Kate Braun : Vernal Equinox, a Time for Balancing

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Balancing of Planet Earth:
Vernal Equinox: March 20, 2011

By Kate Braun / The Rag Blog / March 14, 2011

Jewel of warmth, Jewel of the Sun/
And the blossoming of Spring has begun.

Sunday, March 20, 2011 is the Vernal (or Spring) Equinox, also named Ostara and Lady Day. The full moon of 3/19/11 will still be exerting her influence but Sunday is the Sun’s day and his growing strength is likely to overpower Lady Moon’s lingering energies.

Use any pastel shades of color in your decorations, but emphasize pink, yellow, and green hues. Also use eggs, crosses with equal arms (solar and Celtic designs), wildflowers, living plants, and rabbit-images. Rabbits were sacred to Diana, one of the goddesses honored on this day; eggs have an association with Eoster, a goddess of Springtime, whose name comes from the same Indo-European root (“Au) as Eos and Aurora (the Greek and Roman dawn goddesses).

Eoster, like Diana, is a maiden aspect of goddessness, signifying youth, new growth, beginnings, and spring. Eoster was fond of sweet things, so incorporating honey and chocolate into your menu will please her as well as your guests.

Eggs are the most important part of this celebration and should be used in the foods eaten, the activities pursued, the decorations for the celebration. One activity that encompasses all these areas is he use of hard-boiled and decorated eggs as place cards/party favors for your guests.

When all are seated, all should crack their eggs (symbolizing the cracking of winter’s ice), peel away the white (symbolizing the melting of winter’s snow), and expose the hard-cooked yolk (symbolizing Lord Sun in all his golden glory). Then all guests should share pieces of their egg with all other guests (symbolizing a sharing of Lord Sun’s glory).

While this is being done, it would be good for you as leader to remind your guests that the eggshell represents Earth, the egg’s membrane represents Air, its yolk represents Fire, its white represents Water; Earth, Air, Fire, and Water are the four elements that are required to create all things so an egg may be considered the symbol of all and everything.

Solstices and Equinoxes are times when we become more aware of the continual balancing and rebalancing of Planet Earth and of ourselves and our souls. Let the concept of balance in all things form the center of your plans, activities, and celebrations.

[Kate Braun's website is www.tarotbykatebraun.com. She can be reached at kate_braun2000@yahoo.com.]

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