Spring Equinox 2025: March 20, 2025

I like things that are half light and half dark: a black and tan comes to mind; half guinness and half Bass ale, a crescent moon which is not exactly half anything but close, the yin-yang symbol, the philosopher’s conundrum “is the glass half full or half empty?" my memory of Ron wearing one sock on, one sock off, you get the idea. And so here we are welcoming in days that are viewed as half light, half dark the heralds of Spring; for today, March 20, is the Vernal Equinox or the Spring Equinox which is defined by days of equal portions of light and dark.

The Spring Equinox is especially wonderful as by the time it comes we’re all tired of the overbearing darkness the end of the year brings with its meager hours of daylight that are difficult to see given the gloomy rainclouds hovering everywhere, day after day. And it's been a real chore to not fall prey to the doom and gloom of current news events.

But Spring is here to save us! It lifts our spirits to see the sunshine coming into our lives more and more and to feel the warmth of going outside. And, right now, still with vivid memories of the Winter and its storms we ache for Summer, that season where daylight will predominate. But that is still ahead of us. Thank goodness no human, not even the wealthiest man on Earth, cannot fire the Spring Equinox! And, that is one BIG reason I look to Nature as my guiding light.

In Southern California people often say there are no seasons here. I think it began as a bragging point that, like Hawaii, the temperatures are mostly moderate and pleasant and blue skies are a daily sight. In recent years, however, the sentence is uttered when one is pining for a colorful Fall with crispness in the air and leaves falling everywhere. It does happen here in Claremont but I don’t want to advertise that fact as we are already overpopulated. But it’s true. In fact, Southern California experiences seasons when the seasons are viewed astronomically, viewed as receiving - like everyone else in our Western Hemisphere - as receiving the same amount of light.

And from an artist’s point of view, the light changes everything. Although artists are most often looking for drama and so photographers know photos are better when taken in early morning or dusk as the interplay of light and dark make the world look more dramatic. And here we are back at considering the interplay of some light, some dark.

I suppose here is where I should make a case for pursuing balance in life as it is from a balanced place that we feel capable and inspired to aim high. When the climate is gloomy, we search for our inner sun through training, or other artistic endeavors to bring down those endorphins, to mix bright paints and inks, or to develop a tasty meal; all will make the place seem friendlier. And so this has become a part of learning how to be an adult in this world, of coping with bad news, with idiotic people that affect the world we live in, with our own tendancies to spiral down: balance is key. And finding balance is not hard, but it takes some initiative, some commitment. We can be lazy after the world corrects itself. But for now learn a way of balancing, do something new for yourself, teach a young one these tricks to coping in a world akilter. We're in it together. The more we can bouy one another up, the stronger we'll be. And so in this season of mildness, of growth and blossoms, find your way of balancing and teach it to your children. Once we get into the full throws of Summer, we will surely need it.

With all my recent shifts, I bring my training in balance to keep my activities inspired. And the world seems to be opening up in April and May with the Cherry Blossom Festival in Monterey Park where I'll be demonstrating Zen Brush in early April, USC Festival of Books where I've been asked by Kinokuniya Books to come and sign books at their pop up, at PVAA's many exhibitions over which I now act as Vice President as well as an exhibiting artist, the May Gallery SOHO installation for which I've done some new artwork, and we also have been invited back to the Millard Sheets Art Center to participate in exhibition there during the LA County Fair for the month of May!! Such a crunch of activity, knowing how to balance is paramount. And keeping balance is to maintain a level head so that all these experiences which could overwhelm a person are instead enjoyable as events with wonderful artwork as well as events that build community. I am even at the beginning of an artist collaboration: Zen brushwork on another artist's pottery! We'll see how that goes. If you are interested in any of these events, check out "events" on my web page susanperry.info!

Enjoy your Spring Equinox! Plant trees! Create a Victory Garden! Stay safe by finding Balance!