Wake up and smell the crocuses. The spring equinox has returned for 2024, and we're breathing a collective sigh of relief. Doesn't it just make all the difference to leave work during daylight hours?
Meteorologically speaking – AKA for weather and atmosphere forecasting purposes – spring always kicks off on 1 March and ends on 31 May, per the Met Office. But the astronomical spring, based on the position of Earth's orbit in relation to the Sun, generally takes place on or around 20 March. This is when the Earth’s axis (the theoretical line that the Earth rotates around) aligns with the planet's orbit around the sun, distributing sunlight equally across the Northern and Southern hemispheres, meaning night and day are roughly the same length.
This only happens twice a year: the vernal equinox in March ushers in spring, and the autumn equinox occurs in late September. Are you ready to make the most of it?
Here's everything you need to know about the spring equinox, including how you can harness its powerful energy in your life…
What is the spring equinox?
Aysha Bell, a fourth-generation energy healer, explains that it all has to do with when the sun crosses the equator: “In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox (AKA spring equinox or vernal equinox) occurs when the Sun crosses the equator line, heading north. This marks the start of the spring season in the northern half of the globe.”
When will the spring equinox happen in the UK in 2024?
Get ready to set your alarms! The spring equinox will occur on 20 March at 3.07 am GMT, per Royal Museums Greenwich.
What happens during the spring equinox?
According to Aysha, "With the Spring Equinox energy, your spirit is waking up with new ideas & new dreams for your life. It's fresh, warm energy has the power to make you feel alive & inspired. The inspiring Spring Equinox energy is encouraging you to be reborn. Embrace this new beginning.”
She adds: “The importance of the spring season is that the daylight will start increasing, so we will experience more light such as illuminating, reminding us that the light will always return to earth. Hence, this equinox is the representation of new life and light, new beginnings, path, and seeds. It is also known as the vernal equinox, and has been celebrated for centuries. Historically, the spring equinox has represented more than just the first day of spring or when the flowers begin to bloom. It has also become a symbol for rebirth, fertility, and new beginnings.”
If you've ever wondered if your cycle has a celestial connection, read on.
So, now we're all on the same energetic page, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: how do we actually energy cleanse our home for the spring equinox? Aysha breaks it down for us.
"Just as you would take your shoes off when you come home and not walk through the house because you don’t want to bring dirt inside, the same applies to energy. We bring most energies in through the exits and entrances of our homes.
“So when practising any cleansing ritual, give special attention to these areas. Even using positive mantras or prayers. E.g. Bless this house with love, life, and protection. As a general practice, the opening of doors and windows will clear stagnant energy. So doing this daily, not just around the equinox, keeps your home free of negative and stagnant energies.”
"The ritual of burning sage is something called smudging, this is one the oldest rituals, very much like burning frankincense or pinion, you allow the sage to smoke and use it in the corners doorways and windows. Consciously put out the energy and intention you want to fill your home with. Visualise clearing the energy that does not align with you as you move through your home. Ideally use a feather to direct the smoke.
"When you light your sage, light it at an angle allowing the flame to come alight and naturally diminish. open up all the windows and doors in your home to allow the smoke to blow through freely. If you are using frankincense or pinon, they will put on a burning chole, which should be on a clay chole burner that you can easily move around your space with. Sage should ideally go out and be left after it’s used in a clay dish. I use Abalone shells as they have calming and healing properties.
“You can also use lavender water in your mop water. This is something my granny used to do, its claiming and will leave the house smelling lovely. Palo Santo is used as incense but can also be used to smudge your home and yourself. Palo Santo means holy wood and has been, and is still used by shamanic healers and practitioners before ceremonies and meditations to clear and cleanse the space and people attending.”
“Salt can be used to cleanse your space but also to cleanse crystals, jewellery and yourself. Salt and Water are both known for absorbing negative energy so having a salt bath after cleaning your home is the icing on the cake in terms of cleaning, it draws out negativity and toxins and will leave you feeling calmer and more peaceful. An old powerful ritual would be to pour salt in the corners of your home and clear it away after two days. Using salt at the front door to keep away negative energy is an old and powerful ritual and one I highly recommend.”
“Black tourmaline crystals are fantastic for absorbing negative energy. They are one of the most powerful crystals for protecting energy and personal space. Use this time to power up the energy in all your crystals, soak them in salt water, and leave them on your windowsill in the moonlight to recharge.”
Ready to rock your socks off?
