the windows to let in fresh air and circulation, and just embracing the new season!! Being more whimsical and having fun with everything. I feel like as a kid I would always redecorate, move around furniture, bring a sense of freshness into my bedroom and I want to continue that into adulthood.
Happy almost spring!!! Would love to hear any rituals you have as well for the new season. Share them below!
XO - Ella
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🌷💐 Happy Spring 💐🌷