Vernal Spring Equinox and Aries Ingress Brings More Light and a Time of Renewal
My winter vegetables from the local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) are coming to an end. I’ve enjoyed making hearty soups with my tubers, carrots and Bok Choy, braising my hearty Swiss chard and making warm cozy Shepards Pie with the abundance of potatoes but the seasons are changing. March 20th started Spring. The harvest will now include artichokes, spinach and kale and lots of fresh salad greenery to kick off Kapha time, the switch in Ayurvedic tradition, for lighter, pungent, and bitter foods. It is time to detox the liver now that we don’t have to rely on fattier foods to keep us warm.
The Spring Equinox (Vernal Equinox) arrives as a breath of fresh air, a time of renewal and rebirth, marking the transition from the dormant stillness of winter to the vibrant awakening of spring. More than just a change in seasons, the equinox carries a potent energetic significance, impacting both the natural world and the human spirit. At its core, the equinox represents balance. With equal parts day and night, light and darkness find equilibrium, mirroring the delicate dance between opposing forces within us. This balance creates fertile ground for shedding old patterns, releasing stagnant energy, and embracing the potential for new beginnings. Like nature shaking off the remnants of winter, we too are invited to cleanse and purify, making space for fresh growth and opportunities.
It is also the Astrological New Year, as our fearless leader, Sun Sign Aries kicks off the next twelve months of the Astrological Cycle. This is a time where we find religious celebrations of rebirth such as Easter and of self-reflection and atonement such as Ramadan. The major Hindu festival Holi is a celebration of color, Spring and love! Stonehenge is believed to be a homage to the return of the sun. On the Spring Equinox the sun rises in perfect alignment with the stones. To this day, there is still dancing, drumming, chanting and celebrating onsite, plus you can even view it and be a part of it virtually online.
Energetically, the Spring pull is empowering. Our third, solar plexus chakra is powered by the Sun, a powerhouse place of Chi, the life force. Aries is a fire sign ruled by Mars, the planet of action, desire, and energy! An opportunity to metamorphosize any stress in the body to vitality and follow suit with the actions that correlate. The longer days give us opportunity to enjoy walks after dinner, more activity after work, and help with promoting inner happiness. The fruits of our efforts, our seeds, our plans, are now ready to bud and bloom. This energetic shift provides a potent opportunity for deeper connection to ourselves, to nature, and to the spiritual realm. Meditation, mindfulness practices, and time spent in nature can amplify our awareness of these subtle energies, allowing us to harness their transformative power. The equinox is a time to listen to the whispers of our intuition, reconnect with our inner wisdom, and align ourselves with the natural rhythms of the earth. Enjoy this glorious time, however you may celebrate.
Originally published in the March 23, 2025 issue of Cohen Children’s Medical Center Newsletter