Pneumatised!

MM,

Spring is just around the corner! As the snow melts and the sun gets hotter and brighter as each day passes during this time of year, we start to breathe a sigh of relief having made it through the cold season. The spring equinox occurs when day and night are of equal length again (the autumn equinox being the other time) and each day thereafter the days grow longer. Spring is the time when the earth is fertile again and the plants begin to grow, therefore, spring is about beginnings and starting anew.

Spring equinox is also known as Ostara or Lady Day. Ostara is a Norse goddess of fertility and fecundity. One of her symbols is the hare and for obvious reasons another one of her symbols is the egg (fertility). Variant forms of her name are Eostra and Eostre from which is derived the term Easter. (Easter Sunday, by the way, is simply the first Sunday AFTER the first full moon AFTER spring equinox which would make it April 16 this year. Check it! It works every year.) Spring equinox is also termed Lady Day as this is the time of the maiden. The maiden being young and fertile herself is closely associated with the changes in the Earth at this time.

Spring equinox is still celebrated by many people, pagans and Wiccans being first to mind. From a Wiccan view, Ostara is one of the greater Sabbats and is a time for celebration. Rituals are held as close to the day as possible in order to show reverence and to celebrate the new season. This year Ostara is Monday, March 20. (Astrologically, the sun enters Aries at 1:25 p.m. EST.)

There are a variety of ways to celebrate the spring equinox. One particularly nice way is to wake up early and watch the sunrise. Light a candle and state what you wish to begin in this new season. It is also a good time to think of new ideas, plant new seeds in the ground or your mind, and make new plans for the upcoming year. As the spring equinox is also called Lady Day, pay your respects to the maiden goddess at this time. Remember that what you do for the spring equinox is auspicious for the rest of the year.

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

Monday, February 27, 2006

I went to the do jang and helped teach poomse class. Then, I took the next taekwondo class, which was one hour or more traditional training. After, I took the half hour crazy kicking class, which loads of speed kicking

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

I went running. Nathan decided to join me. We ran 1 mile up Church to Yonge and Bloor. My time was 9 minutes 22 seconds. Then, we headed to the gym. Nathan signed up for a gym membership. Yay! We can now go workout together. Below are the exercises I did.

Leg press
Hamstring flexor
Hip abductors
Pull-ups (again military and parallel)
Dips
Chest press
Bar pulls (works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Pectoral press
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift
Bicep curl
Tricep extensor
Leg lifts
Back extensor
Abdominal press
Seated row

Using free weights:
Bicep curls
Two shoulder exercises
Wrist strengthening

Cardio:
Elliptical

I did some pushups. We did some stretching and then headed home.

Thursday, March 2, 2006

I went to the do jang and took gumdo and taekwondo class.

Saturday, March 4, 2006

Nathan and I ran 1 mile to Yonge/Bloor via Church street. My time for the run was 8 minutes 53 seconds. Then, we went to the gym. Below are the exercises I did.

Leg press
Hamstring flexor
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Pull-ups (again military and parallel)
Dips
Chest press
Bar pulls (works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Pectoral press
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift
Tricep extensor
Leg lifts
Back extensor
Seated row

Free weights:
Bicep curl
Two shoulder exercises
Wrist strengthening

Situps and side situps

Cardio:
Eliptical 0.97 mile in 10 minutes
Stair climber 20 floors in 10 minutes

Then, we did some stretching and headed home.

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local webmistress
Brigid’s Flame

“Don’t let the things you can’t do stop you from doing the things you CAN do”