6 Rituals To Welcome The Vernal Equinox

After the relentless arctic cold that many of us experienced this winter, it is easy to feel grateful that spring is about to pop. Thoughts of spring can stir images of new growth and fresh beginnings.

In fact, most people do not realize that the new year was originally celebrated in March and early April (and still is in some cultures). When the Gregorian Calendar was adopted by many countries, the date was changed to celebrate the new year in January. Anyone who failed to adhere to this new structure was considered an "April fool."

The spring season is ripe with potential to transform. Right now is the perfect time to invite in an energetic boost and incorporate practical spiritual tools to live your life with passion and purpose.

Here are six powerful rituals you can use to welcome the spring equinox:

1. Flower Power

In her book Magical Gardens, Patricia Monaghan suggests writing wishes for the season onto ribbons and then using those ribbons to tie bouquets of flowers. Daffodils, for example, represent new beginnings. You can also use roses for love, tulips for purification, daisies for happiness, calla lily for enhancing intuition — or any other type of flower that you resonate with.

I love to do this and give the flowers to friends and even strangers I meet at this time of year.

2. Color Power

Colors directly influence our mood, so play around with some lighter colors to welcome in the new season. Yes, it's time to let go of all that black! Try wearing a new color, painting a room anew or adding a colorful throw pillow to your couch.

Here are some color insights: blue evokes clarity, trust and good communication; brown is grounding; green for healing, balance and prosperity; orange for joy and sexuality; pink for compassion, red for energy and passion, and yellow for power and manifestation.

3. Scent Power

Scent has the power to alter our state of mind. Of the five senses, our experience of scent is directed by our brain the most.

Essential oils are the best way to harness the power of scent. Place a drop of pure essential oil on a cotton ball and inhale, or use in a diffusor. You can also chop up herbs in a bowl of warm water and allow the aroma to infuse your room. I also love using essential oil sprays to freshen the air of a room. You can use basil for clarity and prosperity, chamomile for peace, orange or lemon for a boost, dill for mental clarity, rose for love, jasmine or ylang-ylang for sexual energy and lavender for relaxation.

4. Crystal Power

Crystals have the ability to receive and transmit energy. They are also powerful focusing tools. Try experimenting with amethyst for healing and spiritual awareness, lapis lazuli for communication, topaz for new beginnings, fluorite (aka the "garbage collector") for releasing unwanted energies in your home or office, quartz for focus and turquoise for friendship and positive thinking.

5. Animal Power

Many cultures view animals as teachers. You might commonly know this as the "spirit animal." Try meditating on the essence of an animal and incorporate its energy into your life. Print out a picture, go to a zoo or animal shelter, sculpt or draw a picture of whatever animal you wish to connect with. Think of a butterfly for transformation (a powerful symbol of spring), a cat for independence, spider for creativity, owl for wisdom, lion for leadership, horse for power, frog for cleansing, dolphin for play, dog for loyalty, or deer for peace.

6. Beauty Power

One of my favorite legends says that if you bathe your face in the early-morning dew of spring, you will have beauty all year long. Get up early one morning and try it! Consider it a natural spa treatment.