The Spring Equinox is all about balance: balance of light and dark, both in the daylight and in our lives. We cannot have the light without the dark as these energies balance each other in all we do. Back on the Winter Solstice we celebrated the coming of the light after spending restful time in the darkness and now on the Spring Equinox, we celebrate that the light is taking over the day and our energy.
If you’re like me, you fight for balance every day, and it can be a battle. Every morning before I go to work I tell myself this will be the day that I don’t let the negativity of the world get to me. I won’t let the problems of the people I encounter get to me. I won’t let the person who cut me off in the store parking lot get to me. But guess what, it rarely happens. Do you know why? Our ego is very strong and is at the forefront of our everyday interactions. It tells us that dwelling on negativity and participating in gossip make us feel better. It tells us that yelling at other drivers is needed because we are good drivers and they deserve it. It tells us that we are better than others and that their problems are annoyances to us. Ego rides high on these feelings, but ultimately, we are exhausted by it all.
Having balance is pushing the ego aside and telling it to take a back seat to the loving, compassionate person that we truly are. Having balance is giving ourselves enough love that we don’t need the ego to artificially boost us up through negativity. Life is rough, we need balance to get through it. Celebrate and be thankful for the good days and be gentle with yourself on the bad days. Having balance is taking time for ourselves so that we can connect to that pure energy that is our true selves. When we know our true selves, we don’t need the ego to tell us who we are. We will already know.
We know that our true selves do not need to put other people down in order to lift ourselves up. We know that our true selves thrive on positive interactions with others, we rejoice in their happiness and have compassion for them in their times of sorrow. Our true selves relish the now and have no worries of the past or of the future. Our true selves do not need to impress others with our hair, make up or clothes. We love ourselves and others for who we truly are. We know that we are not perfect and there will be dark times with lapses back into the ego, but with balance, we can move on from those times and shine in the light.
Here are some ideas for you to bring balance back to your life at this Spring Equinox:
- Breathe. Sit still for a short period and do nothing but breathe. Focus on your body and the way it feels as you breathe in and out. Count your breaths if it helps you focus. Think of everything and of nothing. But always come back to your breath. Relish how relaxed you feel. Try to keep that feeling with you throughout the day. When your ego starts to take over, push it aside and go to your breathing. Look at yourself with love and then look at others in the same way.
- Meditate. Take the breathing a bit further by stretching it out over several minutes or more. As you practice, this will get easier. And when you are in stressful situations when the ego would take over, you can go to the stillness you feel during mediation. This will calm your responses to others and brighten how you make your way in the world.
- Go to nature. The energy of nature will sync with your own and you will feel more balanced. Walk a nature path. Sit by a river or lake. Lay under a tree and look at the sky through the branches. Sit in your favorite lawn chair and let the air move over you. Work in your garden, tending to the energy of the plants there. Notice the cycle of the Earth and the lengthening of the days. Notice the cycle of the Moon, follow her phases and learn about her power.
- Spend time alone-no cell phone, no tablet, no computer, no television. Brew some coffee or tea and choose a favorite book, enjoy the quiet. Our world moves so fast, we need to find time to be in silence by ourselves.
- Perform a ritual during the New or Full Moon, or celebrate an Earth festival. You can find so much information on these online and in books. See the references below.
The most important thing to do when you feel out of balance is to find yourself again. Our true selves get so lost in this word where there is so much noise and chatter. Find yourself again-you have always been there. Enjoy! Breathe! Relax! Be Satisfied!
So Shall It Be.
The Origin of Ostara and Ways to Celebrate It – Writual Planner (a quick note on this website: I have the Writual Planner and I love it!! If you are into Tarot and need a way to focus your energy, I hope you will check this out.)
Moon Phase Meanings: Rituals and Activities For Each Moon Phase