Spring Equinox: aligning with the season
Friday, March 20, was Spring Equinox! Here in the U.S., where I live, we’re taught to think of this as the first official day of spring. Freaky weather conditions of 2026 notwithstanding, there's a visceral kind of truth in this — a sense that spring is finally here!
Vernal Equinox, as it's also called, in the Chinese seasonal calendar is not actually considered spring's start but rather its middle, the season's centerpoint. Early stirrings are felt from the first thaws of February onward, as spring slowly unfurls, parting the curtain of late winter to let in more warmth, sunlight, and greenery.
In Eastern philosophy, this equinox marks a powerful pivot point in the ever-shifting Yin/Yang balance. Fall-winter are the “yin” seasons, when nature retreats and life introverts. Many plants and animals hibernate, and humans draw inward to hearth and home, seeking cozy comforts that warm the heart and body and restore the weary mind and spirit at year's end. Emerging from that, now we enter the “yang” push of spring-summer, when nature bursts forth in color and new growth with dynamic energy.
We ourselves, too — when in step with nature's rhythms — may feel more inclined toward extroverted kinds of activity in springtime. We can sense revitalizing forces gaining momentum all around us. Metaphorically speaking, spring is an optimal time for planting the seeds of our aspirations, so they begin to take root in our lives. It invites us to renew goals and pursue dreams with fresh energy, vision, hope, and creativity.
A few questions to ponder, entering into the heart of this new spring:
- Is there something you’ve been wanting to try out in your journal or planner — some new style, technique, or system? Does Spring feel like a fortuitous time to make that fresh start?
- What is one new way you might use your journal to strengthen your vision, tap into your innate creativity, and propel yourself towards your goals with renewed gusto?
Below: March 23 - April 5 pages before-the-pen in my current journal.
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