The Forgotten Wisdom of the Spring Equinox: Why Balance Comes Before Growth

The sun has returned, and so has our energy… for the most part. Many of us welcome the return of spring as a re-entry into our very “hustle and bloom” lifestyles. The winter season might have left us feeling lethargic and blue, and many of us see the return of the sun as an opportunity to get back to being busy. However, what if we look at the equinox – a moment of equilibrium – as a pause point, not just a launch point. This is the time of year when we have equal hours of light and dark, and if we really want our internal rhythms to match our external rhythms, maybe we should see this as a time to recalibrate our nervous system, hormones, and simple daily rhythms. What if spring isn’t asking us to do more or ramp up our daily schedules? Instead, what if it’s inviting us to return to a state of balance?

 

What Is The Spring Equinox?

The spring (or “vernal”) equinox marks one of two times a year when the Earth’s axis is tilted in a direction so that our daylight hours equal our night hours. In fact, the word “equinox” is Latin, meaning “equal night.” This means that as of today (Friday, March 21, 2026), our nights are getting shorter, and our days are getting longer. This equinox marks the peak of the spring season, even though our Gregorian calendars declare the equinox as the start of spring instead of the peak. More than a seasonal change, this is a time of year that marks a balance in nature; a balance that our bodies and our nervous systems crave.  

 

The Body in Transition: A Naturopathic Perspective

Sometimes it takes a bit to slow down and remember that we humans are also animals. And as a result, many of our instincts, behaviors, and aims are driven by natural factors, such as the weather and seasons. This means that seasonal changes affect many health factors, such as sleep cycles, energy levels, digestion, and mood or mental clarity. As our natural external energy has been on the rise since winter, it’s likely that our own personal internal energy reserves have also been increasing (ever so slightly) since the darkest points of winter. This is a reminder to our bodies that we need to transition slowly, too. We need to follow nature’s cues and thaw our winter freeze slowly, as the ground does, for new spring potential. This time of year can be a stress point for our bodies and mental well-being if we don’t take time to adjust gradually.

 

One of the 6 principles of naturopathic medicine is to utilize the healing power of nature. This concept centers on supporting the body’s innate ability to heal and adapt, and naturopathic doctors use nature as a guide to help each body return to its own best state. We let nature guide us as we support each patient’s transition through the seasons. 

 

Equinox as a Guide: Nervous System Regulation

The Equinox is a wonderful time to focus on balance. We can use it as a reminder to work towards a balance within our nervous systems. We want to balance our sympathetic (“doing”) nervous systems with our parasympathetic (“resting”) nervous systems. Similarly, we can look at the equinox itself as a reminder. With its equal parts light (“doing”) and dark (“resting”), we can see the value and importance of enjoying these two states equally. 

 

Cultural & Historical Glimpses of Balance

Historically, the spring season began as a cue of awareness – not urgency. 

For example, Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebration, marks the spring equinox with deep reverence for fertility, nature, and new beginnings, while also focusing on harmony, home, and reflection. 

 

Ostara, the pagan celebration of the spring equinox, celebrates the perfect equilibrium of light and dark of the equinox. It pays special attention to the fertile potential of the moment. Ostara commemorates not only biological procreation, but also the “energy of creation” for projects, ideas, and personal growth. This balance teaches that growth requires both the dark (rest) and the light (action).

 

Before modern technology, our survival was integrally related to the sun and its warmth. We wouldn’t be able to grow food to eat, complete our work, or even survive if our hemisphere didn’t rotate its way back toward the sun. Because of this, the spring season was used as a time to prepare, not as a time to rush any growth.

 

Practical Naturopathic Rituals for the Equinox

1. Circadian Rhythm: Daily routine is important for optimal circadian rhythm. Going to bed and waking at the same time every day ensures our internal clock stays on track. Additionally, morning sunlight is important for circadian rhythm support. It triggers our brains to stop producing melatonin and start producing serotonin. This helps remind our bodies that it is time to wake up and get the day started. 
2. Gentle Detox Support: The body likes to transition slowly – from resting to waking, from low energy to high energy, from emotion to emotion, and especially from season to season. It’s during the seasonal shifts that we often see an uptick in illness and acute symptoms. This is often due to the dramatic change in weather and temperature from day to day. It’s confusing for the body to have abrupt external and internal changes. Although our bodies have an amazing ability to adapt and transition, we can always offer additional support during the seasonal shifts. Stay hydrated, utilize digestive bitters and naturally bitter foods to help support your all-important digestive fire, and avoid aggressive cleanses. Be gentle on your body during this time of transition. 
3. Nervous System Balancing Practices: 
   1. Breathwork
   2. Get outdoors as much as possible – walk in nature or commit to a grounding practice
   3. Reducing overstimulation – many of us spend over 8 hours a day on a screen of some type. Let’s use the spring equinox as a reminder of the importance of balance and restorative practices. 

An Invitation, Not a Prescription

Every body is different, and that’s why it’s so important to listen to your own internal cues along with the cues of nature. We invite you to use this time as a reminder to focus on balance. But remember, balance isn’t something you achieve. It’s also not something you can buy or hack. So, no need to add anything new to your cart. Balance is about returning to your body and your own knowing.