Hi First name / friend,

 

Welcome to our March Equinox Nature Update.

 

🍂 Already joined us before? Scroll down to see our seasonal observations and details of our recent and upcoming sessions, including seasonal dates and special themed walks.

 

🌿 Curious to learn more about Forest Bathing? Discover the science, the benefits, and how our sessions work here: Explore Forest Bathing with us

 

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As March unfolds, the woodland begins to whisper of renewal. The days stretch gently into longer light, and the forest floor stirs with quiet determination. Tender green shoots push through softened earth, hedgerows thicken with swelling buds, and the first blossoms of camellia, hellebore, daffodil, narcissus, hyacinth and daphne offer both colour and delicate fragrance to those who pause to notice. Even where winter storms have reshaped the landscape, nature wastes no time in restoring balance — saplings rise, moss thickens, and life responds with resilient grace.

This is a threshold month. As we approach the Spring Equinox — known in the Pagan Wheel as Ostara — we enter a sacred moment of balance, where light and dark stand equal, before the days lengthen further and the land no longer sleeps, but gathers momentum.

Historically, March once marked the beginning of the year in the Roman calendar, named for Mars — not only the god of war, but also of agriculture and the protection of the land. To the Anglo-Saxons it was Hrēðmōnaþ, associated with the goddess Hreða and themes of fertility and awakening life force.

Across cultures, this has long been a month of preparation and promise. A time to clear, to plant, to envision. In the woodland especially, we can witness nature’s quiet confidence — nothing rushed, nothing forced, simply the steady emergence of what is ready to grow.

May this month invite you outdoors more often. Notice the birdsong growing fuller at dawn. Feel the subtle warmth returning to the air. Observe what is budding within you as well as around you.

March is not merely the arrival of spring — it is the remembering of vitality.

Saturday 21st March marks the International Day of Forests, established by the United Nations to honour the vital role forests play in sustaining life on Earth.

Forests regulate climate, protect biodiversity and quietly support human wellbeing — yet with millions of hectares lost globally each year, conscious reconnection feels more important than ever.

Here in Surrey, we are fortunate to gather within beautiful ancient woodland for our monthly Forest Bathing sessions. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku, these gentle, guided immersions invite us to slow down, awaken the senses and restore nervous system balance. Research continues to affirm potential benefits including reduced stress and anxiety, improved immunity and enhanced clarity.

Our March session takes place at the tranquil Harry Edwards Foundation, which at this time of year is often carpeted with daffodils, their soft golden glow accompanied by a delicate, uplifting fragrance. It is a quietly magical moment in the woodland calendar.

As spring unfolds and light strengthens, we warmly invite you to step beneath the canopy and allow nature to restore your equilibrium — gently and naturally. 🌼

Take a conscious pause this spring and walk with us through woodland gently carpeted in fragrant daffodils.
Reserve your place here.🌳

✨ Spring Equinox – The Sacred Balance of Light and Dark ⚖️🌸

By March, the deep inward pull of winter has softened. The days have been lengthening steadily since the Winter Solstice, yet it is at the Spring Equinox that we experience true equilibrium — day and night held in perfect balance.

In the Pagan Wheel of the Year, this festival is known as Ostara, a celebration of fertility, renewal and awakening life force. The name is linked to the Germanic goddess Ēostre, associated with dawn, new life and the quickening of the earth. Symbols of eggs, hares and blossoming flowers reflect this surge of creative potential.

🌷 From Stirring to Emergence 🌞🌱

Where Imbolc whispered of possibility beneath the soil, the Equinox brings visible expression. Buds swell. Birds grow more vocal. Sap rises. What was once hidden begins to reveal itself.

This is not yet the full exuberance of late spring — rather, it is poised vitality. A moment of alignment. A reminder that growth flourishes when there is balance: action tempered by reflection, outward movement supported by inner clarity.

🌿 Living the Equinox Within 🕊️

Ostara invites us to consider our own equilibrium.
Where might life feel out of balance?
What intentions, seeded earlier in the year, are now ready for gentle cultivation?

The Equinox teaches that harmony is dynamic, not static. Light does not overpower darkness — it gradually outpaces it. In the same way, clarity and confidence expand when tended with patience.

March, then, is a month of conscious emergence.
Not rushed.
Not forced.
Simply aligned with the steady, unstoppable rise of the light.

In 2026, our Ogham Tree cycle follows the first New Moon after the Winter Solstice, allowing the trees to align with lunar rhythm rather than fixed calendar dates — bringing the sequence into closer harmony with the living pulse of land and sky.

We remain in the Ash Moon until 19th March — a phase of expansion, connection and widening perspective. Ash, long associated with the World Tree, bridges earth and sky and supports vision, learning and spiritual growth.

🌕 Tuesday 3rd March at 11:37 – Ash Worm Full Moon & Total Lunar Eclipse

This powerful eclipse Full Moon amplifies Ash energy. Lunar eclipses illuminate what is ready to complete, bringing emotional clearing and heightened awareness. Under this sky, insight deepens and patterns ready for release become visible.

🌑 Thursday 19th March at 01:23 – Alder Equinox New Moon

At the Spring Equinox threshold, the energy shifts into the Alder Moon. Here, light and dark stand in balance before the light begins to outpace the night.

Alder symbolises courage, steadiness and purposeful forward movement. Often growing beside rivers, it stabilises shifting ground — reminding us to remain centred amidst change. Following the revelations of the eclipse, this New Moon invites grounded renewal: aligning action with clarity and stepping forward with quiet confidence.

🌿 Immerse Yourself in Woodland Tranquillity 🌿

 

Hunter Delves, Community Engagement and Fundraising Manager at Harry Edwards, kindly created this lovely 36 second video to demonstrate the concepts of Forest Bathing at Harry Edwards, see the video on YouTube here.

 

Join us for a transformative Forest Bathing session in the stunning private semi-ancient woodland at Harry Edwards Foundation, nestled deep in the natural beauty of the Surrey Hills. This guided nature experience is based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, designed to help you slow down, engage your senses, and reconnect with the natural world in all its seasonal beauty.

 

Please note that our Saturday dates now start at 11.30.  This follows a request to faciliate those who wish to do Qigong with Sue Llewellyn at the same venue 10-11, and to meet with us by 11.20am. To book Qigong and browse other onsite events go the Harry Edwards Website.

 

Led by experienced guides Joanna Bristow-Watkins and Katie Robinson, we will take you on a mindful, sensory journey through the woodland. Feel the changes in the air, observe the seasonal colours, inhale the fresh, earthy scents, and listen to the gentle sounds of nature. As the session unfolds, you’ll deepen your connection through:

🌲 Guided Sensory Exploration – Engaging with nature through sight, touch, sound, and smell.
🌳 A ‘Treelaxation’ Nature Meditation – A deeply restorative practice beneath the trees.
🍃 Woodland Tea Ceremony – A soothing moment to close the experience.

 

📅 Upcoming Public Sessions:
📍 Harry Edwards Foundation, Surrey Hills
⏳ Duration: 3 hours (2.5 hours Dec–Feb)
💷 Cost: £39.77

🗓 Forthcoming Dates:

📢 IMPORTANT: Booking Within 48 Hours?
Please text 07930 414525 before booking to confirm availability. Book any of the above public sessions at the Harmony Shop

Wokingham Forest Bathing Session

🌿 Monthly events at California Country Park, Wokingham, RG40 4HU 

 

🌲In collaboration with The Forest Bathing Institute and Wokingham Countryside, we now have a forest bathing event booked most months for 2.5 hours. This route takes a maximum of 12 people, and is a feast for our eyes and noses, as nature's scents increase in the damp weather. Do come and join us if this is not too far from you.

🌲This location holds real variety, and while we start and end in woodland, we wander by a lake, heathland, open fields and a boardwalk area reminiscent of a mangrove swamp, each with its own characteristics and sensory charm. 
🌲You will need to book this event directly through Wokingham Countryside bookings, from a range of other events: Book here

 

📅 Upcoming Public Sessions | 10.30am –1pm | £36: 

There is something quietly magical about a robin appearing nearby — especially when you are standing in stillness beneath the trees.

In British folklore, robins are often seen as messengers. Many believe their presence symbolises a loved one drawing close, a gentle reminder that connection continues beyond the visible world. Whether taken literally or poetically, the robin invites reflection and remembrance.

The robin’s red breast carries powerful symbolism — warmth, vitality and heart-centred courage. Robins sing through winter and herald the returning light, making them natural emblems of hope, resilience and renewal.

Spotting one may signal:

A new beginning

Emotional healing

Encouragement to move forward

A reminder to stay open-hearted

Robins are known for their boldness, often hopping remarkably close. In these moments, they invite us into presence — a quiet exchange between human and wild.

If a robin crosses your path, pause before searching for meaning. Notice how you feel. The message may be personal, subtle and perfectly timed.

Sometimes the forest speaks softly — and sometimes it arrives on bright wings.

 Our Other venues

We also arrange private bookings and/or corporate sessions at a selection of locations in the Surrey Hills (Shere, Bramley, Guildford, Woking & Tadworth) and London (SW20, SW14, NW3).  Contact us for details on katieandjo@harmonyinnature.uk

Through Harmony Healing, Joanna offers a variety of online esoteric and energy healing courses, including online and in-person self-empowerment courses, intuitive readings and 1-2-1 energy healing sessions. She has an online Chakra Alignment course starting 11th March, see here for details.

 

Joanna also hosts monthly Full Moon Meditations online from 7.30-9.30pm (UK time) and produces a monthly Celestial Forecast, which includes insights on Moon Phases, Asteroid Showers, and Ancient & Modern Festivals, subscribe here.

 

Katie offers intuitive health mentoring and 1:1 places for Nurtured by Nature One-day Reset Retreats (Facebook Link, or message Katie without obligation for details). These retreats are designed for those needing a complete mind and body reset, away from their usual work and routines. Tailored to your needs, they include a selection from nutrition, breathing awareness, mindful movement, sounding or chanting, essential oils, ‘de-chemicalising’ your lifestyle, natural first aid, Reiki, and sensory nature connection through Forest Bathing. You will take away tips to transmute stress into calm.

 

This is a full day retreat, but half days or for 2-3 people are available on request. To discuss your ideal retreat, message Katie directly on 07596 830910.

 

 

mob. 07930 414525 Jo
mob. 07596 830910 Katie