Spring Equinox: A Celebration of New Beginnings

A free, all-ages Spring Equinox gathering with a nature walk, seasonal storytelling, an inspirational mental health talk for teens and adults with Queen Prophecy, kids’ arts and crafts, and a shared pesto pasta meal made from forest-harvested mustard greens. Come restore yourself, the land, and community together.

DETAILS...

We’ll begin with a gentle nature walk woven with stories and mythologies connected to the Earth’s seasons. As we move through the forest, we’ll reflect on cycles of rest, renewal, and growth, and how caring for the land is deeply connected to caring for ourselves and our communities.

After the walk, we’ll gather for an inspirational talk for teens and adults with hip-hop artist Queen Prophecy, exploring mental health and self-care through the lens of the Earth’s food medicines and ancestral wisdom. At the same time, kids will be invited into seasonal arts and crafts designed just for them.

If nature provides, we’ll also do a light invasive species pull of mustard greens. While invasive to the forest, mustard greens are highly nutritious and delicious for humans. Together, we’ll turn what we harvest into a shared pesto pasta meal, with gluten-free options available. It’s a hands-on way to restore the land while nourishing our bodies.

Participants will receive a small food gift to take home, and we’ll have trail snacks, hot drinks, and hand and foot warmers available for anyone who needs them.

This event is completely free thanks to Healing Illinois and is led by Light of Loving Kindness and Friends of the Forest Preserves. It’s part of an ongoing series responding to the call for racial healing by restoring ourselves, restoring the land, and restoring community together.

Come as you are. Bring your people. Whether you’re here to learn, create, eat, reflect, or simply be in nature, you are welcome.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Light of Loving Kindness