The spring equinox is a significant event in pagan spirituality, representing the balance between light and darkness. As the days begin to grow longer and the earth is rejuvenated, pagans revere this time as a celebration of renewal and fertility. This ancient tradition predates organized religions and is deeply rooted in nature worship. Pagan spirituality encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices, but many pagans view the spring equinox as a time of spiritual awakening and connection to the natural world. The equinox, which typically falls on March 20th or 21st, marks the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are nearly equal in length. It is a time of harmony and equilibrium.
Even if the language is flowery, the point is well made. It is a sacred tradition to awaken spring through enacting sacred rites. The questions is, what is the modern, often city-bound witch to do?
These festivals of spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice, are immeasurably important in our human history, as the planetary movements revealed to humanity that the light, the sun, upon whose rays every single living thing depended was not only increasing, it would overpower the dark. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a girls guide to strip clubs and the weirdest foods available abroad.
It is a time of harmony and equilibrium. In pagan rituals, the spring equinox is often celebrated with ceremonies that honor the changing seasons and the cycles of life. Many pagans gather in nature, such as forests or meadows, to connect with the earth's energy and give gratitude for the abundance it provides.
Spring Equinox or Ostara – The rites of spring
Each year around the 20th of September in the southern hemisphere (in 2003 it will be the 23rd of Sept) our beautiful green and blue planet earth lies “flat” in her orbit of the sun. Neither her north nor her south poles are tilted into or away from the sun. She is fully facing the sun – no turning away. During the coming 24 hours, she will rotate once on her axis – thus the sun’s rays will have a unique opportunity to strike her surface equally from north to south poles, resulting in precisely twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night. From this day forward the light will increase with each day or degree she turns. This is the magical, ancient and revered vernal, or spring, equinox.
It is a truly sacred time. They may be called the lesser sabbats, but to the ancients and to witches who understand the laws of nature, these astronomical festivals once were (and in fact still are) as significant as when the Druids gathered at Stonehenge, or the Mayans around their wheel of the year, because with the spring equinox we usher in the return of the force of life itself.
These festivals of spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox and winter solstice, are immeasurably important in our human history, as the planetary movements revealed to humanity that the light, the sun, upon whose rays every single living thing depended was not only increasing, it would overpower the dark. Ancient people had no way of knowing that the stars would always be there, that the Sun was many millions of years old and would continue to exist for many more millions of years. Each winter meant the dread of eternal winter– indeed, how complacent should we be about the return of life each year? Are our inventions not as likely to blot out life on this planet as the loss of the light itself? Can we be sure how long we as individuals have on this planet this lifetime? The spring equinox is still signifies the coming of the light, of warmth, of the return of life itself. The myths of Celts, Romans, Greeks, Norse and the Egyptians all recognize the spring equinox as the new beginning.
Spring in colder climates may seem to be more a dramatic appeal to life than in Australia. Not so. Even in the Golden Bough, the 20th century bible of anthropology and myth by James Frazer, it recognizes Australia has its own seasonal rebirth.
“The natives of central Australia regularly practice magical ceremonies for the purpose of awakening the dormant energies of nature at what might be called the approach of the Australian spring. Nowhere apparently are the alterations of seasons more striking than in the deserts of central Australia, where at the end of a long period of drought the sandy and stony wilderness, over which the silence and desolation of death appeared to brood is suddenly, after a few days of torrential rain, transformed into a landscape smiling with verdure and peopled with teeming multitudes of insects and lizards, of frogs and birds.”
Even if the language is flowery, the point is well made. It is a sacred tradition to awaken spring through enacting sacred rites. The questions is, what is the modern, often city-bound witch to do?
To answer that, ask yourself, what is spring? At its heart, it seems to me to be a natural revival. As yourself what needs reviving in your life? Hope? Passion? Health? Following your heart? Vocation? This is a great time to literally start again. At the basis of spring is creative growth – the energy that fuels the obvious displays of later spring and summer. But first the sap must rise – or your energy must be increased. Your energy will naturally have been changing since the winter solstice – the sluggishness of winter becomes easier to shrug off once the darkest day is past. But now you need to reactivate your core energy.
Here’s a simple way to do that: Stand facing the sun each day. Feel its rays. Meditate on that which you desire to grow in your life. After doing this, take a green ribbon and tie it to a branch of a flowering tree (jasmine, magnolia, or even a fruit tree is perfect – you need a strong branch – jasmine is also lovely, but use a lightweight ribbon. If you have two areas you desire growth in, choose two ribbons. Chose the colours to correspond to that which needs stimulation. Weave your intent into the ribbon/s, and tie them about your branch with care.
As the spring days gather, and as the sun lengthens its stay in the sky on this half of the planet, your plant will unfurl and reach towards the light – this is exactly the growth you need to emulate. There comes a time when staying dormant and static becomes far more uncomfortable than the pain we imagine risk taking, growth, reaching out is – and so spring is the time for personal growth – the timing means that any chances you take are in harmony with the energy of the season and so your chances of success are magnified. You will literally be going with the flow. But back to the enchanted garden of spring ritual: If your plant flowers sooner than you expect, or if the flowers struggle to appear, these are all portents of your desires, and by reading the growth patterns of the flowers this spring, and for others in the future, you can see where you need to focus your energies.
Ritual for spring equinox
Decorate your altar with:
- Green cloth
- Green and golden candles (for the element fire)
- seeds (for the element earth)
- Salt for the cleansing and purity of spirit and intent
- Spring water/dew from equinox morning (for the element water)
- Open the magic circle
- Light a cone or stick of jasmine incense (for the element air)
- Raise each object one after the other, and invoke the elements (please see previous rituals for the method)
- Once you have raised power, and welcomed the elements and guardians,
- Write three wishes down the length of three separate ribbons.
- Weave these together.
- Place them on your magical altar
- (You can use this charged magic binding for Beltane as part of the ribbon ritual)
- Thanks the elements and the guardians
- Thank the Goddess
- Close the circle
- So mote it be…
The Spring equinox is a time to celebrate the return of hope in your own life. By connecting with the dance of nature, you connect to your own being. It’s not a coincidence that humans become more sluggish during winter, that seasonal depression can take hold. The light, apart from we are creatures just as the blades of grass and small animals are: we need the light to live, and everything we live upon needs it too. We are reminded at this time to acknowledge our place in the web of life – not as some kind of center at the top of a mythical food chain, we are a part of life, effecting it and absorbed by it, influencing it yes, but no more powerful than any other agent of life. If we honour our place in life, we will have many more years on this planet. By inhabiting nature gladly and fully, we will continue to live, and to be guardians of the planet. If we do not, we will bring about our own catastrophic destruction.
Sacred travel for spring equinox
This would be an ideal time to make some kind of spiritual pilgrimage. The solstices and equinoxes are the times when landmarks like Stonehenge and mount warning in far northern nsw are visited. Astronomically, we are witnessing our own promise of life. The Celtic witches myth sees this time as the planting of the seed of light – the birth of the son of the God. (It’s strangely akin to the mystical Christian tale of Jesus.) One way to commemorate the life force of the spring equinox is to take an egg and paint it with symbols of the god and goddess, who are in complete harmony at the time of the vernal equinox, just as they are at the autumn equinox. Thus it is a favoured time to work out power balances with relationships, to handfast or marry, or to conceive a child.
Make a magical wand for spring
*As this is the season of the air it is an auspicious time to make your own magical wand, which is the witches tool that corresponds to the element of air, it will have been created in the perfect season and will have great power.
They may create altars adorned with flowers, plants, and symbols of fertility to symbolize the rebirth and growth of the natural world. Revering the spring equinox also involves honoring the deities associated with fertility and new beginnings. The goddess Ostara, often depicted as a youthful maiden, is commonly honored during this time. She represents the return of spring and the flowering of life. Many pagans invoke her energy and ask for blessings of fertility and abundance in their lives. Pagan rituals during the spring equinox often include dancing, singing, and other forms of creative expression. These activities are seen as a way to celebrate the awakening of nature and to channel the joyful energy of new beginnings. With the arrival of spring, pagans believe that they have the opportunity to shed old habits or patterns and embrace growth and transformation. Overall, the spring equinox holds a special place in pagan spirituality, serving as a reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of all living beings. It is a time of reverence and celebration, a moment to honor the beauty and vitality of the natural world. By connecting with nature and participating in sacred rituals, pagans seek to align themselves with the rhythms of the seasons and draw inspiration from the Earth's wisdom..
Reviews for "Sacred Symbols: The Spring Equinox in Pagan Art and Imagery"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Revering the spring equinox in pagan spirituality". The author seemed more focused on their personal experiences and beliefs rather than providing objective information about the spring equinox. As someone interested in learning more about pagan spirituality, I was hoping for a more balanced and informative perspective. The book also lacked depth and failed to explore the various rituals and practices associated with the spring equinox in different pagan traditions. Overall, it fell short of my expectations.
2. Sarah - 1 star
"Revering the spring equinox in pagan spirituality" was a complete letdown. The author's writing style was convoluted and difficult to follow, making it nearly impossible to fully grasp the concepts being discussed. Additionally, the book lacked proper citations or references, leaving me skeptical about the accuracy and validity of the information presented. I was hoping for a comprehensive guide to spring equinox rituals and beliefs in pagan spirituality, but this book failed to deliver. I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of pagan traditions.
3. Michael - 2 stars
I found "Revering the spring equinox in pagan spirituality" to be quite underwhelming. The author seemed more interested in pushing their personal agenda rather than providing a balanced and informative perspective on pagan spirituality. The book lacked depth and failed to explore the historical context and significance of the spring equinox in different pagan traditions. Instead, it focused on the author's own experiences and beliefs, which may not necessarily resonate with a wider audience. Overall, I was disappointed with the book and would not recommend it to others.