Another welcoming of spring, and another forecast of snow! Looking back over my previous vernal equinox posts, I almost always mention snow, so there’s definitely a pattern there and I’m not imagining that we welcome spring with fresh snow, year after year. I’ve decided this time, to turn my thinking on its head a little bit. I’m approaching the celebrating of the vernal equinox with a different point of view. Instead of taking the fresh snow to mean that spring is delayed, I’m just going to welcome it as a symbol of how difficult it might be to pass from the colder seasons into the warmer. What might this mean, internally?
Set in our ways
Sometimes, we get set in our ways. It’s true of everyone, of course. Even those of us who consider ourselves free-spirited, or go-with-the-flow types. I’m as likely as anyone to get stuck in habits that I might be better off shaking. Or to look at things only through my own filtered lens. I’ve been looking at this winter as being overly long (well, to be fair, I think at this point most people in the northeast are feeling this way this year). Temps have still not budged far above freezing, and snow is again in the forecast. Even people in the mid-Atlantic are dealing with colder than usual temperatures as the vernal equinox arrives.
I’m stuck in this hum of waiting… waiting for winter to finish up, waiting for the snow to melt, waiting for the temps to rise. I’m also waiting for the better weather so I can go outside and shed these winter pounds I gained. You get the point. There are some things I’m waiting to move for me, but I’m not necessarily moving myself out of winter, or my winter habits.
Micro-habits and personal rituals
Change can be slow. Our embrace of change can be reluctant. When I want to change things in my life, those things that I have the power to change, I sometimes start small. Sure, at times I have dived right into a challenging new workout program, or have gone cold turkey with my diet. But, usually, I start with little changes, little steps I can take every day to know it is going to make a difference.
So to welcome in spring, to celebrate the vernal equinox this year, I’ve reflected on areas in my life or in my daily habits where I can change. These are things I can do to move things along. Winter doesn’t come in with a flash and a bang, it comes in gradually; it’s not going to go out suddenly either. The vernal equinox doesn’t turn a switch and presto, we wake up to seventy-degree days.
Vernal equinox altar
To begin this, I’ve set up an altar for the vernal equinox. I’ve jotted down some thoughts on slips of paper, and arranged some items on a dedicated space. Calling this an “altar” might give the wrong impression. For some, this kind of altar is quite spiritual or religious in nature. It is in fact, the kind of space they go to find the holy. For myself, personal altars are a bit more like lighting a candle to meditate on – they are a focal point for my reflection and intention. Is there a spiritual element to it? For sure, there is. But it’s of my own design and making. It’s a way for me to gather, express, and set intention.
Spring and winter symbols
What I’ve done with my own altar is include just a few items representing both the winter (or personal habits) I am moving forward from, and items that symbolize spring, new growth, healthy new habits, and an embrace of change. For myself, I’ve chosen some flowers – dried flowers for what I move forward from, and fresh, colorful flowers for moving forward towards. I’ve created a circle of flameless tealights, to “light” one at a time in a clockwise manner. And I’ve included a glassy quartz stone and a small goblet of fresh water, representing life, newness, and the gift of spirit.
Your own words
For my personal vernal equinox ritual, I’ve written a few things down on separate slips of paper. These things represent what I am moving away from, or want to shake off (like shaking off the last dusting of snow), placed alongside the winter symbols. I’ve also written out a few slips of paper for the things I want to welcome in, or the things I imagine will come with the arrival of spring. These, I set alongside the spring symbols and their flameless tealights.
I start in the East, simply because this is what I learned when I was first starting out with the study of paganism and witchcraft, many years ago. It aligns with the sunrise, dawn, new beginnings, and of course, the start of the day. As I work my way around the circle, in clockwise direction, I turn on each candle and focus on the words I have written out. I was moved to write these broader concepts, but writing specific habits would be just as appropriate.
Completion
Once I have come to the end, I sit with this reflection for a while. I then gather the papers together, and decide on a proper way to dispose of them. My own approach to this is nothing exciting or dramatic – I simply, respectfully tuck them into the garbage, and “forget” them. It doesn’t mean I forget the words I’ve written. It means I let the ritual do its work. Even when we sit in meditation, we don’t tend to analyze our meditation after; the meditation might help us, but it won’t be terribly helpful if we spend hours going over what we did right or what we did wrong as we sat. It is similar here. Reflect, focus, express, and set your intention, and get back to life.
Further steps
Of course, since we are talking about positive change here, possibly incorporating micro-habits for example, there are more steps we can take in ushering in spring and all the new season might have in store for us. While I suggest “forgetting” those slips of paper or the lighting of the tealights, it’s important to still move forward with the positive behaviors we have determined for ourselves. If you’ve decided you need to eat healthier, then obviously, there’s continued effort there.
I hope you find this small ritual helpful, and I hope that however you welcome in spring, it brings joy and positive change to your life!
Learn more
If you’re interested in more ideas for celebrating the vernal equinox, you can check out some of my other posts:
The Witches Moon, February 2024
I am a member of affiliate programs and receive a commission on sales made through some of my links. That means if you happen to click through some of the following links and make a purchase, you are helping support the operation of the site – thank you!
If you’re interested in pagan or witchcraft supplies to use in your personal rituals, I highly recommend the Witches Moon for their subscription boxes as well as for their Moon Market. Also, the flameless tealights I used in my vernal equinox altar are great and I’d highly recommend them. They provide a truly soft, warm glow, and have a surprisingly convincing flicker! You can read user reviews or purchase a 12-pack of Flameless Tealights in Bright Amber Glow at Amazon. The ones I use are specifically the “bright amber glow” option.
Thanks for reading, and as always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with questions or comments, or just to say hi.
~ Nellie
Leave a Reply