Spring Equinox Writing Challenge Day 1: Balance

"Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes."

 – Carl Friedrich Gauss

Welcome to Day 1 of the Spring Equinox Writing Challenge. We’re delighted that you’re here. Today’s theme is ‘Balance’.

Equinox = Balance

Equinox (meaning ‘equal night’) is the point at which the sun crosses the celestial equator, bringing an equally balanced ratio of day to night: twelve hours of light and twelve hours of darkness. This occurs twice a year: the Spring Equinox in the third week of March and the Autumn Equinox in the third week of September.

The Spring Equinox is traditionally associated with renewal, fertility, and new beginnings. In many ancient cultures, this time of balance was seen as a gateway to growth, both in nature and within ourselves. Pagans and Wiccans celebrate Ostara, a festival of light and fertility honouring the goddess Eostre, from whom the word "Easter" is derived. Symbols of this festival – eggs and hares – represent rebirth and the fertility of the land. Similarly, in Greek mythology, the Equinox is linked to Persephone’s return from the underworld, marking the earth’s reawakening from the dormancy of winter.

Each Equinox represents a moment of perfect equilibrium, a pause in the constant flux of the seasons. As writers, we navigate similar balances: between creating and resting, structure and spontaneity, light and shadow in our stories. Consider how you might honour both the productive and fallow periods in your creative cycle, recognizing that both are necessary for sustainable creativity. What seeds will you plant this season, and how will you nurture them?

Writing Exercise

Today we’re playing with the idea of opposition. Devise a scene, told entirely in dialogue, in which two characters (one symbolising light/day; the other, night/dark) are talking at cross purposes. One character always says exactly what they mean; the other communicates entirely in ‘doublespeak’ (using ambiguity and euphemism to avoid saying what they mean). Do they reach agreement in the end? What are they discussing: an issue of great significance, or a more mundane domestic concern?

Write for as long as feels right, whether that’s 3 minutes, 30 minutes, or anything in between or beyond. Even just a few minutes of daily writing can reap great rewards.

Journalling Prompt

The equinox represents a perfect balance between day and night, light and dark. How balanced are the opposing elements in your life, both generally and creatively? What could you do to bring a greater sense of equanimity between the contrasting areas of your life?

Today’s Affirmation

‘My writing has the perfect balance of light and shade.’

Happy writing ~ check in tomorrow for Day 2.

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