Did you know that the Egyptian Sphinx—the majestic guardian of pharaohs—was built pointing directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the Spring Equinox? In the Western Northern Hemisphere, this day marks the beginning of Spring, the astrological year, and the first sign of the zodiac, Aries. For this and many other ancient cultures, it was a sacred turning point that deserved great celebration.
Equinox means “equal night,” since day and night are the same length on this day; then the days get longer until the Fall Equinox. Which means, there is more light than darkness. In certain Celtic traditions, the Equinox was proclaimed as the union of the God and Goddess, the Feminine and Masculine principles yielding love and life. Flowers start blooming, leaving behind the stagnation of the winter months, and nature experiences a rebirth.
The theme of rebirth or resurrection is echoed in the Christian tradition of Easter. “Easter” comes from the Teutonic lunar goddess Eostre, who was honored on the Full Moon nearest the Vernal Equinox, and this is one of the reasons why Easter is celebrated the Sunday following the first Full Moon after the Equinox. The symbols of bunnies and eggs have their roots in pagan traditions honoring the fertility of the Earth as well.
Aries is the sign of courage, passion, and confidence. The ram is one of the most active signs, and its energy is all about moving forward and taking initiative. It couldn’t be the first sign of the zodiac without those masculine, solar qualities. But since it’s ruled by the fiery, aggressive Mars, it must also learn patience and team work—that is, feminine qualities to keep things balanced. Here are a few suggestions to take advantage of this combination of lunar and solar energies during the Spring Equinox, and help you move forward this year:
- Celebrate! Yes, throw a party, gather your loved ones, or have a celebratory date with yourself to cherish life and welcome new possibilities!
- Meditate to create an empty space between yourself and the world, to allow for more clarity and energy from within.
- Write 3 things you want to see accomplished this year: one on a material level, one on a mental/emotional level, and one on a spiritual level.
- Sit quietly in your sacred space and visualize yourself accomplishing the things you’ve been yearning for, replacing any doubts or hesitation with certainty and faith.
Now, this Spring Equinox happens during a Venus retrograde overlapped by a Mercury retrograde, so things may seem a bit slow before they really get going. For instance, we’ve had some snow covering the blooming daffodils here in the mountains of Western North Carolina! But don’t fret, this is to give you more opportunities to clarify the value of your projects on this year 1 of new beginnings and rebirths.
It’s really time to wake up from your slumber and become more disciplined with your projects and tasks, and more courageous with your self-exploration. So contact me today to delve deeper within and learn to take full spiritual responsibility for your life-movie, to discover the light, love, and power of your true nature and put into action those ventures you’ve kept on the back burner for too long!
© 2017 Yol Swan. All rights reserved.