Spring Equinox

Spring equinox occurred this afternoon at 2:24 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 plan

3. Decorate for spring

4. 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 plan:

Spring break week was traditionally when my whole family pitched in and tackled the big cleaning chores; we cleaned all the windows, inside and out, washed curtains, repainted woodwork, and tackled repair jobs, all in one concerted effort.

Now I've noticed that my energy doesn't stretch to too many big chores at once, so I've scaled back my expectations. When spring arrives, I continue to clean one room each week, but I make it a priority to wash windows and repaint anything that needs it. 

This week I will focus on the bedroom and office. (My plans have been set back by an unexpected stomach bug, so I'll try to catch up as soon as I have the energy!)

• Sunday - Clear any piles of stuff on the floors. Move and sweep and vacuum under furniture.
• Monday - Dust furniture and corners, and decorate for spring.
• Tuesday - Wash bedding and dog bed, empty garbages and recycle papers.
• Wednesday - Sort and simplify my clothes, mend things, and start a new donations bag.
• Thursday - Clean window woodwork, inside and out, and sort out my sewing basket.
• Friday - Touch up paint on windows, inside.
• Saturday - Clean the windows, inside and out.

After a thorough cleaning, we will feel the fragrance of springtime throughout the house, and I will also get the cobwebs out of my head! What a perfect way to celebrate the season- my house, my family and I myself deserve this kind of loving attention.

3. Decorate for Spring:

Today I hope to have the energy to at least clear 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.

4. 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.