A Celebration of Spring: Enjoy the Bounty of the Equinox

March 21st marks Ostara, the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. A truly holy-day when we can connect with the opportunities for new beginnings, and we can celebrate the return of warmth and light. Surely, the energetic shift towards longer days – with budding blossoms offering their fresh fragrance and the chatter of birdsong starting at dawn and lasting into the evening – can be felt within. As I relax into the emergent splendor of the season, I reflect on the space that I share with my non-human family, as Earth comes alive again in this cycle of renewal. 

In joining with the forces of Nature to celebrate this time of equal expanse, I called on my friend and colleague Louesa Roebuck to collaborate in singing the praises of our floral allies in this season of celebration, joy, fertility and new life. You see, Louesa is a gleaner who deeply connects with the energies of Gaia by a lifelong practice of deep observation, watching the patterns and listening to the rhythms of our non-human lineage. She’s a multi-media artist, a floral one at that, who I can best describe as someone who finds the creativity and beauty intrinsic to chaos. Unafraid to delve in the compost of life, her creative visions of the greater world around us have long been an inspirational complement to my views on the healing arts. Her words simply and eloquently sum up the core values we share; “Do no harm. Be gentle. No agribusiness. Keep it local, seasonal, and organic.” 

With this mantra and practice at the fore, this spring equinox Louesa and I will lead a floral extravaganza in the gardens of the esteemed Lotusland. Our symbiotic vision is for our guests to get their hands and souls aligned with the healing qualities of the most local and abundant flora of the season. From a deeper dialogue with our resonant intuition and wisdom, we will explore affirmative language from which to create arrangements that hold deeper meaning and illuminate our intentions for growth, and the growth and thriving of our botanical relatives. 

As the florals will be gleaned and harvested right up to the event, we don’t exactly know which beauties will show up. Some of the botanical friends who can be expected to come out and play and offer their healing are lovely Wisteria, sensual California Peony, supportive Redbud, energetic Mint, sweet Daffodil, heavenly Scented Geranium, elegant Lady Bank’s Rose, and more.

I’d like to share the spiritual properties of some of the current flower allies that are currently blooming:

Cherry Plum: An early sign of spring, the flowers come alive in a profusion of pinkish white blossoms, full of the promise of new life. A powerful flower, related to an intense condition, Cherry Plum’s medicine brings us back to a state of inner peace amid mental anguish. When we feel like we’re spinning out of control, this floral ally helps us to realize our powers of self-possession. With a newfound ability to relinquish the fears associated with loss of control, we become more in command of our actions, rather than being swept up in our anxious reactions.

Rose: As I gaze upon the miles of thorny Rose vines strewn throughout California trails and gardens, the myriad varieties each with their own special fragrance, I am filled with awe. Humbled in the presence of such grace that I recognize as power of poise, instilled in the miracle of this magnificent flower, I am reconnected with the beauty of life in this very instant. The inability to touch the joys that we are surrounded by is an inward cry for this sumptuous flower ally. With newfound vitality, the beatific magnificence of Rose re-establishes our innate love for living, rooted in our divine essence of existence. 

Clematis: A showy white sea of dream-like blossoms with a sweet lemon-orange scent greets me, asking for pause and focus, in the here and now. The sturdy, twining vine of Clematis offers us support when we find it difficult to stay present, focused and grounded, such that we are unable to connect with our imaginations for creative pursuits but stay stuck in loops of fantasy. The essence of Clematis lends its medicine as a profusion of angelic petals reach into ethereal realms and bring us back down to earth, re-connect us with our holy trinity of body, mind and spirit.

Crab Apple: Spring finally explodes in magnificent splendor, as buds burst from branches that were bare last week. The star-like blossoms, scented with the powdery fragrance of new life, emit the fragrance of fresh starts and clean slates. All seems possible in Crab Apple’s reflection of the perfection of our souls amid the self-talk of faults and flaws. This flower gifts us an opportunity to embrace the immaculate frailty of our inner being, as we ponder deeper universal questions. Can I be loved as I am? Can I own my deficiencies and love my Self, warts and all? This is the work at hand. Growing into the wholeness of self-love, this flower guides us to embrace greater acceptance ourselves, absolutely, just as we are.  

Learn more about these amazing flowers and more at Lotusland’s Spring Equinox Extravaganza with Dina Saalisi and floral artist and author, Louesa Roebuck, on Saturday, March 22, from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. Visit www.lotusland.org/event/spring-equinox-extravaganza for more information and tickets.