Springing into Spring … No Kidding!

March 20, 2016 JanF Featured Posts, Just Grazin' 6

Today at 04:30 UTC, the Spring Equinox occurred.

An equinox occurs twice a year (around 20 March and 22 September), when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth’s equator. The name “equinox” is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, night and day are about equal length.

The amount of daylight and darkness became equal over the past few days (on March 17, here) and soon daylight will extend ever deeper into the evening and the early morning hours.

Spring is about hope and new beginnings and the sheer joy of being outdoors in the light and the warmth. Here is some (light!) kidding around as we celebrate this year’s Spring Equinox.
(Place your cursor on the photos to read the hovers)

“Happy Spri-ing to YOU!!!“

Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’  ~Robin Williams

The vernal equinox or Ostara is one of the eight pagan festivals or “sabbats” from the Wheel of the Year. It is a “quarter day” along with the solstices and the autumnal equinox.  

This festival celebrates the Goddess returning to her Maiden aspect.

The Maiden represents “enchantment, inception, expansion, the promise of new beginnings, birth, youth and youthful enthusiasm.” She is depicted by the waxing moon in this drawing of the Triple Goddess:

Lisa Thiel – Ostara (Spring Song) – from Wheel of the Year

Praise to the Spring, Praise to all living things
Praise to the Maiden and the joy that she brings
Praise to the Earth let all her creatures now sing
Hope is renewed with the coming of the Spring

We turn from the darkness and the wise Crone within
We turn to the Maiden and creation begins
It’s a time for things growing and time now for flowing
A time now for sowing the seeds of your dreams.

(Chorus)
The heart fires are stirring with the new life returning
Its time now for learning what rebirth truly means
We honor ourselves and all the faeries and elves
May we dance and ring bells for the coming of the Spring!

(Chorus)
So open your heart to natures wondrous art.
Its time now to start the Healing of the Green.
Young rabbits abound and there’s flowers all around
The air is filled with the Sound of the Coming of the Spring!

To all my pagan friends, “Bright Blessings on Ostara!” And to everyone: plant the seeds of love and caring so that your harvest will be worthy of your spirit.

(Hover quotes courtesy of Quote Garden. Place your cursor over the photos to read the verses.)

(Crossposted from Views From North Central Blogistan)

6 Comments

    • Big smile on my face – I love four-legged kids.

      Ode to Spring
      “Spring has sprung,
      The Grass has riz,
      I wonder where the birdies is?
      The little bird is on the wing,
      But that’s absurd!
      Because the wing is on the bird!”

  2. Okay, more spring singing:

    When the hound of spring is on winter’s traces
    The mother of months in meadow and plain
    Fills the shadows and windy places
    With lisp of leaves and ripple of rain;
    And the bright brown nightingale amorous
    Is half-assuaged for Itylus,
    For the Thracian ships and the foreign faces
    The tongueless vigil, and all the pain.

    From Swinburne’s “Prelude to Atalanta in Calydon.”

  3. One of my favorite Mother Goose rhymes……

    Daffy-down-dilly

    Daffy-down-dilly
    Has come to town
    With a yellow petticoat
    And a pretty green gown.

    Thanks Jan!

  4. Happy and Blessed Ostara to you all. No poetry to offer at the moment, but my grandson (elder of the “Austin” grandsons) turned 7 today. Does that count? :)

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