Spring Equinox

The spring Equinox has passed, the gateway to the summer swings open and we are once again called to adventure. The equinox is the tipping point which ushers in the light and we can now look forward (in the northern hemisphere) to 6 months of more daylight than darkness. The Gods are smiling and we are blessed.
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers' on Kindle

A Time of Balance

The first quarter of the Sap Moon is present in our skies this evening & with the arrival of the Spring Equinox tomorrow at 11.01, this is a time when we are reminded of the importance of balance in our lives. This isn't merely work v play, or indulgence v diet, but is one of shadow v light. We all possess a darker side to our true selves and yet the shadow is something which the majority of us like to keep hidden for fear of others not liking us and yet, it is one that we should all acknowledge even if only to ourselves, for, in the words of Mrs Darley:
'Everything upon this earth has an opposite, a shadow side. Everything of beauty has a thread of ugliness, everything that enchants has the power to possess and everything that shines also knows the dark.' (Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries)
Wishing you all Equinox Blessings

March Skies

This month heralds the coming of spring and although it is still cold, the days are lengthening, the birds are singing & the daffodils and crocus are lifting their heads to face the strengthening sun.
In the heavens we are able to see the stunning Saturn early in the morning in the South West and lovely Jupiter which is the brightest object in the sky after the moon and visible in the evening.
The new moon is on the 11th at 19.51 and the full moon is on the 27th at 9.27. Meanwhile we have the Spring Equinox & therefore the first day of spring to celebrate on the 20th at 11.01, the festival of the Saxon Goddess Eostre or Ostara on the 27th and the Christian festival of Easter on 31st.
What better excuses for chocolate do we need? May the March winds blow many blessings your way.
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

The April Full Moon, Eostre & Christ

Tomorrow (Fri) marks 3 specific events. In the lunar calendar it is the day of the April full Moon. In the Pagan calendar it is the festival of Eostre or Ostara, Saxon Goddess of the dawn & new beginnings and in the Christian calendar it is Good Friday, the time when Christians remember the crucifixion of Christ. Despite however the unliklihood of the former two having anything to do with the latter, they are all inextricably linked.

The festival of Eostre was always a moveable lunar festival and was calculated as falling on the day of the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. When Christianity came to these islands & the powers that held sway were trying to convert the peasants to the new religion, they decided to replace the festival of Eostre with that of Easter and made a slight alteration to the date so that it was celebrated on the Christian holy day - that of Sunday.

Thus Easter is always calculated as being the Sunday following the first full moon following the Spring Equinox.

Whether you choose to honour the full Moon, Eostre or Christ tomorrow may the day bring you peace & solace.

For more information read 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers' or 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

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.

The Spring Equinox

Today marks the Spring Equinox, a time when day and night are equal, but from which point we journey joyfully into the light of a northern summer, as daylight hours begin to exceed those of darkness.

This is a time when the Horned God of the wildwood and the maiden Goddess meet and she becomes pregnant with the Solstice child, hence the cycle of life begins again.

This is a time of joyous celebrations and so, as the moon still hangs full in the sky tonight, sit beneath it around a fire and toast the warmth and light that is to come.

Snowdrops

Snowdrops have always been recognised as the first harbingers of spring, but folklore dictates that to bring them into the home is often asking for trouble.

If snowdrops are brought into the house before Valentine's Day, then any unmarried females will be destined to remain spinsters. Any hens that happen to be sitting when the flowers are indoors will not lay, whilst the milk from cows will be thin and the butter colourless.

Snowdrops are symbollic of the return of the maiden Goddess and for all their delicate appearence are strong and independant, both of which are necessary qualities for these first flowers which appear above the earth to face the harsh winter weather.

The Autumn Equinox

The equinox arrived along with the full moon yesterday (23rd) at 10.17 BST. From now on our world with descend further into darkness whilst the earth begins her period of rest and renewal following the gathering of the final crops.

The equinox is a strange time, it is unpredictable, brings strange weather patterns to our door and often makes us feel unsettled. When this is coupled with the effects of the full moon, be prepared for the unexpected.

'Gather, gather the last fruits of summer

Drink of their sweetness

And bathe in their juice,

Gather, gather the last fruits of summer

For winter is bindingAnd tightening her noose.'

From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

April's planetary aspects

Many people have commented on the rather disruptive forces that seem to be spinning through their lives at the present time. Illness, breakdowns in communication, chaos all seem to feature to varying degrees and the time surrounding the equinoxes are always periods of flux before the energies settle for the new season. Perhaps the following will help make sense of what is happening.

Venus is in its own sign of Taurus where it is joinedby Mercury, both of which form a fiery square to Mars and Pluto engineering yet more change in the areas of money, resouces and the environment.

On the 8th Saturn moved back into Virgo and forms an exact opposition on the 27th, a day which may turn out to be extremely disruptive or rather innovative. Other days which may have similar elements are: 19th and 25th.

The new moon in Aries on the 14th pushes forward vibrant spring energy and those who are involved in the healing and creative art professions are well favoured. The full moon on the 28th forms a 'T' square with Mars, indicating a very dynamic period.

Highlight of the month is the 'Lyrids' meteor shower which is best seen on the 21st and 22nd and is expected to produce around 20 meteors per hour, although best viewing is after midnight.

As April moves forward may its fiery aspects drive you ever forward into the spring.

Spring Equinox

This coming Sunday, the 20th March, sees the astrological event known as the Spring Equinox, an occasion when there are equal hours of light and darkness. The word 'equinox' stems from two Latin words: 'aequus' meaning equal and 'nox' meaning night.

The equinox, was an occasion marked by the neolithic inhabitants of these isles and for those who acknowledge the festival today it is important on three counts:

• It acts as the mid point marker of the sun's journey from winter through to summer (opposite if you are in the southern hemisphere)


• It has been essential in the calculation of the Christian festival of Easter for centuries (more about that next time)


• It coincides with the sewing of many crops in the farming calendar.

From this point on until the autumnal equinox in September daylight hours will exceed those of darkness and the long cold days of winter will once again slip into the memory archives.

This is a time to bring a sense of balance into your life between work and play, between relationships and self. It is also time to put all the plans into action that you have made during the dark days and seeing your dreams rise along with the sap.

Happy Equinox!