After a long Toronto winter, everyone is restless for the feeling of renewal that spring’s arrival brings. You may already have your favorite ways to mark the new season, but there’s much more to discover.
Here are six unique ideas to truly celebrate the sense of new beginnings.
1. Forage For A Wild Spring Meal
Spring hiking can be glorious, but you can make it more meaningful and mindful by foraging for wild edibles. Ramps, fiddleheads, chanterelles, morels and many other edible plants and fungi thrive in Ontario’s forests and meadows. Create a hyper-local celebration meal with your findings to celebrate new growth and the return of nature’s bounty.
If you’re new to wild food, be sure to carefully identify plants to keep yourself safe. It’s also important to forage responsibly and with respect. Ontario Nature advises harvesting no more than 5% of any individual species patch to avoid disrupting plant life cycles or wildlife that depend on the plants for food or shelter.
2. Create A Spring Equinox Sound Bath
The equinox is a special moment in time, when the hours of light and darkness are momentarily perfectly balanced, before light wins and days lengthen. This symbolic significance makes it a perfect day for a mental spring clean. Use singing bowls, chimes or a curated playlist of nature sounds to surround yourself with sound’s healing energy.
Research shows that singing bowls can help relieve depression, anxiety and stress, so this is a beautiful way to shake off the winter blues. You can do this indoors or outdoors — Humber Bay Park at sunrise or sunset might be a lovely spot. If you miss the actual equinox, a sound bath will still boost your springtime reset on any other day.
3. Host A Storytelling Night Around A Fire
Because spring is a season of new beginnings, it’s also a great time to cast off anything that’s holding you back. Invite friends and family to an event where you can all share stories of things you want to let go of as you move forward.
A fire pit makes an atmospheric centrepiece for your gathering and adds some warmth to chilly Toronto spring nights. As long as the space is properly winterized and protected, it can be the perfect meeting place.
You can also add some fun, thoughtful symbolism having people write down what they want to be free of and casting those notes into the fire.
4. “Plant” A Guerrilla Seed Bomb Garden
This fun, eco-conscious and slightly rebellious idea has strong symbolism and a real point. Make seed bombs by mixing wildflower seeds with air-dry clay, compost and a little water, so that the mixture holds together. Shape it into small balls the size of a marble and let them dry. Once dry, take the balls into neglected urban spaces to bring beauty and biodiversity to the city.
Make sure you use only native, noninvasive seeds that support local pollinators. There are 250 at-risk native plants in Canada, most of which are found in urbanized areas of Ontario and British Columbia. This activity can become a meaningful act of ecological support that perfectly resonates with the freshness of spring.
5. Take A Cold Plunge At The Bluffs
For the truly adventurous, a ceremonial cold dip at Scarborough Bluffs or another Lake Ontario beach is a bracing way to ring in spring. It’s an intense experience, but the cold-water body shock is an invigorating way to start the season with energy and clarity.
Cold-water immersion triggers the human diving reflex, flooding your body with feelings of euphoria and increasing alertness and intention. For safety reasons, do not attempt this alone. With a group of trusted friends, you can enjoy the triumph of emerging from the cold into spring’s warm embrace.
6. Learn The Art of Kintsugi
If you’re looking for a quieter, home-based way to ring in spring, this beautiful craft may hold the answer. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. It celebrates imperfections and resilience and is a powerful metaphor for this new season and the re-emergence of hope after surviving a long winter.
A study with young millennials found that kintsugi helps build personal resilience and self-forgiveness, and is a relaxing and rewarding hobby. It’s a gentle way to reframe your mindset as you head forward. Look for local workshops or try one of the DIY kits you can buy online.
Ready To Ring In A Fresh Start?
There are many ways to embrace the promise of spring with intention and creativity. As days lengthen, temperatures warm and nature comes to life, try one fresh, new activity to mark the transition — you’ll emerge brighter, lighter and ready to face the coming months with clarity and joy.
About The Author
Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded, where he writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Check out @TModded for regular updates, and subscribe to Modded Minute for more!
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