preparing for the spring equinox

hello.

we’re almost there.

spring arrives like a slow, quiet unraveling. light lingers a little longer in the evenings, the air loses its bite, the trees seem less bare than they did a week ago. then everywhere all at once, things change. the world softens. the wind carries something green and alive. the days stretch out, the mornings are gentler, and winter exists only in a memory.

shaking off the stillness of the months before. stepping outside and letting the sunlight settle on your skin— a lingering balm of warmth to the soul. the urge to clean, to rearrange, to open the windows and let the air in. things that felt dormant—ideas, projects, ambitions—start to feel possible again. a season of transition where everything is tentative, but full of potential.

spring is freshly picked strawberries and tart rhubarb baked into a cobbler with freshly whipped cream. soft cheeses and fresh herbs, meals eaten outside, a book read by the sill of an open window. drinks that taste crisp, bright, and floral. the smell of citrus on your fingers— the rind of a freshly peeled orange, the bite of a radish against cold salted butter on french bread, the sound of water hitting the ground, the smell of wet concrete and rain kissed grass after a dry season. it’s the restlessness, the feeling of needing to move, to create, to start again. a reminder that nothing stays the same for long.

today’s letter is comprised of rituals and preparations for the spring equinox for those of us longing for warmer days.

(a full list of spring requisites (films, books, activities, fragrances, and more) will be sent to you on march 20th)

spring foods

the heart of spring is found in bright, crisp, delicate flavors. the weight of winter is lifted in favor of lighter and fresher meals—tender herbs, young vegetables, first fruits of the season. dishes are simple but vibrant, meant to renew rather than soothe winter’s stillness.

fruits and vegetables in season:

strawberries, cherries, apricots, mango, rhubarb, loquats, mulberries, honeydew melon, lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges, and kiwi, asparagus, artichokes, peas, fava beans, green onions, leeks, radishes, carrots, beets, spinach, arugula, lettuce, watercress, swiss chard, mustard greens, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, fennel, garlic scapes, and spring onions

savory:

lemon risotto with asparagus, spring antipasto platter, fresh peas with mint and ricotta, spring vegetable tart with flaky pastry, artichoke soup, radish and butter toast on sourdough, fennel and orange salad, pasta primavera with young spring vegetables, herby omelets with chives and goat cheese, spring pea and basil pesto over tagliatelle, lamb ragout with spring vegetables, roasted carrots with harissa and yogurt, buttered leeks with soft-boiled eggs, asparagus and gruyère tart, spring tofu soup, white bean and tarragon soup, herbed goat cheese spread with fresh bread, young greens with poached eggs and mustard vinaigrette, artichoke hearts with lemon butter, zucchini egg tart with fresh herbs, ginger dill salmon

sweet:

strawberry shortcake with fresh cream, rhubarb galette with flaky crust, lemon poppy seed loaf, honey-drizzled ricotta with apricots, chamomile tea cake, lavender and honey madeleines, rhubarb cobbler, almond and pear tart, lemon olive oil cake, panna cotta with figs and berries, lemon curd tartlets, old fashioned strawberry cake, carrot cake, strawberry jam bars with cardamom, honey-roasted figs with mascarpone, elderflower and citrus cake, vanilla bean custard with caramelized apricots, rhubarb crisp, cozonac (walnut and raisin easter bread), strawberries in milk sprinkled with sugar

drink:

elderflower spritz, strawberry basil lemonade, green tea with fresh mint, lavender honey latte, crisp white wine or rosé, hibiscus iced tea with citrus, lemon and chamomile tea, cucumber and lime sparkling water, apricot and thyme shrub, blood orange mimosas, iced jasmine tea with honey, fennel and citrus tonic, matcha lemonade, violet syrup soda, fresh grapefruit juice

spring rituals and practices

spring cleaning as a ritual
cleaning in spring isn’t just about tidying but about making space—both physically in the home and mentally. open the windows, let fresh air in, rearrange your space, let go of what feels heavy.

planting and growing
spring is the season of seeds and soil—whether it’s an actual garden, a kitchen herb box, or symbolic planting of new intentions. grow something, even if it’s small. the act of tending to life is a ritual in itself. plant basil or rosemary in a pot on your windowsill. if you don’t have space to plant, visit a botanical garden, spend time in a greenhouse, or simply walk where things are growing. if you don’t have the ability to garden in your space, i highly recommend visiting a u-pick farm near you.

seasonal resetting and wardrobe shifts
just as the seasons shed its winter coat, spring calls for a resetting of the self. swap out heavy fabrics for lighter ones, fold away wool and bring out linen. switch perfumes, change your daily drink from spiced chai to matcha, trade deep, heavy colors for softer tones.

slow mornings and longer walks
as the days stretch out, so should your time outdoors. walk without urgency, let the sunlight linger on your skin, wake up with the sun. drink your coffee or tea outside, even if it’s just by an open window. stretch before starting your day. move slowly and deliberately, letting your body acclimate to the lightness of the season.

celebrating the equinox
light a candle at sunset, acknowledging both the end of shorter days and the beginning of longer ones. take a moment to reflect on where you need balance in your own life. what feels heavy? what feels light? where can you soften? what needs tending to? write it down in your journal.

cooking with the season
visit the farmer’s market and let what’s fresh dictate your meals. cooking should feel light, effortless, celebratory—herbs tossed into warm dishes, citrus squeezed over greens, edible flowers scattered across your plate. try roasting asparagus with olive oil and lemon, making a simple pea and mint soup, or baking a honey-drizzled ricotta tart with apricots. let the food of the season shape your meals—green, fresh, and full of life.

gathering with intention
spring is a time of movement, of rejoining the world after winter’s solitude. host a simple gathering—a picnic in a park, a small meal with fresh bread and cheese, a tea ceremony in the afternoon light.

bringing the outside in
bring flowers into your home—wild ones, fresh market bunches, even branches of budding leaves in a simple glass of water. let nature take up space. open the windows, let the scent of spring drift in. dry petals between the pages of a book. collect small stones or leaves on your walks and place them on your desk, a reminder of the shifting world outside.

ritual bathing and seasonal scents
infuse bathwater with dried chamomile, lavender, or rose. let the scent linger on your skin, a quiet way of absorbing spring. switch out deep, wintry fragrances for lighter, floral, or citrus-based scents. let your surroundings smell of orange blossom, fresh earth, or green herbs.

writing and setting intentions
write down what you want to cultivate this season, whether in yourself or in your life. write a letter to yourself to be opened in the summer. list three things you want to bring into your days. list three things you want to let go of.

making space for spontaneity
unlike winter, which calls for careful preparation, spring is a season of movement. allow room for unplanned walks, sudden changes, and shifts in rhythm. allow yourself to say yes more often, to move with the lightness of the season.

books to read during the spring equinox

orlando – virginia woolf fluid, transformative, ethereal—time and identity bloom like spring itself.

the age of innocence – edith wharton longing, societal change, the fragility of choices—spring’s delicate unraveling.

bonjour tristesse – françoise sagan the sharpness of youth, summer’s approach, the weight of consequence—light yet cutting.

spring snow – yukio mishima fleeting youth, cherry blossoms, love dissolving with the seasons—beautiful and melancholic.

alice’s adventures in wonderland – lewis carroll whimsical, surreal, and bursting with imagination—spring’s dreamlike curiosity in book form.

maurice – e.m. forster self-discovery, love, and quiet rebellion—spring as a season of awakening and possibility.

middlemarch – george eliot change, growth, and the slow bloom of understanding—spring’s promise of transformation woven into an intricate social tapestry.

films to watch during the spring equinox

the umbrellas of cherbourg (1964) pastel rain-soaked romance—spring showers and young love.

ratatouille (2007) the joy of cooking, the sensory delights of fresh ingredients—spring energy in animated form.

call me by your name (2017) desire, summer approaching, the world coming alive—captures a season of transformation.

pride & prejudice (2005) lush countryside, stolen glances, growth and self-discovery—perfect for the season.

a room with a view (1985) italian springtime, romance, and freedom—light but deeply felt.

my neighbor totoro (1988) lush greenery, childhood wonder, and the magic of nature—spring’s dreamlike warmth captured in animation.

the secret garden (1993) growth, renewal, hidden beauty—spring’s essence in film form.

marie antoinette (2006) decadent, pastel-colored, filled with movement—spring in aesthetic overload.

daisies (1966) vibrant, rebellious, and surreal—spring’s untamed, mischievous spirit in cinematic form.

emma (2020) bright, playful, full of wry humor and pastoral beauty—spring in regency-era england.

winnie the pooh (1977) gentle, nostalgic, and filled with the soft golden light of spring afternoons.

okay, that’s all for today. more spring content to come soon…

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i love you.

bye.

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