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
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