Spring Equinox

Spring equinox occurs this evening at 8:06 p.m. PDT. The word equinox comes from the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night). This is a moment of balance - the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west, and we experience twelve hours each of light and dark. From this moment on, we gain more light each day, until the summer solstice.

 

Agenda Today:
1. Journal queries

2. Spring cleaning and decorating

3. Plant my straw doll

1. Journal queries:
Consider the balance in my life.
How well do I balance my physical, mental, and spiritual needs?
How can I balance my personal needs with my commitments to the outside world? 
How do I balance my Being-ness (mindful, compassionate, grateful) with my Doing (engaged, kind,and giving)?

Think also of the balance in the world; meditate upon what this half of the year will bring, dark and light, and how best I can take right action in the world.

2. Spring cleaning and decorating:

In January I cleaned mold and mildew. In February I cleared clutter. In March I take the first steps of spring cleaning and maintenance, those big jobs that get put off through the winter months. This week my focus is in the living room - vacuuming all the crumbs out of the couch, and cleaning the windows outside and in.

Today I also plan to finish clearing surfaces and decorate for spring: Put away all the winter decorations and knick-knacks; put out green and yellow cloths and candles, a big vase of spring flowers, and set out my nests, birds, and bunnies.

3. Plant my straw doll:

I make a corn or straw doll each fall. For how to make this simple straw doll see this post on the autumn equinox.

The custom in Europe was to make a straw figure out of the last sheaf of wheat that was harvested, so the spirit of the grain had a place to live through the winter. Then it was planted again in the spring.

I hope to do more planting very soon, and will plant my straw doll then.