Join me for the Vernal Equinox
I live in New Jersey. Last week, we were again buried in 16” of snow, so it does still seem a bit wintry. Nevertheless, the birds are becoming active with song and nesting, the sun shows her face a bit longer each day, there’s the occasional whisper of warmth on the breeze, and the official start of spring is nearly here.
Spring officially begins on Friday, March 20th at 10:46 AM EDT, which is the time associated with the Vernal Equinox. Whether you consult your local meteorologist or your local witch, they are looking at the same date and time for the equinox, which is determined by the position of the sun. The same is true for the autumnal equinox and both solstices (winter and summer), which form the original quarter days in the Wheel of the Year.
Astrologically, the spring equinox is the start of a new year, as the sun moves into Aries (the first of the twelve zodiac signs) on March 20th. Aries is the headstrong “kid” (see what I did there?) that charges forward into the new year—rather like the Fire Horse’s energy, come to think of it. There’s fire in Aries, and fire in the Fire Horse, and that means lots of action—and possibly some hot tempers and other types of heat.
Look for things to hit the ground running this Spring. It’s time to start into motion, but you do not have to take off like a shot. Nor do you have to rush in an attempt to get everything done—Aries has a somewhat deserved reputation for starting things and then not finishing. Pretty sure the Hare in the The Tortoise and the Hare was an Aries. And I say that as an Aries.
So be prepared to take action on the things you’ve been thinking about, planning for, etc. But don’t feel the need to go from zero to 60 in under 10 seconds.
Copyright @sgalagaev at Unsplash.
Speaking of bunnies . . .
I mean, the Hare in The Tortoise and the Hare is kinda/sorta a bunny, yes? Maybe not quite as delightfully cute as the one pictured above, but still . . .
One of the alternate names for the celebration of the vernal equinox is Ostara, which takes its name from a Nordic goddess (also sometimes known there and elsewhere as Eostre). If you are seeing a similarity in sound or appearance to the word Easter, it is on purpose. If you aren’t familiar with the word Ostara (or the goddess it represents), it may be because the name “Ostara” was only assigned to celebration of the spring equinox in 1974.
This particular holiday has long been observed around the globe. It is why the main temple at Chichen Itza is aligned in such a way that the shadows of the stairs create climbing snakes on the spring equinox, and descending snakes at the fall equinox. Perhaps the holiday truly is more of an astrological phenomenon, a brief pause as the world tips from one season to the next.
In Spring, the energy stops being hidden, internal, yin energy; it shifts to open, external, yang energy. What has been hibernating awakes. What has been nurtured patiently underground bursts forth (but slowly).
If you notice a lot of bunnies and eggs being mentioned in witchy places at this time of year, it’s because the equinox has always represented the start of spring, and the fertility of springtime has always been observed and celebrated (and petitioned) at this time. Historically, it was the time of year that chickens and other birds began laying their eggs again (as you might notice the wild birds around you nesting). Rabbits left their winter warrens and started reproducing again.
It’s why you see so many eggs and bunnies represented in spring festivals; that includes Easter. The Church couldn’t get folks to leave off with their folk practices, so they just allowed bunnies and chicks and eggs into the celebration, despite having fuck all to do with Jesus in any way. (Pretty sure they slapped a “it’s about birth, therefore rebirth/resurrection” explanation on it somewhere and called it good. Enjoy your colored eggs and chocolates.)
“It is enough to set things in motion, and to (hopefully) keep them moving each day with another move, however small.”
Time to get moving
The point of the spring equinox is that it is time to get moving. Whether that means planting your garden, getting outside more, or finally taking action on the plans you’ve been dreaming of, spring equinox says it’s go time.
This year, given the astrology of everything, it doesn’t just say it. It is legit yelling IT’S GO TIME!
I’d like to point out that while all the energy of the season and the day are commanding us to move, it does not mean that we have to take off running like Sha’Carri Richardson or Florence Griffith-Joyner. It is enough to set things in motion, and to (hopefully) keep them moving each day with another move, however small.
I invite you to join me on the evening of the equinox, Friday, March 20th at 8 pm EDT for our equinox gathering, “Becoming: The Spring Equinox”. Here is part of the copy I wrote for that event:
Persephone is returning from the Underworld, the maiden goddess has awakened, and spring is returning to the earth. The earth is ready for new seeds to be planted, the trees are ready to burst into bloom and leaf, the birds are nesting, singing their mating songs . . .
We are shaking off the slumbrous nature of winter, and waking up now so that we can rejoin the world, and become more of a part of the world around us. We are moving from the depth, darkness, and dreaminess of Pisces to the active, headstrong nature of Aries, at the start of another astrological year.
If Pisces is the culmination of all the signs, and all the lessons, of a year, then it’s worth noting that Aries is the new beginning, with child-like enthusiasm and determination. Rather like the Fool card in a tarot deck, Aries is ready to start something new. What will you release that has been holding you back? With spring urging you into motion, what will you become?
This event is limited to 18 participants. Tickets are available now for just $33 each.
Let’s get together to support our visions for the coming year, and to encourage one another as we start in motion.
If you are attending, I am asking that you bring a journal and something to write with, a favorite beverage (because you deserve it), a separate piece of paper that you can dispose of (because let’s face it, some folks don’t want to rip things out of their journals).
I am also suggesting/requesting that you bring a hardboiled or hard cooked egg (in its shell) if you can, along with a crayon or wax pencil that you will use to write on it. We will be doing a wee bit of sigil magic as part of our circle, to lock our intentions in.
It will be equal parts fun and sacred, as usual (at least that’s how it feels to me). There is a warmth and nurturing that comes inside circle that is hard to find elsewhere. Past participants have called our circles inspiring, meaningful, nurturing, and full of hope. I hope you will join us for this coming spring equinox one.
Click the image below for more information.
