Springtime

Spring has sprung…

Even though it kind of feels like winter never really happened (silly California), spring is officially here! Spring equinox is tomorrow and with it comes a fresh burst of energy and optimism. Anyone need a little of that?!

I always enjoy the turn of the seasons because the change brings a new way to relate to ourselves and to our world. Not only do the weather and length of days change with the seasons, so do our inner rhythms and experiences. With spring, we encounter the feeling of new growth, the promise of a new beginning. We see this outwardly in the new shoots, foliage, and flowers, and feel it inwardly as the stirring to start a new project, get organized and focused, clean our house and clear our clutter (both physically and mentally), or to spend more time outdoors and active.

The equinoxes and solstices are turning points – and thus opportunities to create anew. As with any important transition, there are old things we leave behind and fresh things we step into. Moving from winter to spring can be a particularly lovely transition because it brings hope and possibility as well as the energy and creativity to start new things. We shake off the heaviness of winter and start to feel our blood moving and mind activating. Our curiosity and vitality get lit up this time of year. The dullness of the winter months starts to slough off and reveal the sharp edges and bright colors once again. The world feels more bright and alive. And consequently, so do we.

The spring equinox is also the first day of Aries. As the sun moves from dreamy, watery Pisces into fierce and fiery Aries, we shift into an atmosphere of asserting ourselves confidently and breaking new ground. Aries is active, passionate, willful, independent, and loves to initiate things. This is a great time for pioneering and strong leadership. Aries energy is great for birthing new ideas and projects, for getting inspired and taking action to get things moving.

While Aries energy is about spark and new ideas, it does not necessarily include discipline and follow through. Aries is messy and wild, but full of vitality. Luckily Taurus comes right after Aries to fortify and develop our visions by actually getting the structures built and the routines in place to assure our success. Aries has the confidence and the “I can do anything” attitude to get our projects off the ground, and Taurus works to ensure their longevity and impact.

One caution is to navigate this time with ease and not get too ahead of yourself. The “waking up” energy of spring can feel really exciting and stimulating…and the enthusiasm it evokes is good, but if we cross over into impulsiveness (classic Aries), we can end up in over our heads or totally off the map. This time of year, we can shoot out of the starting gates too fast and then trip on our own feet or burn through our energy too fast. This is not to say we should resist the powerful urge to grow and move, just that we can channel this energy into more mindful and intentional action in our lives. So, enjoy the sunshine, vitality, and inspiration of the season. But exercise care, and sometimes a little restraint, to ensure that you are serving your larger vision (and not running over anything in the process). Now go out and use that spring energy to set your sights high and take action to build something new. Start your projects and put energy and attention into the things that you want to grow and nurture this year!