A Time of Celebration!

Whatever your beliefs or culture, this week has lots to celebrate! I’m writing this on St Patrick’s Day – a celebration of all things Irish and a commemoration of the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. St Patrick is noted for his courage, humility and unwavering faith, so this day means more to Christians than the parties and parades. The shamrock we associate with St Patrick and Ireland was possibly used by the saint to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, but was already a powerful symbol to Druids and Pagans who viewed 3 as a sacred number reflecting the cycle of life, death and rebirth, and the 3 stages of the divine feminine.

Like most Christian festivals, St Patrick’s Day was slotted into the Pagan calendar at a time of celebration. On Thursday we reach the vernal equinox – the magical day when daylight and darkness are in equal balance. A time for celebration that the world is waking up after winter, and a time for reflection on the power of balance in our own lives and the natural world we rely on, the equinox has been celebrated for thousands of years. In the wheel of the year it is known as Ostara, and honours the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility and new beginnings - Oestra. Her myth says that she turned a bird into a hare to help it survive the winter and that the hare then left thank you gifts of coloured eggs. Decorated eggs and imagery of bunnies, lambs, spring flowers and even hot cross buns go way back, before Christianity and Easter.

Ostara taps into that optimism we feel at this time of year and is a reminder to check in with your own growth. You could create a beautiful altar, dance around a bonfire or use candles to set intentions if that feels good to you, or you may want to keep it simple with some journalling or pretty decorations in your home. Check out my other low-key celebrations below. The key thing isn’t what you do, it’s how it makes you feel. It’s about taking a moment to enjoy the relief that we made it through winter, the gratitude for what we have, and the excitement for what is to come. It’s about doing simple things intentionally and with joy in your heart. 

In Japan the Spring Equinox in known as Shunbun no Hi. In the Shinto tradition families gather together and visit the graves of their ancestors. Many people will also be enjoying Hanami – the practice of visiting the parks to gaze at the beauty of the cherry blossoms. How many blossom trees have you noticed this week?

Other events on the calendar are Global Recycling Day on the 18th, the International Day of Happiness on the 20th, Red Nose Day, International Day of Forests, World Downs Syndrome Day, World Poetry Day and (my personal favourite) National French Bread Day on the 21st. It’s also Neurodiversity Celebration Week and midway through Ramadan. National Complementary Therapy Week begins on the 20th – a perfect time to book that treatment you’ve been meaning to have!

My deepest hope is, not only will this week be full of happiness for my wonderful clients and friends, that the feeling of celebration and positivity will spread to our world leaders and spark some much-needed empathy and compassion in their decision making. But when the news feels too bleak to watch and the world feels like a scary place, try to focus on all the good that you have in your life and find your reasons to celebrate.