Spring: A Playlist

Spring is a time of extreme creativity. In nature, it’s when flowers bloom, and once naked trees don lush gowns of chartreuse. It’s when many species of animals give birth, having mated in the Autumn or Winter. It’s when bees produce the most honey, and when farmers plant crops.

Spring corresponds with the element of fire. It is masculine and internal. Fire represents transformation, rebirth, regeneration, purity, passion, ambition, and energy—both physical energy, and the creative energy known as inspiration. Spring is when what was lost in the winter comes alive again. This is why it’s essential to rest as much as possible during winter, recharging.

The Spring Equinox begins on the first day of Aries season, and Aries is the first zodiac sign. Ancient cultures considered the Spring Equinox a fresh start in the way we now think of New Year’s Eve.

The fire element is represented by wands in tarot, or in some decks witch’s brooms. There is a complex and layered symbolism behind witch’s brooms, but one thing I’ll share here is that witches used them conventionally, for space clearing. In magic, cleanliness is godliness. Spell work is done in an immaculately cleansed home, or in a magic circle outdoors that has been swept.

Spring cleaning is a tradition traced back to many ancient cultures, from Judeo-Christian preparation for Passover to Buddhist purification rituals. Fire represents the purification of the spirit, and the purification of motives in a spirit driven life. When you’re doing things from a pure place, you have limitless energy. Since physical objects hold old and stagnant energy, cleansing your home has a huge effect on your psyche, and your energy levels.

From this article:

“In Persian culture, spring cleaning traces back 3,000 years ago to a spring tradition called khaneh tekani. This translates to “shaking the house.” It was believed that sweeping up dust and removing clutter from one's home would prevent ill-fortune in the upcoming year.”

The element of fire corresponds with the Solar Plexus chakra, and the Sun. So does Spring.

A biological explanation from the same article:

“Spring cleaning may also have something to do with our neurochemistry. During the shorter and darker days of winter, our bodies produce more melatonin, a hormone that makes us sleepy. As we move toward spring and the days begin to lengthen, we produce less of this hormone and receive a boost of energy from the sun. We often put this energy toward chores such as cleaning.

Also, as we emerge from winter hibernation, our natural instinct is to open doors and windows, interact with others, and spend time outside soaking up the sunshine deprived from our bodies over the past 3 to 5 months. When we organize and deep clean our homes, we can focus our attention on enjoying the sunny days ahead.”

Like the wands in tarot, and the fire element, Spring is sexual. Your sexual energy and creative energy are one and the same, and they are awakened this time of year. It’s also a sensual time. We smell flowers and fresh cut grass. We feel the warmth of the sun again. We hear the sounds of people getting out more.

My least favorite aspect of Spring is the allergies I get, but I’ve learned to start preparing early. I drink tea with a big spoonful of local raw honey each morning, starting March 1st. This helps more than Benadryl. This year I got a gigantic jar of Minnesota honey with pollen in it. I am quickly making my way through it.

The Solar Plexus chakra is said to be the seat of the soul. This is true. The soul is the energy within all living creatures—and yes, plants have souls too, vegans! But the Solar Plexus also contains that creative energy I talked about, or it should. When you do things with impure motives, it’s physically exhausting, which is why it’s called selling your soul. That’s literally what you’re doing, exchanging your very essence for profit. It ages the body and causes depression. When your mind is focused on the wrong things, this dims your inner fire, your divine spark, also known as your spirit. The Solar Plexus chakra is the chakra of willpower and vitality. It is meant to contain both types of energy, the soul and spirit.

You cleanse the mind through meditation. When meditation isn’t practiced, the spirit doesn’t drive one’s actions—the ego does. This is the antithesis of creative expression. Things are done as a means to an end, and the end result is never satisfying.

The spirit is masculine. The spirit is your Higher Self, your higher consciousness. Spring is when those seeds of consciousness are planted through taking practical actions towards your dreams, or through creation of physical art, bringing your visions to life. And yes, the Sun does give us energy, so be sure to soak up some sunshine.

This playlist is sweet as lavender honey… and just a little bit twee.

Highlights from my playlist:

The entire playlist (3 hours):

In case you missed it:

Thanks for reading (and listening)! Do you like Spring?