If you made a resolution on January first and it didn’t last, or if you didn’t make one at all, well, you’ve got another chance. In fact, based on the dynamics of the natural world around us, the beginning of the calendar year isn’t the ideal time for starting something new. 

Winter is about stillness, dormancy, going deep, looking inward, taking inventory, getting a clear sense of your potential, learning what’s inside you that wants to be birthed (later) and nourishing it like a baby in a womb. 

How many new plants do you see popping up at the beginning of January? How many baby birds and new bunnies are chirping and hopping around on new year’s day? Their time is early spring, which is why the spring equinox is arguably a much better time for launching resolutions. 

The new year falls less than two weeks after the winter solstice, which is a pivot point. While we’ve been moving farther and farther from the sun (in the northern hemisphere), at solstice we begin our swing back toward it, shifting from shortening days to lengthening days. 

But it takes the planet months to warm up again, and it’s not until around the spring equinox that seeds are ready to be planted at northern latitudes. Spring equinox is more of a fulcrum, the point at which day and night are relatively balanced. It is at this point that our acceleration toward the solar zenith begins in earnest. 

I’m celebrating by adorning my space with the combination of our black and white candles to remind me of this balance and the coming abundance of light. In tandem with that, Briana and I are embarking on a new plan for self-care, and I encourage you to do something similar. 

You may find that in comparison with January first, you’ve got a lot more oomph and enthusiasm as the world comes back to life. It’s a great time for shedding anything that feels cumbersome, focusing your vision on a new creation, and harnessing the power of spring to catalyze your growth. 

Happy equinox & be well,

Peter