April Fools Day

The origins of April Fools day appear to be lost in the mists of time although suggested pre-cursors to this strange custom have similarities in the Roman festival of Hilaria where jokes and laughter seemed to be the order of the day.
In the UK, the first recorded mention of such a day appears during the 14 century in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
In the UK & many other European countries jokes should only be played up to 12 noon, afterwards the joke is on the person who instigates it, whilst in other countries jokes can be played all day.
In my youth I remember the day being divided into strict segments: Jokes up to 12 noon, tripping over up to 4pm after which you could kiss the person of your choice for the remainder of the day!
Have a jovial April Fools!

Honouring the Lent Lily

This is the season of the daffodil or Lent Lily & although it is the most cheerful of flowers it does have some rather sinister undertones.
If the first daffodils you see hang their heads toward you then the year will be one of misfortune, whilst if you have laying hens then they will not provide many eggs if you bring daffodils into the house before the 1st March and if a bunch is less than 13 in number.
The Roman writer Pliny said that daffodils grew on the banks of the Acheron river & delighted the spirits of the dead who called then 'asphodel', which later derived into daffodil.
You are now safe to bring a huge bunch of daffodils into your home to honour the forthcoming festival of Ostara on the day of the April full moon.
Read more: 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

Welcoming the Seed Moon

Today at 14.37GMT the Seed Moon emerges in the sign of Aries.

To the Celts this moon signified the planting time and the promise that the strengthening sun would nuture them and bring forth summer fruits.

Tonight is auspicious for magic rituals involving new beginnings and projects, especially with its Arian aspect as this heightens leadership, rebirth, willpower and general health and vitality.

May the Seed Moon bring you many blessings.

Welcoming the spring

Today is the Vernal Equinox - the first day of spring and the first time in the year when day and night are of equal length, but from this point forward until the Autumn Equinox we are journeying into the light.

This is the festival which celebrates the union between the God and the Goddess, between the strengthening sun and the awakening earth. It is a time of balance, of male and female energies binding together to bring forth a year of abundance and fertility.

Why not light a fire tonight or even a candle and welcome the return of the light as we spiral outwards into spring.

Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'.

The Ides of March

The 15th of March (tomorrow) was once known as 'The Ides' in Roman times and came from the Latin word 'idus' meaning 'half division' which indicated that it was half way through the month. It was the festival day of the Roman God of War, Mars and a military parade was usually held in his honour.

Its more sinister connotations derive from the fact that Julius Caesar was assasinated on the 15 March in 44 BC, by a group of Roman senators who stabbed him 23 times. A seer had predicted his death as being on the 15th March, hence the term in Shakespeare's play, 'Beware the Ides of March'. Here's hoping that the 15th will be a peaceful day for all.

Heavenly March

This month is full of promise & excitment especially in astronomical terms.

Tomorrow (3rd) sees Mars at its closest approach to earth and as its face will be fully illuminated by the sun, it will be at its brightest. See it best in the eastern sky just as the sun sets.

The 20th March marks the occasion of the Spring Equinox and the first day of spring, after which the hours of day light exceed those of darkness for 6 months until the autumn equinox.

This is a month to celebrate the increasing light and to let our energies spiral outward into the world.