First things first: What is the March Equinox?
The March Equinox is one of two days per year when the hours of night equal the hours of day (hence the term “equinox,” which literally means “equal night”). Since ancient times, humans all over the globe have marked the equinoxes as special, powerful, and even holy occasions. Some cultures have built monuments; some have made pilgrimages; others have gathered to feast, celebrate, and perform rituals to align with the energies of the new season.
Why? Because the March Equinox represents a turning point.
What makes this day so potent
The founders of Hellenistic astrology (read: the type of astrology we work with at CHANI) were located across ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. Since these regions are in the Northern Hemisphere, the March Equinox marked a rebirth of light and warmth after a long, dark winter.
In fact, this day was so important that the ancients used it to begin the tropical zodiac. They’d noticed that the so-called “fixed stars” that make up the constellations move about one degree every 72 years, so they decided to tether the zodiac to something that doesn’t change: the March Equinox. Because the Sun was in the constellation of Aries roughly 2,000 years ago when this happened, the March Equinox coincides with the beginning of Aries season as we know it. That’s why it’s considered the astrological new year, when the zodiac starts over, and the wheel of the year turns once more.
But that “beginning” isn’t just symbolic. In the Northern Hemisphere, the March Equinox coincides with the arrival of new plants, wildlife, and farm animals. It’s also the period when agrarian societies sow crops to feed them over the coming year. In the Southern Hemisphere, the March Equinox marks the start of fall, when the air cools and daylight dwindles. Both above and below the equator, this day ushers in a new season.
The Equinox is also the first quarter day of the calendar year, which builds upon the solar cycle that began on the December Solstice (the darkest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere). By this point, we’ve had three months to test the intentions we set for the new year, and we’re given a chance to acknowledge what works and adjust what doesn’t.
How to work with the March Equinox
This year, the March Equinox occurs on March 20th, 2026 — and we want you to be able to make the most of this moment. Here are a few rituals to get you started.
- Recommit to your resolutions. Return to the intentions you set around the December Solstice or the beginning of the year and take stock of how things are going. Reflect on what progress you’ve made. Pinpoint which plans (or expectations) need adjusting. And make a new commitment for the season.
- Think of a project or relationship you’d like to begin or bless with a fresh start. Then plant some seeds in a small container (yes, real ones). Think of these seedlings as a physical manifestation of what you’re bringing into your life. And tend to them.
- Do a ritual sweeping of your home as an act of magic. Move around the space in a counterclockwise fashion to brush away any stagnant energy or staleness from the previous season. Direct your broom strokes toward (and out) the door as you recite the following: “Out with the old, in with new cheer. Only good may enter here.”
- Go foraging. Gather the leaves, flowers, fruits, or other plants that are native to the area you live in — bonus points if they represent the new season. Then place them on your altar or somewhere in your home to honor all that you’re calling into your life. (For additional altar suggestions for the March Equinox, click here.)
- Find ways to restore equilibrium in your life. Declutter your closets and junk drawers. Rebalance your schedule. Meditate (we have a guided meditation on Balance if you need a place to start). Anything that creates harmony is supported by the natural world — and the cosmos — now.
- Claim your fresh start. If there’s an area of your life where you’d like to press the refresh button, repeat this affirmation to yourself, as often as you need: “I can always begin again.”
To learn what the March Equinox is kick-starting in the collective and in your personal life, tune in to the Astrology of the Week Ahead podcast and Your Reading for the week of March 16th in the “This Week” section of the CHANI app.
