“As well expect Nature to answer to your human values as to come into your house and sit in a chair.”
—Henry Beston, The Outermost House
What are your plans for observing the Vernal Equinox? This Saturday heralds the mystery of our world turning from bitter cold to warmth and renewal. It was once a time of celebration for many cultures.
In days gone by
The Maya of Chichen Itza would gather to watch the sun create a shadow image of the serpent moving along the stairs of the Pyramid of Kukulkan. Druids gathered at Stonehenge to greet the morning sun among the enormous upright stones. Unfortunately, no record exists to explain the presence of these stones, what they meant, or how they were used ceremonially. (1)
Let’s face it, here in the States, the Vernal Equinox isn’t a blip on our radar. Despite it’s regular annual occurrence on either March 19 or 20 (depending on the whether it’s a Leap Year) most would be hard pressed to name the date. And the date is important. It’s used to determine when Easter occurs as well as when Daylight Savings Time ends. But without a corporate sponsor, mascot, product line and/or media campaign, the Vernal Equinox comes and goes with no fanfare and not much notice from any of us.
Consider the world’s most popular ground hog, Punxsutawney Phil. Every year on February 2nd — Ground Hog’s Day — there’s a full day of celebration in Gobbler’s Knob, Philadelphia. Phil gets lots of recognition, covered by local and national news stations. He’s so responsive to his fan base, he has a live cam on the internet so anyone can view him anytime. All this hoopla over the anticipation of Spring, yet when it actually comes — hardly a mention.
Farmers keep a watchful eye for the Vernal Equinox, though they don’t necessarily celebrate it as an important milestone in our relationship with nature. Meteorologists often give a mention during the weather forecast. They remind us that on the equinox, the length of day and night are almost equal. Some may file that fact away for reference in a game of Jeopardy. But daily relevance? Not so much.
Why does it matter?
It was not that long ago that the Vernal Equinox was an important milestone for us. When our daily lives were more affected by the elements, a change in the seasons meant something. Before air conditioning, cooling relief from summer heat was achieved by fanning ourselves or taking a dip in the creek. Cold winds meant gathering firewood. Now, with smart technology, we don’t even have to adjust the thermostat ourselves. It matters because our negligent disregard for environmental phenomena is one indication of our alienation from the natural world. And it is this alienation that puts us at risk of not realizing the ultimate cost of our impact upon the planet. Luckily, naturalists are at work to remind us.
What’s been lost?
Almost one hundred years ago, Henry Beston wrote of our growing disconnection from nature. Born in Massachusetts in1888, Beston deemed himself a writer/naturalist. He bought a tract of land on what was then called Eastham Beach on Cape Cod. In 1926 he went there to vacation for a couple of weeks in a little cottage he’d had built. Those two weeks turned into a full year. He could not bring himself to leave. Surrendering himself to the natural world, his journal of that year became the book, The Outermost House, published in 1928. Beston's credo is still very much true today:
The world today is sick to its thin blood for lack of elemental things, for fire before the hands, for water welling up from the earth, for air, for the dear earth itself underfoot... The longer I stayed, the more eager was I to know this coast and to share its mysterious and elemental life.
The rhythms of nature infuse his writing and vicariously imbue the reader with elemental experiences — the unyielding crash of the waves on the shore, sand strewn with the myriad patterns left by the feet of birds, and the relentless wind rearranging the dunes. I’ve read his words many times, and continue to revisit regularly. Each time I put the book down, I feel as though I’ve just been to the Cape.
Why do we need to connect to nature?
One theory proposes that “since our ancestors evolved in wild settings and relied on the environment for survival, we have an innate drive to connect with nature.” In April 2020, the American Psychological Association published an article by Kristen Weir titled Nurtured by nature. “Balm” is the word Weir chooses to describe both the physical and psychological effect of time outdoors.
What we’ll gain
The diversity of beneficial effects are compelling. Improved self control under stress seems a particularly timely advantage. Time in nature is also shown to improve focus and the ability to concentrate. It can boost your mood, increase your ability to empathize, and enable you to feel more cooperative. It can even help us be nicer to one another. A kinder, gentler world sounds good right about now. (3)
Can I get a signal out there?
With the Vernal Equinox beckoning, I propose that welcoming spring necessitates unplugging from electronics and venturing outside. Ken Sanders, a bookseller in Utah coined the term “The Three-Day Effect” (4) to describe his prescription for the stress of modern life.
Three days to reboot
Sanders guides rafting trips for friends, colleagues and commercial groups. It was on these trips that he noticed a consistent change in his patrons. On the third day of exposure to nature, people undergo a noticeable shift in their demeanor. He suggests it’s a kind of neural reboot. The results include a boost in mental alertness, creativity, and increased relaxation, as well as a heightened ability to recognize patterns, sounds and smells. All it takes is a long weekend in the great outdoors to reap these rewards.
Renewal
The Vernal Equinox shines brightest as a recurring indicator of the endurance of human existence. More than ever, we need this reassurance at the core of our being. With everything we’ve been through this past year, with everything we’ve lost, stability acts to comfort us. Validation that we are part of the natural world empowers us to forge ahead in the face of adversity. It is a tacit reminder of all we have survived and triumphed over in the past. It steels us to keep going. It gives us hope for what’s next. As Paul Duginski, a journalist for the Los Angeles Times wrote in anticipation of the vernal equinox:
In times of upheaval such as these, it may be comforting to know that the cycle of seasons can be counted on to continue like clockwork.
So what are your plans for observing the Vernal Equinox? Why not venture out? Experience the mystery and promise of the beautiful new blooms of Spring!
Video courtesy of ritch on videvo.net
This video uses this sound from freesound: Chris Dagorne (https://freesound.org/people/chris_dagorne/sounds/563153/) licensed under the CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
History.com editors. https://www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/vernal-spring-equinox
The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod, Henry Beston, 1988, St. Martin’s Press, New York, NY.
Nurtured by Nature, Kirsten Weir, American Psychological Association, April 1, 2020, Vol. 51, No. 3, print version: page 50.
The Nature Fix: The Three-Day Effect, Florence Williams, rei.com
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