Spring Equinox: Harmony, Balance, & Renewal

Happy New Year. As the spring equinox approaches, our beautiful home, Mother Earth, reminds us of balance, harmony, and renewal. The word equinox comes from the Latin “aequus,” meaning equal, and “nox,” meaning night. On this day, there is an equal amount of day and night, light and dark, yang and yin.

This is something that all of our ancestors were well aware of. In Peru, at Machu Picchu, there is a giant stone named Intihuatana, which typically casts a shadow throughout the day, and at exactly noon on the spring and fall equinox, the shadow disappears, indicating this day of cosmic balance. Phenomena like this also take place in Mexico at Chichen Itza in which Kukulcan (Queztalcoatl/Feathered Serpent) descends down the side of the temple, the “Sun Dagger,” at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, and in Egypt at the Great Sphinx and Pyramid of Khafre to name a few. I’m sure that these aren’t the only ancient civilizations with connections to the cycles of the equinoxes. And when you think about how long ago some of these structures took form on this planet, it’s quite mind-blowing.

So what is happening on a practical level?

The Earth (like a poised yogi in balance) tilts at an angle of 23.5 degrees on its axis as it journeys around the sun. Throughout the year, this graceful tilt determines how sunlight touches different parts of the planet, shaping the rhythms of light and darkness.

The equinox is a sacred moment of perfect equilibrium—when the Earth’s axis neither leans toward or away from the sun. If you were standing at the equator during an equinox, you would witness the sun passing directly overhead, a celestial reminder of alignment and harmony. These are also the only two times each year when the sun rises precisely in the east and sets directly in the west, offering a beautiful metaphor for balance and centeredness in our own practices and lives.

So what is happening on a spiritual and energetic level?

According to Mayan thought, they (the Mayans, who are widely recognized as timekeepers and fanatics when it comes to numerology) saw this as a moment when the Earth, Sun, and the spiritual realms aligned, marking the beginning of a new agricultural cycle and the renewal of life. The equinox was more than just an astronomical event—it was a sacred portal when the balance between light and dark, past and future, the celestial and the earth were at its peak.

As I mentioned above, one of the most well-known equinox events takes place in the Yucatán at the Temple of Kukulkán in Chichén Itzá, Mexico. This pyramid was precisely aligned with the movement of the sun so that, during the equinox, an incredible illusion occurs:

A shadow resembling a serpent slither down the steps of the pyramid. This phenomenon (watch here) is created as sunlight moves across the temple’s nine terraces, eventually connecting to the carved stone serpent head at the base. This represents the return of Kukulkán (Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent deity), bringing wisdom, renewal, and the blessings of the cosmos. For the Maya, Kukulkán’s descent was a divine sign: a moment of cosmic balance, the renewal of agricultural cycles, and a time to align oneself with higher wisdom.

I invite you to take a moment to close your eyes and reflect on what this means to you personally, in your life, your inner world: mind, body, and soul/spirit. A cosmic download of wisdom, renewal, blessings, and alignment with your higher self. How will this show up for you in your life, in your relationship with yourself, in your relationships with loved ones, and in your relationships with strangers? How will this enhance all aspects of your life? How will this wisdom support you on your destined path on this planet?

Sometimes all we need to do is ask. Ask, and be willing and open to receiving the benevolent blessings from above and within. It’s already inside of us and always has been. We are remembering, and my hope for all of us is that this is a time of greater remembrance, making way for a greater time of harmony.

How to connect:

I would like to share a few examples to inspire each one of you to create sacred rituals around this upcoming equinox. Remember to make it personal and unique to you and what feels best:

Watch the sunrise and sunset with intention, honoring the balance of light and dark.

Set intentions for renewal, growth, and transformation, as the Maya saw this as a time of planting new seeds—both physically and spiritually.

Light a candle or small fire to symbolize the return of the sun’s power.

Spend time in nature, meditating on balance and harmony with the Earth.

This is a time for rituals of gratitude, purification, and intention-setting to prepare for new beginnings. The equinox marks the transition from the dormant, reflective period of winter into the energetic, fertile season of planting and growth, and to that I say Happy New Year.

With love,

Mychal Prieto