Wisdom of the Seasons- The Vernal Equinox on the Homestead

Here we are at the Spring Equinox. For 2022, the vernal (spring) equinox falls on March 20th for the Northern Hemisphere and September 22nd for my Southern Hemisphere readers.

The equinoxes are about balance. Daylight is balanced with night. In-breath is balanced with out-breath. Life is a series of in-breaths and out-breaths. When we breathe in, we go inward. In-breath moments are the quiet moments of our life where there is not much movement or energy. They are moments of being. Out-breath moments are full of energy and doing. Not only does our body breathe in and out but so do our moments and our seasons.

Many people naturally balance in-breath and out-breath moments without realizing it. If you have a time of extra focused work, an in-breath moment, you balance that by cutting loose. The time after exercising (out-breath) is often balanced with quiet time. Children even practice the concept of in-breath and out-breath in school. Recess and lunch are out-breath moments interspaced with the in-breath of academic learning.

Winter is a quiet season. If you winter properly, it is a giant in-breath of being snuggled inside. Summer is a giant out-breath, especially on the homestead when the chores, gardening, harvesting, and preserving work seems never ending.

Spring is the season of rebirth. Despite what the American calendar says, spring really starts earlier. At Mossygoat Farm, we celebrate the old calendar where spring begins on February 2nd. February is the month where, even in snowy cold environments, the flowers and bulbs start to wake up from their winter nap. Snow drops, spring crocuses, and daffodils can all bloom in the snow. Meteorological spring begins on March 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and September 1st in the Southern. No matter what date you use to celebrate the beginning of spring, it is a season of rebirth.

Can you just feel the energy? I know for myself; every sunny moment is just begging for me to go outside and celebrate being able to garden again. We are just finishing our months of rain. However, where I live, the weather balances itself this time of year. It helps me balance as well. There is a saying that if you don’t like the fall and spring weather in Oregon, just wait 10 minutes and you will get new weather. Intense sun is followed for torrential downpours.

For me, spring feels slightly less balanced than autumn. In autumn my body and soul need to rest. I usually am tired and in need of the rain so I can force myself to be still. In spring, I am bursting with the energy of the season. The trick is to not burn yourself out. Remember the balance of the season. It is easy to get overwhelmed and burnt out on the homestead. It is easy in spring to have lofty ideals. In fact, spring is the season of lofty ideals. But if you take on too many projects or plant a garden that is too big for you to realistically care for, then you will have problems later in the summer of out-breath.

Breathe in, breathe out. This is the season about starting new projects, planting a new garden, and bring forth new life on the farm. Use the wisdom of the wisdom and remember balance.

Happy Vernal Equinox my friends!