The Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox occurs on March 20th, and in the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the arrival of Spring. Vernal means new or fresh, and Equinox translates to equal night. This is the moment in the year when the sun is exactly above the equator and day and night are of equal length.
The new moon in Aries follows the equinox on Tuesday, March 21st, at 1:22 pm EDT. Aries is the first sign in the zodiac representing birth, renewal, action, and energy. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring promises new life, growth, and hope as we experience the ground thawing and the first signs of spring.
Intentions are the seeds from which life grows, and the equinox is the perfect time for planting those seeds or setting intentions. Simply put, an intention is something you plan or intend to carry out. Everything in life begins with intention, whether it be conscious or subconscious.
Intentions may feel like a small thing, but they compound over time. When I began to set intentions several years ago, it wasn’t because I wanted to or because I felt ready. It was because I had to. I suffered from burnout and poor mental and physical health, and I knew my life needed to change.
My health and well-being became the most necessary thing to focus on. As I began connecting to my intuition and living intentionally, my life started shifting into alignment with what truly mattered to me.
That’s the beauty of having intentions. If you are struggling or feel overwhelmed with what to do or where to start, you can start with your intention and align your actions from there.
You don’t need to be in crisis for intentions to work magic for you.
Connecting to your intuition to create intentions is powerful. It’s not always the big dramatic moments that create your life but the quiet spaces where you allow yourself a voice. You can choose which voices to shut down and which to allow space to grow and thrive.
As I wrote down my intentions, they became my life, and my life changed.
Setting Intentions can be empowering. Each day you have the chance to begin anew. Your intention is the most powerful thing you have in creating your reality. No matter what you hope to achieve, be it manifesting-love, abundance, or a state of well-being, stating your intention or desired result is the first step. If you want to change your reality, outcome, or process, begin simply by changing your intention.
Call your intuition forward to help you with setting intentions.
Place your hand over your heart and take a few deep breaths. Ask yourself, where should I focus my intention now?
You can set your intention for anything meaningful in your life that you wish to bring change or focus to. Some intentions may be daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. A daily intention may be “to practice self-compassion,” for example. While a yearly intention may be “to experience joy more frequently,” “to experience spiritual growth,” or “take meaningful actions towards a goal.”
Here are some examples of daily intentions:
To be present and mindful throughout the day
Trust the power of my intuition.
Be mindful of my breath.
To be open to new experiences
Take the time I need before responding to requests.
Be clear in my communication.
Honor my boundaries and speak up for myself
Practice self-compassion
To begin setting intentions:
Get clear on your values.
Values are fundamental beliefs that help to inform your actions. Before stating any intention, you’ll want to clarify what you value, how you want to feel, and what you hope to achieve. Your intentions will be particularly powerful when they align with your values. Try to make a list of some core values so that you can begin aligning your intentions with what's truly important to you. To identify your values, think of a time when you felt fulfilled, free, or unlimited. What did that feel like to you? What in your life gives you a sense of meaning and purpose? What do you feel most proud of? Try journaling or meditating on these questions to understand what you value.
Determine what you hope to achieve.
This should be aligned with your core values and feel good to you on every level, mind, body, and spirit. Setting intentions based on what you’d like based on the perceptions or judgments of others will not be as powerful as setting intentions that align with what your soul desires.
Keep it positive.
When you create intentions, it’s important to write them in a positive tone. Focus on what you want, not what you hope to avoid. For example, if you frequently lose your patience and get frustrated at work, you might set the intention, “Today I will listen mindfully before responding” or “Today, I will take a deep breath and give everyone the benefit of the doubt.” By focusing on the positive, you shift your perception of the situation and greatly increase your chances of successfully honoring your intention.
If you’re not sure where to start, try these journal prompts to get clear on what you desire:
What does my inner world look like?
What is needed to bring my dreams into reality?
Write your intentions or speak them out loud.
You send a powerful energetic vibration to the universe when you speak or write your intentions. Psychologically, you also connect to what it is you want to manifest. Try incorporating your intention into daily practice through journaling. If you have an altar or sacred space in your home, you can create a ritual with your intentions. Stand before your altar, light the candles, and state your intentions. By doing this, you are affirming what you want and honoring your desires.
Release your attachment to the results.
When you put something into the universe, it’s important to let go and allow the process to unfold naturally. You wouldn’t plant seeds and stand there staring at them until they grow. Being deeply attached to an idea of exactly how things should unfold can limit you. Set your intentions and then go experience your life.
Make it a practice
Setting intentions is something you can begin to do in daily life and incorporate into your routine. You may try writing your intention and leaving it someplace where you’ll see it often or stating your intention to yourself several times at night before falling asleep.
Take actions that align with your intentions.
Make decisions intuitively to build self-trust. You’ll know you decided based on intuition when you feel a calm and grounded sense of knowing what you want.
Try this exercise to begin setting your intention at the beginning of the day:
Find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Have something to write in—a journal or notebook. Sit with your eyes closed and
Notice your breath for a few moments.
Ask the Universe, your Guides, the Spirit World, or your inner wisdom, “Where should I focus my intention for the day?” Focus on your breath until you feel, sense, know, see, or hear a response. Be open to receiving this information in whatever form it comes to you.
Write down the response you receive, then look at and reflect for a moment on what you’ve written. Notice how your intention feels in your body. Start to notice the alignment taking shape within you.
If in these quiet moments with your morning intention, you recognize that your inner knowing has the answer, you can begin to recognize it throughout your day.
Thanks for being here and reading The Electric Curtain. I’m wrapping your Spring Equinox Intentions in light and love.
Cheers to lighter days and new beginnings,
Sheryl