I visited my favorite calendar stone at a time half-way between the winter solstice and vernal equinox. I wanted to see what it could tell me about this change of season.
I was looking for shadows. I got a lot more.
I don’t know what to make of the green bow with a central hole. I like mysteries. It brings me awe.
It is only through wild speculation that we can correlate what the Hisatsinom, the people who may have built this, were marking. Still, without appropriating their culture, I can get a feel for one thing that may have been going on.
The Hopi count the Hisatsinom as ancestors. At this time of year, they start to celebrate the return of the Katsinas, which are associated with the cycle of the year. However, the ceremonies for Katsinas did not come about until their ancestors, the Hisatsinom were long gone.
After the long nights of winter, things are starting to shift. Days are growing longer, noticeably so now. It has been 6 weeks since the winter solstice and there are 6 more weeks until the spring equinox. It is half-way.
Light and Preparing to Plant
Christians celebrate Candlemas now. It is a festival of light. On February second, all candles for the year would be brought together for a special blessing. It is also known as The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus and The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Heading towards the spring equinox. we are heading towards a time of planting. This could be a time of preparing to plant.
In fact, the Celts celebrate the Goddess Bridget, the goddess of purification and fertility. She brings blessings of health to the soil before it is time to plant.
The American tradition is Ground Hog Day with Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. A particular rodent, the ground hog, comes out of his hibernation hole on this day. If it is sunny and he sees his shadow, he is scared back into hibernation for 6 more weeks. You can expect 6 more weeks of winter weather. If it is overcast and he does not see his shadow, he ventures to stay out for an early spring.
Spring Awakening
For stargazers, the appearance of a pair of stars over the horizon before dawn signals the awakening of spring.
We can look to the ancestral Plains Tribe of the Pawnee for this observance. They interpreted these two stars as ducks breaking through the ice. This was a sign that spring is on its way and they could prepare for planting. We know these two “Swimming Ducks” as Shaula and Lesath in the constellation of Scorpio.
To find the pair of stars at this time of year, look before daybreak to the southeast near the horizon against the backdrop of the Milky Way. If you trace the lazy “J” shape of Scorpio with its bright star Antares, look in the hook of the J. With an unobstructed view, you should see them before it gets too light at dawn.
As we mark this cross-quarter holiday and move towards spring equinox, the two stars will appear higher in the southeast before dawn, so keep looking if you don’t see them right now!
Yes, Spring!
I count this day, February second, as the official beginning of spring, like the groundhog that did not see his shadow.
No matter what the weather is on this particular day, the shift to shorter nights and longer days is spring-like. The cold persists, but the light shines, drawing us into it.
It is not too early to start sprouts indoors. It is time to bless and prepare garden beds. It is time to expand in the light.
I am a sunwatcher and stargazer, marking the seasons of Nature. This allows me to notice how my own flow follows Nature and how I can accompany Nature’s wise processes.
How about you?
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