Other names: Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, Ostara (Wiccan), Alban Eilir (Welsh/Neo-Druidic)
Traditional Date: Late September (21-23ish) (NH: late March)
2021 Astronomical Date: September 23 (NH: March 20)*
Themes: Fertility, awakening, rebirth
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Native Botanicals: Bottlebrush, lemon myrtle, peppermint tree
Botanicals: Cherry blossoms, calendula
Incense: Lemon myrtle, lavender
Crystals: Rose quartz, amethyst, moonstone, aquamarine
Foods: Seeds, sprouts/greens, flowers, honey, cheese, eggs
The Vernal (Spring) Equinox marks the point where the day and night are of equal length, making it a time of balance. From here, the daylight hours gradually get longer leading up to the Summer Solstice.
By this time, spring is solidly underway here. The two stand-outs for me at this time are the bright bottlebrush flowers, as well as the cascading blossoms on the peppermint trees. These flowers are just some among many, as this is often the peak of wildflower season!
In addition to the swooping magpies, at this time you can usually notice cygnets, ducklings, and other young waterfowl around lakes, wetland areas, and some other waterways.
Linked/Coinciding Festivals: Passover (Jewish), Easter (Christian), and a number of other festivals are associated with the Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox.
Want some ideas on how to celebrate/observe this point of the year? Come back next week!
*: Southern Hemisphere dates based on Perth, WA (GMT+8); Northern Hemisphere dates based on GMT. Find the date/time based on your location here.