The New Year is Spring

Realigning our Calendars to The Seasons

The western world celebrates their new year on January 1st - with a message of celebration and resolutions. The holiday takes place (in the northern hemisphere) during the season of Winter; a time of rest and conservation; counter to the new year spirit of new beginnings.

So why does the year begin on January 1st and not on the Vernal Equinox in the Spring? After sufficient research, we conclude that the calendars of today are no longer aligned with nature and thus do not have our best interests in mind. Here we explore how it got this way, why managing and self-directing our energy is the most vital thing we can do, and how we personally use ÓS to better connect to the cycles of nature.

Spring is the real New Year

The modern date January 1st being the start of the new year originates with Ancient Rome with Julius Caesar's calendar reform in 45 B.C. Before this, the Roman Republic followed a lunar-based calendar that had drifted out of sync with the seasons due to political manipulation and irregular adjustments. To correct this, Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, a solar-based system, adding 67 days to realign the year and establishing January 1st as the official start. This change also served a practical purpose: Roman elected officials traditionally began their terms at the start of the year, and by fixing January 1st as New Year's Day, military campaigns could be planned earlier. On January 1st they held feasts dedicated to Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions, symbolized by his two faces: one looking back and the other forward. January getting its name from this deity.

During the Middle Ages, errors in Julius Caesar’s calendar became evident, leading many to abandon it. In the 1570's, Pope Gregory XIII enlisted Jesuit astronomer Christopher Clavius to correct the miscalculations. By 1582, the Gregorian calendar was introduced, solidifying January 1st as the now more globally accepted start of the new year. 443 years later we still use the Gregorian calendar, now in our phones as a given feature yet still the foundation from which we live and organize every day.

Why do we not now celebrate new year in Spring just as when natural life is renewed?

Like the Ancient Babylonians, ~4500 years ago, who celebrated their New Year's festival Akitu on the first moon after the vernal equinox.

It seems obvious that celebrating the new year in Spring can relieve us of putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves during the winter months. Our own calendars are ultimately for us to define. Yet many people and cultures still celebrate in the spring, or similarly with the Lunar New Year. The calendars do more than just mark the time; they guide the rhythms of nature that all humans have used to gain wisdom and peace.

Deep wisdom is found within the Seasons: They reflect the cycles and patterns all around us.

We Begin our New Years on the Vernal Equinox

The vernal equinox marks the beginning of the season of spring. The vernal equinox is a powerful threshold moment; when light and darkness stand in perfect balance, marking the shift from winter’s stillness to the vibrant energy of spring. This transition signals renewal, growth, and the awakening with nature.

Unlike the Gregorian-based New Year, which is often met with forced resolutions and lingering winter inertia, beginning the year with the vernal equinox aligns us with nature’s rhythm. The increasing daylight opens us up to new possibilities, making it an ideal time to set intentions, initiate projects, and embrace new experiences.

The Equinox is a Symbol of Balance

The equinoxes both vernal (spring) and autumnal (fall) are the only two times of the year when day and night are nearly equal in length. This balance serves as a reminder of life’s natural cycles: action and rest, light and shadow, growth and release.

Spring Equinox : The return of longer days brings renewed vitality. It’s a season of planting both literally and metaphorically.

What seeds am I planting?

Autumn Equinox: A time of harvest and reflection, preparing for the descent into the quieter, introspective months ahead.

The equinoxes remind us of the delicate balance in life. Across cultures and centuries, these seasonal cycles have served as powerful guides of change shaping our societies.

Many traditions see the equinoxes as portals of transformation. In Wiccan and pagan traditions, the vernal equinox (Ostara) is a festival of fertility, while the autumnal equinox (Mabon) is a time for reflection and gratitude. Similarly, indigenous cultures recognize the equinoxes as moments of spiritual renewal in connection with nature’s cycles.

Nature is our earliest teacher.

Honoring the Equinox: Anew Year

How can I align myself with this seasonal shift?

We can begin through our notebooks and journals as they aid us in clearing inner stagnation, refine our focus, and step into a new cycle of growth.

1. Set Clear Intentions:  What am I cultivating this year?
   

2. Create Space for Renewal: 

   • refresh your routines

   • welcome change with enthusiasm.
     

3. Embrace Balance: Integrate both reflection and action; ensuring sustainable momentum.

Journaling helps us step into the year with clarity - connected to nature’s unfolding rhythms.

Seasons as Symbols of Change and Renewal

Nature moves in a continuous cycle, from the emergence of new life in spring to the stillness of winter. These transitions are not just external shifts; they affect our emotions, energy levels, and perspectives. Recognizing these patterns allows us to move with life rather than against it.

Each season deep symbolism and lessons:

Spring (Rebirth & Possibility) represents new beginnings. ➶ Practice visualization and goal-setting to align with the energy of new ideas.

Summer (Abundance & Expression) highlights abundance, vitality, and the peak of creative and personal expression. ➶ Immerse yourself in social gatherings and creative expression to celebrate life’s fullness.

Autumn (Reflection & Letting Go) is a time for shedding what no longer serves us, preparing for transitions, and embracing transformation. ➶ Engage in self-inquiry and process emotions, making space for new insights.

Winter (Rest & Renewal) calls for stillness, rest, and inner reflection, reminding us of the importance of restoration before the next cycle begins.

➶ Prioritize self-care, inner work, and deep rest to nurture your heart, mind, and soul.

These natural patterns give us a deeper insight into our own internal rhythms.

The Seasons are here to guide us and help balance us out.

Continue reading through our Hero's Journey Blog