Crystals for the Spring Equinox

The Spring Equinox is upon us once again - and this last 12 months has just zoomed past me. I can't believe it's been 12 months since I tried to sneak out of my house at 4am to make the pilgrimage to Stonehenge, only to be awoken by my toddler asking if she could come for an adventure! (So I took her with me!)

At 9:24pm on Monday 20th of March, both of Earth's hemispheres receive exactly equal sunlight, which results in exactly equal lengths of night and day. The latin word for equal (aeques) and night (nox) creates the term "Equinox". This happens again in the Autumn, at the end of September.

The spring equinox is a time for celebration for pagans, druids and other spiritually attuned souls, who come together at the first sunrise after the equinox, to celebrate Earth's abundance and the renewal of life. Winter is a time of retreat, and the spring equinox marks the beginning of the new season, when winter loosens its grip on the Earth, and life begins to stir underneath the ground, ready to burst into life in the coming weeks and months. We give thanks to the Earth and the universe for the joy that comes with the springtime. The lighter evenings and mornings, the bountiful colours and scenes of nature exploding into life. The chance to once again renew ourselves and begin to grow again under the warmth of the sun. I love to venture over to Stonehenge for the equinox if I can. It's not always possible for me, as I'm a mum of three, and my husband works unsociable hours, so I always have to play it by ear and see if I can make it.

Getting to Stonehenge for sunrise means leaving the house at around 4am, driving for around 45 minutes and parking up, then taking the shuttle bus from the visitor centre to the stones. I love taking a selection of crystals with me to bathe on the ancient stones within the stone circle. The equinox and solstice celebrations are the only time that the site is wide open for visitors to gather within the stones. Regular visitors are kept at a distance from the stones behind a rope, so to enter the circle at these ceremonies is a real treat. Standing in the shadow of the stones is so powerfully moving, To think that human beings have gathered here for five thousand years to perform similar ceremonies and rituals - it always makes me feel so deeply connected to the world around me. It makes me feel all powerful and completely present.

So, as I plan and prepare for the journey to the stones in just a few hours time, I'm packing my bag with my favourite crystals for this season. When you're choosing crystals, I always recommend that you just go with your own instinct - but there are certain crystals that resonate with the spring equinox and I'll share them with you below.

1. MOSS AGATE - Always a favourite of mine, Moss Agate is the stone of new beginnings, personal transformation, abundance, manifestation, mother earth energy - need I say more? Moss agate reminds us that just as the Earth goes to ground in winter, and bursts into life in spring, we too have seasons, and it's ok to start again whenever you've been through a tough season.

2. CARNELIAN - Harness the spirit of spring with juicy rich carnelian, brimming over with enthusiastic energy, creative passion, loads and loads of unspent potential and a zest for life! Carnelian helps you to pull yourself up by the bootstraps if you've had a hard winter.

3. FLOWER AGATE - like the name suggests, flower agate is about blossoming and blooming. It's about personal growth, inner strength, stability and endurance. Just as the earth has endured the hard winter, you've endured so much too, and you're ready to find your inner strength, set down your roots and burst forward. To blossom and bloom! Flower agate is also the most amazing stone for those who suffer with anxiety. It's been such an amazing companion for me over the last 12 months, I couldn't be without it.

4. CLEAR QUARTZ - the master healer, the mind soother, opening up your crown chakra to channel healing energy and soothe a busy mind. Clear quartz is amazing for helping to set the stage for a new start, and what better time to do that than at the equinox, the beginning of the spring season?

1. MOONSTONE - This month's new moon is in Aries and it falls on the day of the equinox. The new moon is usually a time for quiet reflection and planning for the month ahead, but with Aries energy behind it, the moon calls us to action this week which can make us feel a little bit frantic. At the equinox, the sun and moon are in perfect balance, and moonstone's divine feminine energy attunes you to the cycles of the moon and prepares you for new beginnings. It's a wonderful stone for balancing energies, so if this new moon has you in a spin, use moonstone (black moonstone preferably, but rainbow moonstone is also useful) to balance you out.

Wishing you all the blessings of Spring at this lovely time of the year. It's not been an easy winter for so many of us and I'm so happy and so grateful to be welcoming back the light!

Love and (day)light! Kathryn xxx