Spring Equinox
Festival of Balance and Potential
20-23 March in Northern Hemisphere
20-23 September in Southern Hemisphere
“In ancient times the beginning of the year was reckoned from this moment when the Sun crossed the equator and began rising higher each day in the heavens.”
The Astrologer’s Astronomical Handbook, Jeff Mayo
The Spring Equinox is a solar festival celebrated when the length of day and night are equal. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin and means “equal night”. In our yoga practice we can explore the equinox theme of balance by working with yoga’s balancing
poses. We can also reflect on how best to balance our own Sun (Ha) and Moon (Tha) energies, both in our yoga practice and in our life. Yoga helps us to reconcile opposing parts of our self, creating optimum conditions for healing to occur.
poses. We can also reflect on how best to balance our own Sun (Ha) and Moon (Tha) energies, both in our yoga practice and in our life. Yoga helps us to reconcile opposing parts of our self, creating optimum conditions for healing to occur.
Yoga is Union
The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, it's root is the verb yuj meaning "to yoke" or "to unite". Yoga is often translated as "union", as in a marriage. This union or marriage between complimentary opposite helps us to find balance in our lives. Here are some complimentary opposites that yoga unites:
Sun and moon energy
Yin and yang
Water and fire
Body and mind
Breath and body
Heart and mind
Body and soul
Stihra and sukha (effort and relaxation)
Purusha and Prakrti (Spirit and matter)
Action and contemplation
Activity and rest
Alertness and relaxation
Waxing and waning
In breath and out breath
Individual and universal
Heaven and earth
Sun and moon energy
Yin and yang
Water and fire
Body and mind
Breath and body
Heart and mind
Body and soul
Stihra and sukha (effort and relaxation)
Purusha and Prakrti (Spirit and matter)
Action and contemplation
Activity and rest
Alertness and relaxation
Waxing and waning
In breath and out breath
Individual and universal
Heaven and earth
Sunlight and Shadow
Go within.
Focus your senses. Face the challenge.
Balance sunlight and shadow.
Blend with the path.
This is the way of the Tao.
Tao 56
Focus your senses. Face the challenge.
Balance sunlight and shadow.
Blend with the path.
This is the way of the Tao.
Tao 56
Eggs and the Spring Equinox
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“As with all other key festivals of the year, there are both Pagan and Christian associations with the Spring Equinox. To Pagans, this is the time of the ancient Saxon goddess, Eostre, who stands for new beginnings and fertility. This is why she is symbolised by eggs (new life) and rabbits/ hares (fertility). Her name is also the root of the term we give to the female hormone oestrogen. By now you may be beginning to see the Christian celebration derived from this festival- Easter. And this is the reason why the ‘Easter Bunny’ brings us coloured eggs (and if you’re lucky chocolate ones) at this time of year. So as nature starts to sprout the seeds that have been gestating in her belly throughout the winter, maybe you can start to think about what you want to ‘sprout’ in your life now and to take action."
Summer St John BBC Website |
The Egg Decorating Meditation
Eggs are associated with fertility and new life. The egg decorating meditation is an enjoyable, fun, creative way to meditate and would be a good way to introduce children to meditation. No artistic ability is needed: just have fun and be playful. Let go of any concern about producing a beautiful object and just enjoy the process.
You will need: A hard-boiled egg. Felt tip pens, or water-based paints and brushes. Optional: newspaper to protect surfaces.
Find yourself a comfortable sitting position, either cross legged on the floor, or on a chair at a table. Before you start decorating your egg, spend a few minutes connecting with your body, mind, and breath. Notice your posture and where your body is in contact with the floor or your chair. Let go of any unnecessary tension in the body. Relax the face with a half-smile. Tune into the natural flow of your breath. Throughout the meditation maintain a gentle, background awareness of your breathing.
Now look at your egg. Examine it with fresh eyes, as though you were an alien and had never encountered an egg before! Notice its shape, colour, texture, and the way that it catches the light. Take the egg in your hand. Explore its shape and texture with your fingers. Bring it to your nose and notice how it smells.
Before you start decorating your egg, take some time to enjoy the colours of your felt tips, or your box of paints. Allow your eyes to feast on the colours. Are you drawn to any colour in particular?
Pick up a felt tip, or your paint brush, and begin to decorate your egg. If your mind wanders off on to other things, as it inevitably will, notice where it has wandered to, and just keep gently bringing it back to making marks upon your egg. If your inner critic starts to tell you that you are making a hash of this, smile to your inner critic, and again bring your awareness back to decorating your egg.
When you feel that you have finished, take some time to mindfully enjoy your handiwork. Notice how you are feeling now. Tune in again to the natural flow of your breath. Become aware of where your body is in contact with the floor or chair. Congratulate yourself for trying out the decorating an egg meditation.
You will need: A hard-boiled egg. Felt tip pens, or water-based paints and brushes. Optional: newspaper to protect surfaces.
Find yourself a comfortable sitting position, either cross legged on the floor, or on a chair at a table. Before you start decorating your egg, spend a few minutes connecting with your body, mind, and breath. Notice your posture and where your body is in contact with the floor or your chair. Let go of any unnecessary tension in the body. Relax the face with a half-smile. Tune into the natural flow of your breath. Throughout the meditation maintain a gentle, background awareness of your breathing.
Now look at your egg. Examine it with fresh eyes, as though you were an alien and had never encountered an egg before! Notice its shape, colour, texture, and the way that it catches the light. Take the egg in your hand. Explore its shape and texture with your fingers. Bring it to your nose and notice how it smells.
Before you start decorating your egg, take some time to enjoy the colours of your felt tips, or your box of paints. Allow your eyes to feast on the colours. Are you drawn to any colour in particular?
Pick up a felt tip, or your paint brush, and begin to decorate your egg. If your mind wanders off on to other things, as it inevitably will, notice where it has wandered to, and just keep gently bringing it back to making marks upon your egg. If your inner critic starts to tell you that you are making a hash of this, smile to your inner critic, and again bring your awareness back to decorating your egg.
When you feel that you have finished, take some time to mindfully enjoy your handiwork. Notice how you are feeling now. Tune in again to the natural flow of your breath. Become aware of where your body is in contact with the floor or chair. Congratulate yourself for trying out the decorating an egg meditation.
Spring Equinox Yoga Practice
Here's one I made earlier! This is a Spring Equinox Yoga Practice from my archives, that I created in 2013. It integrates Seasonal Meditation Questions into a yoga practice.
What wisdom are you bringing with you from the dark of winter?
What are you awakening in yourself?
What wisdom are you bringing with you from the dark of winter?
What are you awakening in yourself?
Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be and embracing who we are.
Brene Brown