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The Rites of Spring
Robin DuMolin • March 22, 2020
The Rites of Spring
By Robin DuMolin
Long before there was a Christian religion or an Easter festival man greeted spring with joyful celebrations, says historian Edna Barth. During the Winter the days grew short when the sun stayed in the sky for a more brief period of time. People worried whether the sun might slip behind a hilltop and never rise again.
At the time of the Spring Equinox, when the days began to be more extended and the sun shone a little longer, the people were relieved. They had hope. Life would renew itself again and crops. animals and man would thrive. Life would be rejuvenated and would be prolonged.
Scholars say the people of long ago worshipped the spirit behind the sun who sent shining life-giving rays over the fields of grain. The sun became the symbol of resurrection. Happy, joyful Spring festivals were held for their gods. The Druids and others, would gather around blazing bonfire, chant, sing, dance and leap through the flames.
These ancient Spring fire rites honoring the sun and performed by pagans, were banned by the Christian church until 752 A.D. It was then that St. Patrick, while performing his work as a missionary revivalist, saw that the early Irish Celts and Scandinavians held spring fire rites, and were not willing to give them up.
In order to replace their "old" pagan custom, St. Patrick created a "new" Christian fire rite. Borrowing on the old Druid customs, on Easter eve, he gave them huge bonfires just outside the churches. Europeans soon picked up the practice of annually blessing a new fire and it eventually became a part of Easter service.
The fact that the holiday named for the goddess Eostre is traditionally celebrated at sunrise services suggests that in ancient times, the Vernal Equinox was a sunrise celebration. In fact, it tells us something about all the equinoxes and solstices, and that is that each is, or should be, celebrated at a specific time of the day; the vernal equinox at sunrise, because it is a celebration of new beginnings, the re-awakening of nature from its deathlike sleep of winter, and the very moment when the time of light becomes greater than the time of darkness. For this reason too, the rooster, whose crow announces the dawn, was sacred to the sun god Apollo.
Changes in Nature and Correspondences in Spirit
Equinoxes symbolize equality (equal daylight and darkness) and balance. Spring is also a time of year to see what you have manifested, or what has sprouted in your soil (soul). Flowers or weeds? Did you forget what you planted during New Years? Looking around in nature at how things have blossomed and how mother nature has adorned herself gives you a good idea what is possible to manifest with the energy on the planet during this time of year.
The life force energy, Christ force energy, the Supreme Beings energy, etc. first draws itself down towards the center of the planet during Autumn. As it descends, leaves fall off trees; we begin to feel drained. In the winter at the time of the solstice, this energy reaches the center of the earth. During this season, energies are sorted. This intelligent energy then begins its journey back up to the surface of the earth. On the Spring Equinox, this energy completes its cycle to the earth's surface.
During this season of the year, we feel energized because we match or experience the same thing that the planet experiences. The earth's battery is recharged. Things that didn't seem possible to us during Winter seem possible in Spring, hope is alive again. More energy is available to us to create with. It is optimum to be aware what is going on during this time of year so that your eyes are fully open to all the possibilities of how to best use this quality of energy to your advantage.
Sources: Holiday Folklore, Phobias and Fun by Donald Dossey
Ancient Ways by Pauline Campanelli
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