The Rhythms of Spring
Awaken, Renew, Grow
ENERGY: UPWARD. FRESH. CLEAR. CURIOUS. GROWTH
Season: Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice (Mar 20 - Jun 20 Northern hemisphere)
Body cues: Increasing energy, desire for movement, sensitivity to seasonal allergens, body ready for gentle detoxification and lighter oils
Menstrual cycle phase: Follicular (approx. days 6-13)
Life cycle phase: Puberty/Menarche - a time of awakening, new beginnings, and establishing personal rhythms
As we enter a new astrological new year, the energy right now feels fast, sharp, and like new things are happening. In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring equinox is also tomorrow. I couldn’t help but feel like I was behind on my morning walk.
Everything felt faster in the air, energy is rising, and I felt like I needed to catch up. I saw a ladybug mid-stream of thought and was reassured by its graceful resurgence, like a small sign that the season is turning. It reminded me that I am right on time, just like the ladybug, and now is the time to begin. To plant the seeds after a restful winter.
I was also reflecting on my kid perspective of ladybugs. Ladybugs have always filled me with so much joy… Bright red, shiny, and round, cute little mini dots of joy with fun polka dots. I was told as a kid that the number of spots on the back of a ladybug was how old it was, and it always made me reflect on my own spots and freckles. Maybe that was truly how old I was. My sense of time was measured in freckles and ladybug spots.
A theme that has been coming up for me again and again this past month is the idea of “slow momentum.” How can I build momentum in ways that offer me presence and actually slow time down, or root me in the here and now? How do I let spring be alive and forward-moving without turning it into a race?
Something this month shifted inside of me. All of a sudden, morning coffee stopped tasting good, and morning walks with tea started giving me the energy I was really looking for…
I noticed perched hummingbirds, kids running fast in circles, camellias falling in whole clusters versus individual petals beginning to decompose, perfect magnolia pods on the ground, pops of pink now in the place where they used to stand.
So many recurring themes of slow momentum being mirrored to me in nature. All of these seemingly fast-moving things pausing, and not trying to get somewhere other than exactly where they are.
But still fast and direct energy. Another cue to plant the seeds exactly where I am right now, in this moment. To just begin and trust the flow.
I remember feeling this same kind of energy this time last year, but noticing its pattern a bit more now… All this to say, spring is coming. We are entering Aries, and the seeds I am wanting to plant are seeds of noticing these small and precious moments, and continuing to learn from nature’s rhythms this year. Nature is always right on time, and I am nature. So I am right on time, as are you.
It’s the same energy mirrored in the menstrual cycle, our own inner landscape as menstruating bodies. This feeling of a resurgence of energy and creative ideas and vibrant colors blooming all around us is the same as our inner spring, the follicular phase, which begins after our inner winter, our menstruation phase.
It makes sense to be feeling a bit slow in the body as everything begins to wake up and feel re-energized. Those petal pods on the ground are kind of like my uterine lining shedding, making room for new seeds to bloom and new petals to pop open in their full expression.
Hormonally, in our inner spring, our body is rebuilding the uterine lining as estrogen rises and ovarian follicles mature. This phase can bring clearer thinking, improved mood, and more energy. It’s a fertile, building time that benefits from steady nourishment and gradually increasing activity.
Although I am calling out menstruating bodies as a means of highlighting universal natural rhythms that we can all honor and embrace, we are all cyclical bodies. Greeting the seasons around us with aligned energy is a wonderful way to honor nature and our innate connection to its rhythms and intelligence.
So with that, I wanted to share a few practices I’m returning to as we enter spring. Below are some highlights from our new cycle journal for our inner spring season that apply to the macro season of spring as well. All simple actions and ritual suggestions we can begin to incorporate as we move into this wonderful season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
Spring Actions + Ritual Suggestions
MIND
Invite new ideas and map light plans.
Capture sparks of inspiration.
Practice beginner’s mind. Try something new that feels playful.
BODY
Give yourself an energizing massage or a self lymphatic drainage face massage with your Spring Body Oil.
Movement: Running, vinyasa, dancing, hiking, light strength. Additionally, some long-hold forward bends could be a good counterbalance for rising estrogen.
Nutrition: Fresh, fiber- and protein-forward meals. Think sprouts, leafy greens, citrus, berries, eggs, legumes, salmon, seeds, fermented foods.
SOUL
Honor the return of light. Reconnect with joy and community.
Create small rituals that celebrate new growth: morning sunlight, flowers, fresh air, a short gratitude practice.
Do something that allows your creative energy to flow: dancing, cooking, painting, collage, drawing, creative writing.
SUGGESTED RITUAL WITH OUR SPRING BODY OIL:
Pair with your Spring Body Oil: Bloomin. Best used after showering. Also works beautifully as a face massage oil.
Apply: Warm a few drops between your palms and massage anywhere on your skin that needs nourishment and attention. For face massage, gently press and glide over cheeks, forehead, jawline, and neck. The pelvic bowl and jaw are intimately connected. Jawline massage during this phase can help release tension and honor your body’s renewal.
Breathe: Take 4 to 6 big inhales through the nose, letting the fresh citrus scent work as aromatherapy. Take longer exhales to ground yourself. Set an intention or state an affirmation as you breathe in the potent herbs and uplifting aroma that complements the energy of this phase. Let it serve as both a reminder of your intention and an energetic protective layer throughout your day.
P.S. Our cycle journal is finally available! Just in time to align with the spring energy. If you want a deeper dive into all of this, and want to start tracking your cycle and understanding your unique rhythms this year in a more analog way, this journal is a great tool.
Spring craft to greet the season
Poppy Seed Bombs
Shared with us by Mackie Kidd owner of Kidd Floral
In a bowl, mix together 1 cup of seeds with 5 cups of compost and 2-3 cups of clay powder (you could use clay soil instead if you have it).
Slowly mix in water with your hands until everything sticks together.
Roll the mixture into firm balls.
Leave the balls to dry in a sunny spot. ( We learned that they sprout fast, so try to dry quickly )
