Here in Scotland, winters are not only long but dark, with just 6–7 hours of daylight in December and January. The light and colour of spring are eagerly awaited as soon as Christmas is over. The first sight of snowdrops in late January or February lifts the heart, a quiet reminder that the season of growth and light is almost here. The old Scottish celebration of Imbolc marks the halfway point to spring, a gentle nod to this turning point in the year. It connects us to the cycles of nature and the resilience of spring’s arrival after the darkness of winter, as it comes halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Since the winter solstice in December, when the days were shortest and the nights longest, the balance was slowly shifting. The days are growing a little longer and the nights a little shorter.
By the time we reach the spring equinox, they finally stand equal. Day and night share the sky in perfect balance. This year, the spring equinox falls on 20 March, marking the official start of spring.
After the long, hard months of winter, it is only natural to long for light, colour and the joy that nature brings. As the American actor Robin Williams famously said, ‘Spring is nature’s way of saying, let’s party.’
In nature, everything exists in balance. Day and night, light and dark, life and death. Each has its place and each depends on the other.
Yet as humans, we often struggle to maintain that same balance in our own lives. We celebrate productivity but sometimes feel guilty about rest. We move quickly from one task to another, rarely pausing to notice when things begin to feel out of alignment.
Perhaps that is why moments like the spring equinox are so important. They remind us that balance is not about perfection but about noticing the rhythm of life. Before the season gathers speed, we can pause, reflect and find our own equilibrium.
The spring equinox lasts only a moment, a fleeting point where day and night are perfectly equal. Yet its message can carry through the brighter months ahead. Growth often feels easier when it begins from a place of balance. Before stepping fully into the busyness of spring, pause and notice. Let yourself celebrate, like nature does, in its own beautiful rhythm.