Anthropologists have argued that these rituals serve a few important functions in our psyches. They allow us to deal with the major changes we go through, bring us together as a community, and create a sense of continuity that stretches from our past into our future.
Seasonal rituals are rooted in the human’s oldest connection, that with nature. Before we had clocks, digital calendars, and all the technology we have nowadays, we only relied on the moon, the sun, and the starts to measure how time passes by, so celebrating an occasion such as the equinox was a way for entire communities to to stay in sync with the natural cycles of the Earth.
Even today, in this modern world we live in, most of us feel the urge to renew things around our home or some of our routines as the hold of winter begins to loosen. Perhaps the best example of this is the “spring cleaning” most of us practice because we see it as a way to get rid of the old and let room for something new to take place instead.
While the practices may differ from culture to culture, all those rituals that celebrate the equinox almost always circle back to the same core themes:
Letting go of the weights of the past
Restoring a sense of balance in our daily life
Clearing out the negative energy
Setting clear intentions for the period that follows.
However, when you think about it, the message is pretty much always the same. The equinox is a rare moment of balance to stop, reflect, and allow ourselves permission to start anew.
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The symbolic meaning of balance
In a sense, the meaning of equinox is the balance between light and dark. Most spiritual practices emphasize this need for equilibrium. Having too much of either side is what leads to friction, much like how having too much hustle without enough downtime leads to burnout.
The equinox is a reminder that everything is cyclical, not linear. There is a flow from growth to downtime, and every challenge will lead to renewal. Therefore, the days leading up to March 21 are a great opportunity to declutter your space and your mind. It is a chance to revisit your goals, release baggage, and find more serenity at home.
Salt as a symbol of purification
One specific element linked to equinox rituals is the salt.
Salt is also used to symbolize purification, protection, and security. In the past, salt was used as a form of currency and was also used as a gift to show respect and goodwill.
Salt is also used in spiritual practices across the globe to “clear the air.” This is usually done by placing salt in bowls across the doors and is a result of its natural properties to preserve and stabilize objects and spaces. If salt is able to preserve and stabilize food from decaying and becoming stale, then it is able to do the same to a space.
When a bowl of salt is placed out before March 21st, it helps “absorb” the heavy energy of winter and make room for the clarity and calm of spring.
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