The Brief Balance - Spring Equinox Below the Equator

In this episode, we explore the spring equinox below the equator - from longer evenings and flowering wattle to nesting birds and unpredictable weather. We look at the difference between the equinox and Ostara, how to build a seasonal practice around what’s actually happening where you live, and why balance doesn’t have to mean giving everything equal time.The episode finishes with a simple equinox ritual. You’ll reflect on what winter gave you, choose something you’d like to nurture this spring, and set one manageable action to take before the next full moon.For the ritual: Bring two small objects - one dark and one light and something to write with.If you’d like to explore a little further:Embracing the Equinox - NASAAn easy-to-follow look at what happens during an equinox and why day and night aren’t exactly equal.https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/night-sky-network/embracing-the-equinox/Solstices, equinoxes and the seasons- Bureau of MeteorologyA useful guide to how seasons work here in Australia.https://www.bom.gov.au/news-and-media/solstices-equinoxes-and-the-seasonsIndigenous seasonal calendars - Bureau of MeteorologyExplore some of the seasonal calendars that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have chosen to share publicly.https://www.bom.gov.au/resources/indigenous-weather-knowledge/indigenous-seasonal-calendarsIndigenous seasonal calendars - CSIROMore about seasonal knowledge connected to particular Countries, along with guidance on respecting the communities who hold it.https://www.csiro.au/en/research/indigenous-science/indigenous-knowledge/calendarsPhenology by Theresa M. CrimminsA lovely introduction to noticing seasonal changes in the plants and animals around us.https://www.penguin.com.au/books/phenology-9780262551052The Stations of the Sun by Ronald HuttonFor anyone interested in taking a deeper dive into the history of seasonal festivals and the ritual year.https://academic.oup.com/book/1390Hex & Muse is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. I pay my deepest respects to their Elders past and present - and to all First Nations people, whose stories and spirits continue to shape this land.Follow along for more folklore, magic, and mythic musings:Instagram: @hexandmuse Website: www.hexandmuse.comHex & Muse is a spellbound journal of folklore, magic, art, and the sacred feminine - told through cinematic storytelling and whispered histories.From my altar to yours… thank you for listening.