The Spiritual Meaning of Spring: A Slow Living Guide to the Season

The wind feels warmer and carries a sweet scent. Daffodils brighten gardens and roadsides, and in our village life begins to stir. People trim roses, tidy driveways, and you can hear the sound of lawnmowers coming from the gardens. Yes, Spring is surely on its way, and we simply sense it. 

Richard Jeffries, an English nature writer, in a note from 1887, which recalls a visit to Belas Knap in Gloucestershire, a Neolithic long barrow from about 5000 years ago, says: "As if I could look back and feel 'then', the sunshine of then, and their life." I first read this quote about a year ago, and somehow, slowly, it seeped into me and became part of my own internal dialogue. It doesn't come from a famous book or a poem. It's just a note. For most people, it wouldn't mean much, but somehow I just get what he means, because I do the same, especially now, moments before Spring. And so do you, perhaps you just never thought about it this way.

When you are standing in the fields, forest or even just in your own back garden. The birds are chirping, the air smells sweet, and the sun shines on your face. The same sun that shone on your grandmother, great-grandmother and all who came before them. Before plastic, roads, and telephones. You are sensing the coming of Spring in the wind, sun, and in your gut, just like the humans from thousands of years ago did. The sensation is the same, even if separated by the sea of time. As if you could look back and feel Spring of 'then'.

We are naturally attuned to sense the shifts in the seasons, but I do think this instinct is strongest in Spring. Maybe it’s because, after hardships, even the dangers of Winter, we crave light, warmth and safety so much that our intuition sharpens? Next time you feel the sun on your face, and something inside you begins to whisper about seasonal changes, take a moment to honour this time-old instinct inside you, that has been passed to you through your ancestors for thousands of years.

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What Spring is about

Spring means renewal, joy, light, a celebration of vitality, and fertility. After the dead of Winter, the natural world comes back to life. Lambing season begins; new flowers appear every day, and animals wake up from hibernation as the world turns beautiful and safe again. The energy is rising, humans feel it as much as animals - we are motivated, full of vigour and optimism.

Female Archetype

Spring represents a maiden: young, trusting, light-hearted, joyful. Maybe a little bit naive, but full of hope and good intentions. Although we might be in our summer or autumn season of life, I think we all should still try to nurture a little part of us that holds some of this energy and use it at times to look at the world through rose-coloured glasses.

Time for mindful action

It's time to put your winter dreams and plans into action. Spring offers a wave of motivation, but it's important that you don't get swept by it. Instead of relying on it alone, pace yourself and spread your energy so you keep on going, even after the spike of spring enthusiasm is gone. 

Discover our hand-poured candles from our Somerset studio, inspired by the seasons and slow living in the English countryside, including a new favourite for Spring and Summer "Strawberries & cream tea" scent.

Spring food & self-care

Early Spring is high time to shake off winter's stillness. Go for a walk, or if the weather is still temperamental, unroll your mat. Gentle stretches and twists will wake up your body and mind, and make you feel energised. 

Cook and bake with the first seasonal produce available in the shops. Traditional foods for this time of year include leafy greens, eggs, dairy, teas and honey. And of course, here in the UK, hot cross buns and afternoon teas served in cosy tea room and farm shops.

Seasonal festivals

In Spring, we celebrate two festivals on the Wheel of the Year - a nature-based calendar marking solar events (solstices, equinoxes) and cross-quarter days known as fire festivals, rooted in Celtic tradition.

Spring Equinox - 19-23 March (also Easter / Ostara)

On the equinox, day and night become equal for a brief moment, marking a time of perfect balance in nature. From this point onward, days are longer than nights, and the sun will be dominating the next 6 months. Tradition calls for deep spring cleaning, planting seeds with intention, and decorating with eggs symbolising fertility and abundance. Our "Ostara" candle will be perfect for placing on the Easter table or styling with seasonal decorations.  

Beltane - 1 May (also May Day)

The fire festival that marks the midpoint between spring equinox and summer solstice. It's the height of spring - a time of fertility, abundance, and joyful celebration of the land in full bloom. In the UK, May Day festivities are second only to Christmas. Families and friends gather around bonfires, barbecues, or even in beer gardens. More than ever, people are inclined to spend time in nature, so be ready for your favourite spots to get busier around that time. There are many folk traditions around this festival, some of my favourites include maypole dances, weaving flower crowns, bringing in greenery, and wreaths to celebrate the season. Our "Beltane" candle also works perfectly as a symbol of fire and light at this time of the year.

Slow Living in Spring

Go out as often as you can, and stop often to smell the roses. Have fun in the kitchen with seasonal ingredients: leafy greens, asparagus, eggs, dairy, and also - forgive me, lol! - mini chocolate eggs :D I love adding them to my bakes in early spring, turning any old recipe into a spring-themed one. 

I know that many of my readers are Autumn lovers (so am I), so around Spring equinox, take a little time to meditate on the fact that it's a "twin" festival, opposite to Autumn equinox on the Wheel of the Year. The same, yet so different. In only 6 months, we will be entering the depths of darkness, so let's celebrate the light and growth while it's here!

A few closing words

Spring is a season of joy and a celebration of life. As we plant our seeds - whether real ones in the soil or metaphorical ones in our hearts - we begin a new cycle of growth. With longer days and renewed energy, we can now work towards our dreams and plans, nurturing them patiently and watching them unfold, just as the fields ripen and prepare for harvest. There is less than 6 months left until Autumn, when the chill and darkness will invite us to rest again, so let's make the most of this bright and beautiful time of the year, embracing the beauty and heightened energy it offers.