Grounding into Spring

March 18, 2021

Although Spring seems to have arrived a bit early here in California, with blossoms and pollen abounding, the official beginning of Spring in the northern hemisphere this year is March 20th.

Awareness of the earth’s natural rhythms harmonizes us with her cycles, it helps us align our personal cycles with nature’s, which can give us more grounding and ease in an often unstable world. As the renowned author Joseph Campbell said, “The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.” The equinoxes and solstices of the year give us the perfect opportunity to do just that.

These four points of the year give us markers of time and seasonal shifts, as well as divine moments to pause and evaluate our personal lives; both practically and spiritually. What needs pruning and clearing, on the homefront and mental planes? What is to be harvested, from both our work in the world and our internal self-work? What are we planting, tending, seeding, fertilizing and growing, within and without?

Spring Equinox carries with it a growing energy, as we crawl out from the depths of winter and slowly increase in daylight all the way towards summer solstice. We might use this time to reflect on the lessons of winter, of what we learned in the dark and of our shadows, as well as envision the future. Energetically we move from retreat to emergence, as we begin to reach our tendrils towards the silent pull of what we yearn for. It’s a great time for tapping into potential, planning and planting, and revitalizing all that’s gone stagnant in our lives.

Astrologically, spring (or vernal) equinox marks the end of the watery feels of Pisces season as the sun moves into fiery Aries. We are invited to take our cultivated new dreams and begin to act on them. A crucial practice before acting or embarking on anything new however, is grounding. Grounding means coming back to self, center, presence, calmness, connectedness and awareness. It means connection with self, earth, and others. Below is a spring time meditation to root yourself into the gentle glow of all that is about to bloom.

It is adapted from Arin Murphy-Hiscock’s book, “The Green Witch.” The best time to perform this meditation is on or around the spring equinox, or when many new things are emerging in the natural environment where you live.

Vernal Equinox Meditation, by Arin Murphy- Hiscock

Ideally this meditation should be done outside; in your garden, in a private and secure spot in a public park or beach, or even on your balcony or patio. If you have access to forests or fields, these too make ideal places in which to encounter and attune to the energy of spring.

1. Settle yourself comfortably and close your eyes. Visualize a fine green mist rising from the ground and radiating out from all the growing things around you.
2. Take three slow, deep breaths. Each time you inhale, visualize that mist of verdant green energy flowing into your lungs and spreading through your body, bringing with it the feeling of comfort and relaxation, of oneness with your surroundings. As you exhale, release any tension, stress, or worry you may be feeling.
3. Allow your personal energy to expand slightly so that it merges with the natural green energy around you. DIrect your awareness downward into the soil. Allow it to sink deep into the earth, slowly and gently. Do not force your energy, but let it sink and sift through the particles of earth. When you feel comfortable, stop and feel the energy of the soil around you, enfolding you.
4. Once you have reached a place of comfort deep inside the earth, breathe in that energy and feel it fill your body. Feel the soil’s energy at this time of the spring equinox. Feel the potential that vibrates in the earth. Reach out and sense the first movements of roots and seeds where they curl in safety, absorbing the soil's energy and using it to nourish their own life force, growing stronger in their sleep. Sense the slow awakening of these roots and seeds, and think about the potential they hold and the luxurious life they will soon display.
5. Remain cradled by the energy of the soil as long as you like, enjoying the feeling of potential and the first stirrings of life.
6. When you feel it is time to return to consciousness, offer the soil around your awareness a small gift of gratitude (emotion is energy after all), then allow your awareness to slowly rise up through the soil to return to your physical body. Make sure you take the time to return thoroughly. Once your awareness has returned, ground yourself and take three deep breaths. Open your eyes and gently move your arms and legs to warm them up and to affirm your physical form. Stand up slowly and do a few stretches to loosen up your muscles.
7. If you feel inspired, write a summary of your meditative experience. How did it feel to interact with the earth at this season? Did the interaction teach you anything new? Did you learn anything new about your geographic location? Did you pick up any insight from the experience? Write down any thoughts, ideas, visions or questions that came to mind. They may be helpful to reflect back upon when the seasons change, and when you come back to this time next year.

Wherever you are, may you find a moment of reprieve amidst the earth and a simple way to match your inner nature with Nature itself. The world might be swirling, uneasy and churning, but you can’t stop the wheel from turning. Happy blossoming!

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