Shedding, Spring & the Energetic Year Ahead

What this time invites from us; spiritually, psychologically and energetically.

We’ve just stepped into a new solar year, the one we mark on January 1. Yet in many ancient and embodied traditions, the “real” new year doesn’t begin on a calendar date chosen by commerce, but with the turning of the seasons.

In astrology and earth-based cycles, the spring equinox - the moment when day and night stand in balance - has historically represented the beginning of life’s fresh turn. It signals longer days, increased light, and the emergence of something new after the dark and contraction of winter. 

This year, as we approach the spring equinox in March, there’s a palpable sense among those who work with seasonal and subtle energy that the year truly starts here - not in January, but in that gentle rise of light, warmth and possibility. This is the cyclical time of the earth waking up, and many traditions consider it a threshold for rebirth, clarity, momentum and new beginnings. 

Looking Back: The Year of the Snake

In Chinese astrology, each year is associated with an animal archetype that shapes the flavour of the cycle. 2025 was the Year of the Snake - a symbol often linked to wisdom, intuition, transformation and strategic inner shift. The snake’s energy is reflective, deep, and about processing what is beneath the surface. 

That year, which technically lasted from late January 2025 until mid-February 2026 according to the lunar calendar, was less about outward action and more about shedding what no longer serves you. Just as a snake relinquishes its old skin to grow, this cycle invited us to:

• Notice what feels heavy or old
• Release emotional, mental or habitual patterns that block evolution
• Sit with deeper self-knowledge and intuition

These changes are not always easy. Shedding often feels harder than it looks because it requires letting go of familiar structure before new form has fully arrived. But in both nature and in inner transformation, this inside-out work is necessary. 

The Spring Threshold - A New Breath

Now we’re moving toward the spring equinox. Many cultures recognise this moment as the true “new year” of life cycles - the shift from contraction to outward expression. The equinox carries a sense of:

🌱 Balance (day and night equal)
🌱 Emergence (light slowly growing stronger)
🌱 Opportunity (a energetic reset) 

Within this context, the months ahead, especially around the equinox, offer a fresh energetic field for beginnings. Not because everything magically changes overnight, but because this time aligns with the natural rhythm of growth itself. Whether it’s creative projects, new habits, or emotional clarity, this is a powerful window to act from a state of integration rather than reaction.

Manifesting - What It Really Means

You’ve probably heard “manifesting” talked about as if it’s a formula or technique. And while many traditions frame it differently, at its core manifesting is about intention + alignment + embodied action:

✨ Intention — choosing what you want
✨ Alignment — noticing your inner state and bringing it into coherence
✨ Action — taking steps that genuinely reflect that intention

This isn’t about thinking your way into a life you want. It’s about feeling your way, being present to your inner guidance, and letting that inform the choices you make in the world.

When you set an intention during a time of balance like the spring equinox, you’re participating in a long human tradition of marking beginnings with clarity and purpose. You don’t need to “force” anything; you’re simply placing your attention in harmony with a natural cycle of growth.

A Gentle Invitation

As we continue into this year, anchored between the reflective energy of the Year of the Snake and the seasonal turn toward spring, notice this:

🌿 What have you shed?
🌿 What do you sense emerging?
🌿 Where do you feel available to begin again?

There’s power in participation, not in control. The kind of growth that lasts is not rushed, and it isn’t done from a place of pressure. It arises from witnessing what no longer serves you, feeling the truth of what’s left, and moving forward with steady awareness.

This isn’t just another “new year blog”, it’s an encouragement to relate to time as a cycle, not a countdown. Time isn’t linear; it’s creative, rhythmic, and alive.

So as spring approaches, as the days lengthen, and as new life begins to stir, may you feel invited to do the same.