It’s officially the spring equinox on 20 March; here, the Wiccan priestess Vivianne Crowley tells Vogue how she celebrates the first day of spring.
Seasonal festivals are times when we can reflect and think about where we are going. Spring begins with the fiery zodiac sign of Aries the Ram and its go-getting, assertive energy of change. If there are areas of your life where you need change, this is a good time to act.
Lengthening days bring energy, hope and optimism. What seemed impossible in the dark months of winter can seem possible now. On 20 March, druids, witches, and lovers of nature will gather to celebrate the spring equinox, one of the eight festivals of the Wheel of the Year. For millennia, the spring equinox was celebrated across cultures as a time of fertility, creativity, and renewal. But spring celebrations are not just for people who want to greet the dawn at Stonehenge. Here are a few ideas to try out this year at home. Donate to a worthy cause We live in a planetary biosphere in which every living being gives and receives in a continuous energy exchange. When you ask the universe for something, give something back. Donate some money to a green charity, plant some seeds and nurture them, feed the birds. These small actions create an energy flow. Gather with your loved ones Invite people over for a spring meal, building the menu around sustainable produce and foraged ingredients. Check out various guides to seasonal edibles, such as hawthorn leaves and buds, known traditionally as “bread and cheese”. More conventionally, leeks, chives, and asparagus all come into season around the equinox. Dress the table in greens, yellows, and the imagery of spring. Make a spiritual focus point Open the windows, and have a clear out. Give unwanted items to a charity shop, or send them for recycling. You can then make a spiritual focus point in your house for the year ahead. Choose a shelf, small table, or other surface and dress it in a seasonal theme. See what you can find – a green cloth, a plant, some flowers, a crystal, or a picture or statue that resonates with you. Take to the great outdoors Are there special places you could visit – a standing stone, an ancient woodland, a rocky shore? Explore walking paths near you and where they might take you. If a trip to the park with buggy and toddler is more practical, that’s fine. Wherever you go, mindfully engage your senses with the natural world around you. Look at all the different trees, plants, and wildflowers. Listen to the birdsong – the cooing of pigeons, the harsh cries of rooks or gulls, the delicate melodies of songbirds. Touch the rough bark of an old tree and the smooth bark of a young sapling. Look for something from nature to bring home for your spiritual place – a budding twig, leaves, the discarded shell of a hatched fledgling, a feather, a beautiful stone. Do some proper candle magic Traditional practices such as candle magic help us focus our energies on what we want. They plant messages in the unconscious, so we notice opportunities and have the confidence to take them. Choose a candle colour that appeals to you and focus what you want into a simple phrase, such as, “May a new job come my way.” Light the candle for eight consecutive evenings. If you begin on a Sunday, end on a Sunday. Each time you light it, say your phrase, then imagine you have found a new job and are feeling delighted and grateful. Spend a few minutes sitting with this feeling and leave the candle safely burning for a while. Repeat for seven more evenings, allowing the candle to burn roughly the same amount each time. Each time you put it out, say, “So be it.” Now create channels for opportunities to flow your way. Contact people who might help you, attend events where you can network, look at job ads, and see what the universe sends. Wild Once by Vivianne Crowley is out now with Penguin
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