Thursday, March 18, 2021

1st Day of Spring – Pagan Variety


Meteorological spring is all about structural convenience. Quantifiable, reasonably reliable, year-over-year statistics. Absolutely necessary, whether seeking greater insight by studying long term trends, or more accurately predicting tomorrow's weather so you'll know better how to prepare.



Pagan spring's about celestial certainty. Four times every year, the world reliably turns. On the vernal equinox, the heavens tell us life's again tilted toward the sun.



Except with the green season officially called by both gods and science, I still had to cruise my back catalogue to represent it here.



Reliably, earlier this week it snowed on the prairie. It's been grey, dank and chill since. They say Saturday the first day of Pagan spring will be nice. Suitable to dancing 'round the fire and other such, local restrictions apply.



In the northwoods, they still ice fish. They'll be a while yet. Past these pretty flowers are ice floes on the big lake, in early June.



No matter how it's marked, Spring's a state of being. A place where science, hope and knowledge so basic that every living thing on Earth knows it, reliably come together.



Pervasive muck and marauding clouds of biting insects included, as may be.




#spring #equinox


Monday, March 1, 2021

1st Day of Spring, 2021 – Meteorological Variety


Don't let that image fool you. It's from 2017. A mirage from the past.

The seasons don't lie. Science only divides those into three month sections for its OCD convenience.



Outside, a warming sun diminishes great gobs of ice and snow by the minute. Male cardinals trill, hoping to attract a mate. Sparrows don't have that problem and are already busy having sex. A smattering of robins have returned.

Under all that snow, earned knowledge and experience tell me life stirs.



Shrinking winter reveals leftover mystery.



Though doesn't answer it…



Today on the prairie, spring remains largely an abstract concept.



Later this month, we'll greet the traditional pagan turning. Since that's as likely to be grey wet and chill as not, it's just a celestial crapshoot.



So for now, the cold light of science will do.