There is a powerful medicine in the air, sun, and earth. When we begin to work and engage with the earth again in spring, we receive this medicine. Study prove that sunlight improves mood, that we release endorphins when we breath fresh air and manipulate the earth. This medicine is sometimes hard to come by when we need it most, however. If you live in a colder, cloudy climate, you might notice the effects of a sunny day more profoundly than someone who lives where the sun shines more than it doesn’t.

In yoga, we embrace this energy, as we do all the seasonal energetic shifts. We surrender with it and remember to stay in awe of it.

My ritual for embracing spring is to map out my garden plans. This is very ritualist and involves setting intentions and writing them down, mindfully deciding what course will do the least amount of harm to the environment and increase the biodiversity and health of my land, and collecting the materials for the first big push to plant in April.

April is a perfect time to begin planting edibles in your yard if you live in zone 6, like I do. There are so many plants that will survive freezing temps and snow. They might be slow to take off, but they should come up alright.

I pick very sunny days to work in my garden, as not only is it doing my mood a service, but it also allows me to see what amount of sunlight my plants will be getting when they grow.

A few other ways to greet and bask in springs energy this season is to:

• Set up some spiritually connected items on the porch or in the garden. Preferably on a route you take often to and from your home.

• Begin a walking meditation routine OR a mindful walking routine. Walking meditation is more about paying attention to each foot fall as your walk your route. Mindful Walking is taking in all the details of your environment as you walk ( no distractions or with gentle music)
• Take a yoga class or series to reconnect to the wilder energies of spring
• Walk barefoot in the grass or sand or dirt for 15-20 mins
• Practice Metta Meditations and use the higher energy of spring to let go of expectations and gain peace.

Try just one of these and Im sure you’ll feel that rising energy move through you.

Bonus: 🌱 My gardening ritual set up for Spring

-candles

-notebook

-incense

-colored pencils or markers

-ruler

I invite my ancestors to join me in my plans. I have limited knowledge of growing crops and I am asking them to give me some insight from beyond.

I light a candle as a light for them to see my plan unfold

I light the incense as it’s believed that incense smoke can travel through dimensions.

I say and then write my intentions down, and then repeat them outloud so I can make sure they make sense.

example: "I intend to grow a garden that the animals and my family can feel safe in. I will be mindful of any interventions I need to make in protecting my food and the health of my yard and home. I will be okay if something doesn’t work out, I will have tried. Now I ask for permissions from the nature spirits to bless my garden with abundance and joy.”

Then I get to planning. I also like to use sticky notes to remind me of important steps I need to do and to keep me on track.