Crawling into the Hedge:
at the Vernal Equinox
Oxalis, narcissus, crocus, cherry, plum, and apple blossoms. Fuzzy willow slippers. Shooting stars, Pacific hound’s tongue, mugwort at the edges of a fern spotted trail. Waxy poison oak emerging, flickering lime and flame. False spring, cold snaps, tulips cloaked in snow. Despite it all – we are blooming.
What is emerging in your hedge (verge, ditch, that vacant lot…) as we edge close to the Equinox? At the Equinox threshold, as the Sun enters Aries, we are called to honor what we are leaving behind in the Winter dark, and turn towards what is coming to life as the days grow brighter and warmer. New perspectives come into sharper focus as we shed old skins and those protective layers that no longer offer security.
We do this as we dream, conjuring up visions of the people we must say goodbye to and dystopian fantasies of being caught in the dark. We release away the dust accumulated in our homes, emptying out the offerings and ashes from our caldrons and sweeping altars and floors clean. Lemon scent, mint, beeswax coloring everything golden as it conjures back the distilled essence of high summer. Cleanse and call forth. Release and turn towards. Balance what is dying off with what most excites you – with what gives you butterflies in the pit of your stomach.
At the Equinox we pollinate our spirits with novel intentions. Our spells are fed on the compost of Winter’s rest and refuse. What happened in the dark nourishes our ability to step into the light.
Map your garden. Map the weeds you encounter on your walks. Learn the names of local wildflowers. Greet them as you wander around the Earth. Speak and share the indigenous names of place, its waterways, and its flora. Tune into the quality of the soil where you live. What seeds will flourish where you have planted them?
Map your daily routines. Notice the tides of clearing and cleansing as you scrub the bath, clean out the fridge, take out the trash, light that candle. Notice how you breathe beauty into the corners of your life and how it manages to arrive without your interference; the flowers on your kitchen table, photos of your beloved on the dresser, art and books accumulating everywhere, empty spaces for the light to gather.
Here’s what I am noticing at the edge of the Equinox:
Seeds I thought had flooded away are sprouting in a shady patch of my front garden.
My son, learning to say “hyacinth” and smelling every flower and plant that crosses his path.
Weening myself off of social media feels grounding, expansive, and soothing.
Letting go of “productivity” and leaning into “practice” has allowed me to accept failure as a natural part of the process.
My body wants to move more.
What are you noticing?
Equinox marks a moment of equilibrium between day and night. Energetically, both lunar wisdom and solar intellect are held in equal esteem at this time. But we are all deeply aware of the imbalances that plague our current existence; income inequality, gender inequality, racial disparities. The unfortunate prioritization of humanity’s ease and comfort over the health and wellbeing of our precious planetary ecosystems has caused chaos and disregulation to reign. On the Equinox we are offered an energetic lift in all our endeavors to rebalance and cultivate balance in our relationships and in our world. We must understand how our fears are creating living monsters and strive to root our actions in love. Our magic must be woven into the cosmic fibers of our world, which means the spells we cast must be revolutionary in nature. To reconnect with a sense of balance within ourselves, is to attempt to replicate balance outside of ourselves.
Equinox spell suggestions:
Draw or meditate on Venus’s elliptic dance around the Earth. Venus is retrograde (March 1st - April 12th) and she requires admiration and offerings.
Imbue your wishes for a balanced world into the seeds you plan to sow. Plant them on the Equinox, as you dream into what our world could be like if we treated everyone with respect and took care of the land.
Write a list, or an intention, that sums up what you are letting go of at this time. Safely burn the intention away, and compost the ashes. Next, write or talk about what you are intentionally calling into your life.
Make your own herbal infused cleaning products and use them to magically fortify your home. Lemon, rosemary (or basil, mint, lemon balm, or other herbs of your choosing), plus white vinegar, and water makes a quick and basic floor wash that can be charged with energetic clearing intentions.
Community networking. Find ways to connect with your neighbors and get involved with your local community. This is a spell against isolation and fear.
Spend time outdoors, have a picnic, toast to the elegant cycles of nature.
If you’re interested in more magical downloads, as well as inspiring interviews with modern spiritual practitioners, please tune into the Modern Witches Podcast, which I host alongside my fabulous astrological co-hosts, Karima and Mariana (Mariana’s Astrology Space on substack). Become a member of our Patreon for exclusive episodes that feature practical witchcraft and recipes for enchantment.
Thanks for being here ~
Casey
Love this!