September Equinox

September Equinox

by | Energetics, Psycho-Spiritual

As the warmth of summer begins to wane, and the daylight hours get shorter,we are reminded that the Equinox is not far away. A day of equal day and equal night. Being curious, I looked at how several traditions viewed this time of year. Let me share some of these with you.

In the Greek tradition, this Equinox is the sign of Autumn. It is when the Goddess Persephone leaves our world and her mother Demeter, to return to the Underworld and her husband, Hades. Persephone is both the Maiden and the Queen, depending who she is with: her mother or husband. Her lessons relate to personal power, birth, death and rebirth. This is a good time to enact rituals for protection and security. It is also a good time to reflect upon successes and failures from the previous months.

The Buddhist celebration of Higan (or Higan-e) celebrates the spiritual move from the world of suffering to the world of enlightenment. The word “Higan” means “other shore” and refers to spirits of the dead reaching Nirvana after crossing the River of Existence. It is a time of year to remember and honor the dead.

Pagans celebrate Mabon, one of eight Sabbats. It celebrates the second harvest and beginning of winter preparations. It is considered a time to respect the impending dark while giving thanks to the sunlight.

Over time, Christians replaced the Pagan Equinox with more Christianized observances. Michaelmas, which is the Festival of Michael and All Angels, falls on September 29th. This was thought close enough to the Equinox to be the chosen celebration. Another name for this celebration is “Festival of Strong Wills”. It makes you wonder who or what they really meant by this name!

Although not held on the Equinox, but rather on the Full Moon, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the abundance of summer’s harvest. The main food is called Moon Cake, which is filled with lotus, sesame seeds, duck egg or dried fruit. This food originated from the tradition of making offerings to the Sun in the Spring and the Moon in the Autumn.

These are but a few of the ways the end of summer has been celebrated. Create your own tradition to honor the changing of the seasons.

Wondrous Sky

Wondrous Sky

by | Psycho-Spiritual

In just 24 hours, ( Aug 12 2010) we will be treated to a cosmic light show that even Pink Floyd would be proud of. Not only will we have three planets and the crescent moon visible in the evening sky, but we will be treated to a meteor shower that is expected to be dazzling. The Opening Act is Venus, Saturn and Mars aligning with our Moon in what is considered a very rare moment. If you look to the tip of the western horizon, you may even catch a glimpse of Mercury. This planetary picture in itself would be a fabulous event to behold.

But “count your lucky stars” because we are being treated to a full view of meteor showers that will be visible from Thursday evening until Friday morning. What a Main Act! According to some experts, if the sky stays clear, we could see up to 100 meteors every hour. That’s a lot of cosmic activity for one night. But you’ll need to be in a dark area to get the full effect of this spectacular showing. Boundary Bay or Lighthouse Park anyone?

The NASA website explains that this meteor shower is being caused by the debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle. It seems that every 133 years, this comet comes through our inner solar system and spews dust and gravel behind it. When our planet goes through this debris, specks of it hit our atmosphere and burn up in flashes of light. These flashes are what we see as a meteor shower.

I wonder what our ancestors thought when they saw these cosmic wonders? We have the technology to understand these celestial events. But what did they think when they saw all these flashes of light in their skies? What would you think when the night sky suddenly began to dance?

I remember seeing my first meteor shower many years ago. A group of us were on the outskirts of Winnipeg on a farm. From dusk until dawn, the meteors just poured from the heavens. Some were quick flashes of light, some were absolutely spectacular. It seemed liked it would never end.

The philosophers would ask, “And what are we, in this great galaxy? What is our role? Why are we here?” Big questions. Watch the cosmic light show for yourself and see what answers you come up with.