Today signals the start of Spring for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a time of rebirth, renewed beauty, new beginnings and rejuvenation. The sun crosses the celestial equator going south to north and it is named “celestial” because it is an imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator. On this day both hemispheres receive close to equal amounts of sunlight as neither is tilted more toward or away from the sun than the other one. If we stood there the sun would pass directly overhead on its way north. Equinoxes are the only two times each year that the sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth! It comforts me that this somehow puts us all on an even playing field and connects us.
The longer days inspires the birds to sing, and we see more of them streak the sky as many migrate back to us. The increased sunlight tends to put a little spring in our step and the longer days also inspires the birds to sing. Chickadees fill our sumac tree and I look to them as signs of truth,
knowledge, home and peace. The Celts credit chickadee with giving glorious words to poets while according to the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, the Big Dipper’s quadrangle symbolizes a Bear (Ursa Major), chased by seven animals, including the chickadee. Every spring, the “She-Bear” awakens.
The chickadee alerts the six other animals of her reawakening and makes sure they have taken time to prepare as the sun awakens the earth. I find the teachings of the Mi’kmaq to be deeply spiritual and soothing - they give us balance and put us in tune with both the Creator and Mother Earth. The works and words of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy, who I follow on Instagram and Linked In, prove this daily.
When I was a young teenager, I used to think to be interested in birds was boring and not cool- such as the character of Ms. Jane Hathaway in the TV series - The Beverly Hillbillies. Clad in a non descript camouflage shirt and shorts, Jane was awkward, well intended, intelligent and somewhat endearing. My late mother in law, Marguerite, had a keen interest in birds and her knowledge of them made each one fascinating as she explained their stories with such respect and affection. I miss her explanations and the twinkle in her eyes as she spotted them - she appreciated, not only their beauty, but their personalities. She treated them as she did us, loving each one for who and what they are. They would appear on her windowsills and deck railings as regular visitors. Except that she was a redhead, she could be likened to Snow White in the enchanted forest.
While growing up our son tended to be the smallest kid on the team or in his classroom and as he bemoaned this reality one day at about 13 years, his Gramie looked him square in the eye and said – “You are exactly the size you were meant to be and know that it is perfect.” I will not note his final height as what she said resonates - it does not matter one way or the other! And now a grown young man of 30 years - just yesterday, he echoed his grandmother’s wisdom to me when I shrugged off nice words he graciously offered and instead complained about being petite (short). He replied firmly - “Don’t talk like that. We are all small. Small within the universe and nature.” I knew exactly what he meant. How true - humankind is among the smaller species in many regards. Yet our role weighty and momentous. Knowing we are small in this sense makes us grander. The skies, seas, mountains and earth are each colossal with new mysteries revealed each day and surely we have come to know that all creatures, big and small, close the circle.
The power of Spring Fever has officially begun. There is more movement, energy, zest, colours and optimism. The colour of the sky deepened today, from the smoky, blueish mauves and grays of yesterday, replaced by a soft, clear, cloudless blue. The dawn signals warmer light and the night skies feel closer. As the stars glow brighter, their lights are cutting through time and space. There are still huge chunks of ice and snow along our Northern Nova Scotian shores but there are also clear spots where the ocean is dancing freely along the coastlines and gaining momentum for its encore. Snow covered lawns now have patches of green and stark silhouettes of trees have begun to show the hint of buds. Daffodils are emerging here with their beautiful yellow hues, pushing above the snow-covered ground. Deer herds are gravitating to the greener pastures in town from the snowy woods and the sweetness that is our Canadian maple syrup has begun to run. March winds still chill but the sun’s heat is strengthening. She is reaching out, soon to kiss us.
The pearl that is full Spring, stands taller each day, waiting good naturedly in the shadows, soon to engulf us with her full splendour.
Sources: WhatisMySpiritAnimal.com; Farmer’s Almanac
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