Extending Light. Return of Green. Unfurling buds. Cold Soil. Birdsong. Blustery days. Sap rising.
Issue 6 March 2020
Amidst the madness out in the world at the moment it's easy to forget or notice the seasonal details. But now more than ever you can find comfort, hope and balance by connecting back into the seasonal changes happening around you.
I like the idea of the year following the lifecycle of a plant, each stage marked by a traditional Celtic Festival. The first shoots emerge in very early spring marked by the Celtic festival of Imbolc on 1 February (see my first blog for further details on Imbolc), when
seeds begin to grow and
become more visible. By the time we reach the
Spring Equinox on the 20th March we're in mid or peak Spring and young plants are appearing. From now on, the earth
is in full swing, trees bud, birds sing happily and there's evidence of new growth in the countryside and gardens
It's easy to see how these ancient symbols transformed into our now familiar seasonal symbols, hot cross buns, Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny. A great example of how nature is deep rooted in many modern traditions and celebrations, often without us realising it.
Paint and decorate eggs - eggs being the symbol of Eostre and fertility. Apparently it was the Egyptians and the Persians who first decorate and gifted eggs to one another as a wish for prosperity.
The Spring Equinox - 20 March 2020
Amidst the madness out in the world at the moment it's easy to forget or notice the seasonal details. But now more than ever you can find comfort, hope and balance by connecting back into the seasonal changes happening around you.
Tomorrow is the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
The word Equinox comes from the latin 'equinoxium' meaning equal day and night. It's the point at which the sun crosses the equator, when the day and the night are the same length and when the sun rises due East and sets due West. It's when Spring reaches it midpoint.
Also called the Vernal Equinox (love that word - Vernal- sounds so green and optimistic) it's the astronomical start of Spring and links in with the pagan festival of Ostara.
ROOTS
Ostara is a festival all about rebirth and growth. Not surprisingly, given when it falls, it's about the balance between light and darkness. Clearing away the old to make way for the new,
just like you do the garden at this time of year.
The name Ostara comes from the Ancient Saxon goddess of fertility and Spring, Eostre, whose two sacred symbols were an egg and a rabbit.
In days gone past
people would rise at dawn on the equinox, put on new clothes and watch the sun come up. They spent
all winter making garments but this would have been their first airing, as it was considered bad luck
to wear new clothes until the equinox. They would bless the ground for the forthcoming season and ask Eostre to be kind and to smile on them. During the day they ate sweet
buns decorated with a solar cross - this was long before the church adopted the cross as
a symbol.
It's easy to see how these ancient symbols transformed into our now familiar seasonal symbols, hot cross buns, Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny. A great example of how nature is deep rooted in many modern traditions and celebrations, often without us realising it.
EXPLORE, RESTORE & NOURISH
There are lots of ways you can observe and celebrate the Spring Equinox - even with social distancing in force.
 |
| March Skies |
The best way is to simply go outside and walk, noticing the new growth and the symbols of Spring. Look up to too as the clouds whizzing across the blue skies in the high March winds, can be brilliant in March. The National Trust, RSPB and the Wildlife Trust reserves are now opening for free so that you van enjoy walking in big open spaces at a safe social distance from others.
You could bake (and eat!) hot cross buns - marked with the solar cross. Tradition says preserving a bun in the house prevents anyone living there from going hungry in the next year - might be useful with the shortages from panic buying!
Open the windows at home letting in the fresh spring air and spring clean the rooms that have been closed up to keep warm during the winter months. We might even get some sunlight we can let in too!
Make a spring nature table. A collection of spring glories from the garden or responsibly collected on nature walks.
It doesn't actually have to be a table, could be on a shelf, mantlepiece, or by the front door. As long as it's somewhere you can appreciate your finds.
I like to supplement flowers and stems of buds with shells, feathers and interesting bits of wood I've found and filled my pockets with while dog walking!
 |
| Nature Table |
It doesn't actually have to be a table, could be on a shelf, mantlepiece, or by the front door. As long as it's somewhere you can appreciate your finds.
I like to supplement flowers and stems of buds with shells, feathers and interesting bits of wood I've found and filled my pockets with while dog walking!
Now is the time to start sowing seeds in the garden. Sowing seeds is a really hopeful activity. This year I'm including lots of edibles to ensure a supply of fresh greens and herbs during the next few months - provided the slugs don't decimate them! I'm also going to sow flower seeds to attract beneficial insects, butterflies and bees as the days warm.
Paint and decorate eggs - eggs being the symbol of Eostre and fertility. Apparently it was the Egyptians and the Persians who first decorate and gifted eggs to one another as a wish for prosperity.
Drink Dandelion & Burdock - apparently the bitter herbs invigorate the body and cleanse the blood after winter.
Bring cheery daffodils inside. Said to attract luck, love and fertility. Can't promise you all that but a few daffodils do look wonderfully hopefully in a vase inside.
However you decide to celebrate the Spring Equinox this year do get outside if you can and explore your local countryside. Looking at the details is a wonderful way to reconnect to the seasons. Let me know what March highlights you spot and/or photograph.
If you have any questions you can reach me via my website www.plotgardendesign.co.uk and please follow/like PLOT Garden Design on social media to receive my seasonal updates and photos.
Bring cheery daffodils inside. Said to attract luck, love and fertility. Can't promise you all that but a few daffodils do look wonderfully hopefully in a vase inside.
However you decide to celebrate the Spring Equinox this year do get outside if you can and explore your local countryside. Looking at the details is a wonderful way to reconnect to the seasons. Let me know what March highlights you spot and/or photograph.
Comments
Post a Comment