Earth slips past vernal equinox

From Vernal Equinox 2009: Facts on the First Day of Spring by John Roach for National Geographic News

The fall and spring equinoxes, for starters, are the only two times during the year when the sun rises due east and sets due west, according to Alan MacRobert, a senior editor with Sky & Telescope magazine.

The equinoxes are also the only days of the year when a person standing on the Equator can see the sun passing directly overhead.

On the Northern Hemisphere's vernal equinox day, a person at the North Pole would see the sun skimming across the horizon, beginning six months of uninterrupted daylight.

A person at the South Pole would also see the sun skim the horizon, but it would signal the start of six months of darkness.



[source: Mayan Equinox Serpent at Chichén Itzá, Mexico from Mitch Battros - Earth Changes Media]


From Lady Day: The Vernal Equinox by Mike Nichols

Now comes the vernal equinox, and the season of spring reaches its apex, halfway through its journey from Candlemas to Beltane. Once again, night and day stand in perfect balance, with the powers of light on the ascendancy. The God of Light now wins a victory over his twin, the God of Darkness. In The Mabinogion myth reconstruction that I have proposed, this is the day on which the restored Llew takes his vengeance on Goronwy by piercing him with the sunlight spear. For Llew was restored/reborn at the winter solstice and is now well/old enough to vanquish his rival/twin and mate with his lover/ mother. And the Great Mother Goddess, who has returned to her Virgin aspect at Candlemas, welcomes the young Sun God's embraces and conceives a child. The child will be born nine months from now, at the next winter solstice. And so the cycle closes at last.


From Michelle Obama Plants Witch's Herbs On Vernal Equinox (satire from The Spoof)

(Washington DC)-- Michelle Obama honored an old African tradition on the first day of Spring and planted an herbal garden at the White House. The First Lady's African roots include many powerful warlocks and witches, reaching back for thousands of years. She planted the magickal herbs to help her hold onto and increase her powers in the coming year.

Michelle first planted a row of foxglove for her garden. Foxglove dazzles the eyes of onlookers. Any witch wearing a leaf of the plant bewitches men and women. Even an old hag has a chance to pose for the cover of Vague magazine.

Michelle next planted a row of yarrow in her magickal little plot. Yarrow is used to sooth the voice. A tea from yarrow changes even the most sharp and hateful of voices into a smooth, silky contralto. Only the most fat and ugly of Republicans is immune from the charms of the yarrow.


and some overlooked news:


From Paganism returns to the Holy Land by Ofri Ilani (Haaretz)

Like many other soldiers who took part in the Gaza operation, Omer, 20, occasionally took a few moments to pray, but he did not pray to the Lord of Israel. Omer considers himself pagan, and has sworn allegiance to three ancient gods. During combat, he says they appeared before him, giving him strength during the most arduous moments.

Omer is still in the army, and therefore refused to be interviewed for this story. Yet he did say he belongs to a religion whose goal is to revive worship of ancient gods.

In an online Hebrew-language paganism forum, Omer's accounts of his Gaza experience are standard fare. Another user recalled how he prayed to Anat, the Canaanite god of war, while serving in an elite combat unit.

[ ... ]

Due to Jewish sensitivity to idol worship, which is perceived as a sin, most Israeli pagans reveal their beliefs only to those who share them. They usually keep religious gatherings, such as the "holiday of equality" (Vernal equinox) on March 21st, secret.

[ ... ]

Ruah-Midbar believes paganism has a bright future in Israeli culture.

"At the moment paganism is not a large-scale practice here, but I believe it has very big potential," she said. "Pagan religions are the fastest growing religions in the West, and it could succeed here too, because Hebrewism and Zionism could connect to paganism due to the emphasis on land and Hebrew holidays. Paganism is a close, unusual parallel of more common practices, like environmentalism or traveling to the East. In practice, it really is not very different."