MAM Day XXI the Vernal Equinox

Since I took the day off yesterday I’m gonna backtrack and celebrate the Vernal Equinox today.

The Earth is in perfect balance, day and night almost equal here.

It’s maple sugaring time in Vermont and time to take the bird feeders down so the bear who have awakened ravenous from their long slumber don’t get to them.

In Vermont it’s freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw. Skies are blue …when it’s not snowing. The water in the ponds’ inlets is rippling. Almost time for “ice out” when we bet on the exact day and time when there will we no more ice on the ponds.

It’s lambing season too.

I love to visit my neighbors’ farm and cuddle with those little lambs. I hope BaaBaa won’t be too jealous.

It’s the season of fertility and renewal symbolized by eggs:

Frogs eggs, birds’ eggs, moth eggs and wasp eggs on a caterpillar. They haven’t quite arrived here yet, but they will be here in no time.
A colored pencil drawing I made of a nest of eggs based on a line from a Mary Oliver poem:

“This morning, in the fresh field, I came upon a hidden nest, It held four warm speckled eggs…”

The Vernal Equinox is celebrated in many traditions and cultures. There is an ancient pagan holiday called Ostara, a Persian holiday called Nowruz, a Japanese National holiday called Shunbun no Hi which is related to the Buddhist celebration called Higan…and of course there is Easter and Passover to celebrate Spring if not exactly the equinox.

So there you have it. Spring is officially here even though it’s still on its way in terms of the Vermont weather… but coming soon.

Enjoy!

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