Spring Equinox 2009: Spring Equinox
As I said two years ago, if you can't explain solstices and equinoxes to a nine year old, do some reading until you can. Check out this video.
Spring Equinox 2010: Giving Thanks at the Equinox
My post Easter from April 2010 is also about a holiday associated with the Spring Equinox.
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Spring is here! Spring is here!
One of my biggest pet peeves is this ridiculous idea that a season begins at the equinox or solstice that bears its name. I much prefer to think of the equinoxes and solstices as the height of the seasons, not the beginnings. Spring is the season of new growth and it begins well before the days and nights reach equilibrium. To me, the beginning of spring is
in early February, halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox but it always seems like I'm the only one who is celebrating so early. Last weekend I was in my garden, turning up soil and planting lettuce seeds when I had the realization that spring is no longer a secret I whisper to myself. At the equinox spring is a triumph to be shouted out loud.Luckily, I'm not the only one doing the shouting, now - the Earth is doing plenty shouting herself. The lilac trees and currant bushes are budding, the daffodils are out and so are the cherry blossoms. Nettles are up, ducks are pairing up and the slugs and snakes are back on the edges of the trails I walk each week. Even the rain is shouting that it's spring; gentle, sweet and almost warm. I even saw a turkey vulture the other day! A friend of mine recently commented that the peepers and pounders are back - peepers being tree frogs and pounders being the flickers who hammer against whatever sounds good. Both making all the noise they can to get the ladies lookin' their way.
Like equinoxes past, I was up for the sunrise on Monday morning. The sunrise was typically gray, but also typically noisy with birdsong. I love this time of year when the birds are twitterpated and making all the noise they
can. I love the light evenings and the warmer afternoons. I love the smell of cherry and apple blossoms, of wet earth and sunshine on green grass.What's spring shouting where you are? I know I have followers all over the continent and readers from even further afield. Leave a comment and let me know what spring looks like where you are. What's blooming? What's singing? What are you noticing? Happy equinox, and happy spring!
3 comments:
Today is the First Day of Flowering Trees. A cherry and a magnolia this morning were the first blossoms of the season.
Crocuses have passed, and daffodils are in full glory.
More than that, the energy - whoa! Everything is gearing up and gaining speed and intensifying. Woe to you if you didn't sufficiently clear out the dreck from last fall, because that's gonna weigh you down.
I know what you mean about the energy speeding up. I felt that a couple weeks ago... a quickening I called it. Now everything is exploding :)
Right, I could feel the "quickening" - that spark of life breaking through the darkness - when I visited you in February. But it sure has gathered speed!!!!!
Luckily, the dark moon seems to have come through this month to help me release some of the activities I don't need.
All LOVE and blessings to you, my sister.
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