Peace and Goodwill, to All.

The Autumnal Equinox and Fall beigns

The autumnal equinox starts the fall season. It occurs on September 22 or 23 each year. The "fall" is my favorite time of the year. The crisp cool air and brilliant colors of the leaves urges me outside with camera in hand.

There are two equinoxes a year. One in spring and the other in autumn. The spring (or vernal) equinox happens on March 19, 20, or 21.

The seasons are reversed in the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet. When the northern hemisphere experiences autumn, the southern hemisphere is experiencing spring. 

On the equinoxes, the sun is directly above the Earth's equator. Day and night are of equal length all over the planet. The world receives twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness. The term equinox comes from the Latin and means "equal night".

The seasons signal that changes in length of daylight, temperature and weather are about to happen.

The seasons are caused by the changing position of the Earth in relation to the Sun. The Earth receives different amounts of sunlight during the year due to the tilt of the Earth. The Earth is like a spinning gyroscope and always points in the same general direction. The earth is tilted on a 23.5° degree angle and the sun shines on the planet  in a particular way. The north pole is generally tilted toward the north star and the south pole tilts toward the constellation of Octans.

Cold Days and Short Nights

The Autumnal Equinox begins the cold months. During the colder months, the North Pole is at it's greatest tilt away from the sun. The northern hemisphere then has colder temperatures, short days and long nights.

It takes a few weeks for the weather to change after the beginning of a new season. During autumn, there are alternating warm and cool days and cooler nights for several weeks.

On the day of the Autumnal Equinox, the Sun is positioned directly over the equator.  After this day, the northern hemisphere begins to tilts away from the sun. The weather becomes colder and the hours of daylight become shorter. This culminates in the shortest day and the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice on December 22 or 23. Then the days grow longer until the Summer Solstice.

In 2010, the Autumn Equinox happens on September 22nd.

Lughansadh - 1st fruits

August 7 is Lughnasadh (Lammas) is a cross-quarter day of the Celtic calendar. It is a time of the grain harvest. And signals the ending of summer.

In North America,  corn (maize) growing American Indians celebrate the Green Corn Ceremony.

Summer Solstice!

I know this sounds weird but "summer" is finally here. If you have read my Beltane post, you know how I feel about the Solstice.

Today is Beltane and Summer Begins.

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia), originally uploaded by donnallong.

Today is Beltane the traditional first day of summer in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

I think of it as the first day of summer here in Philadelphia, too. It just makes sense. Think about it.

The Summer Solstice occurs on June 21 or 22nd. By then the weather is already warm. The Solstice itself is the longest day of the year and after it the days have less daylight each day until the Winter Solstice, December 21 or 22 when the days grow longer.

So, the Summer Solstice is not the the beginning of summer but the mid-point. It is the apex of summer.

To me the the idea that summer begins at the Solstice is a symptom of the disconnect with the natural rhythms of the land and the Earth.

Have a Happy Summer!

Photo: Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)

Thanksgiving Day

I give thanks for the life that flows through all beings. I give thanks for all the good things we have. I give thanks for the chance to grow each day.

I like Thanksgiving. Beyond the pilgrims and first thanksgiving mythology, I think it is a good day.

Thanksgiving is the closest celebration we have to the harvest holidays, we humans celebrated before the interruptions by others.

Human beings naturally give thanks to the beings that feed and sustain our lives.

Nature holidays have not gone away. We humans still celebrate them in any form we can. Perhaps, it is innate in us. The flow of life flows thorough us and the trees, flowers, squirrels and all living beings.

Perhaps, more people will give thanks to the plants and animals that feed them. To complete the circle. And add fullness to our prayers.

Wado (thank you).