The Spring Vibration
By Robin DuMolin

To Christians around the world, the first Sunday after the full moon after the vernal equinox is Easter Sunday, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. For thousands of years before, the vernal equinox symbolized the beginning of the season of rebirth; the resurrection of nature and of different pagan gods.
Resurrection is defined as a return from the dead. One story of resurrection comes from the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Tammuz, the god of grain was the lover of Ishtar, the goddess of love and beauty. Tammuz was killed and Ishtar went to the gates of the underworld, grief stricken and demanding to be admitted. Allatu, queen of the underworld allowed her in. Ishtar had to pass through seven gates and at each gate she had to remove an item she was wearing, from her clothes to her crown. Allatu then held Ishtar captive and as a result all fertility on the earth above ceased. When the god Ea knew this, he sent a message to Allatu to release Ishtar. She was then sprinkled with the waters of life and as she walked through each of the seven gates again all her clothes and jewels were restored to her. The fate of Tammuz is uncertain because the tablets of the texts are missing. In a Babylonian version of the same story, Tammuz is resurrected and all men and women who had passed on would rise again.
In Greek mythology, Dionysus’ father was Zeus, the king of heaven and Senele, a mortal princess was his mother. Zeus promised to do anything Senele asked. While she was pregnant with their child, Dionysus, she asked for him to be the god of gods and see all his splendor. Zeus knew no mortal who witnessed this would live, but she still insisted. After she died Zeus took the child from her body and hid him within his own. After he was born Dionysus traveled to far away lands and demonstrated through various deeds, his divinity. He was the god of joy and wine, in Rome he was known as Bacchus. He always longed for the mother he never knew and went to the underworld to find her. When he found Senele he defied death and fled the underworld taking Senele with him to Mount Olympus. She was allowed to live with the gods. There are many other similar stories from all cultures and basically the theme is the same. Love is always the motivation behind resurrection. This theme is associated with this time of the year, the vernal equinox.
To ancient people, winter represented the death of the sun. They wondered if the sun would again gain it’s strength to warm the earth and it’s light grow all the crops necessary for their existence. With the spring equinox hope returned, life would go on. The sun was the symbol of resurrection, spring rites or festivals were held on behalf of the sun god. Druids and others would gather around bonfires, dance and leap through the flames. Eventually, these “pagan” rites were banned by the Christian Church. St. Patrick realized people did not want to give up their celebrations. In order to replace the old pagan customs with new Christian ones, he created a Christian fire rite. He initiated from the Druid custom of a bonfire on Easter eve, large bonfires outside the churches. Europeans all over picked up the custom of blessing a new fire and it became part of the Easter service.
With each season a time of day is associated. With the spring equinox it is the sunrise. This symbolizes new beginnings and the end of winter (death). It is that moment when light becomes greater than the darkness. Because of this the rooster whose crowing announces the dawn, was sacred to the sun god Apollo.
The Energy Behind Spring
There is a certain quality of energy specific to spring. What is happening at this time of year? It’s all energy! This life force energy or Christ force energy first pulls itself downwards towards the very center of the Earth during autumn. As it descends, leaves fall off trees, we slow down and often feel drained. At the time of the winter solstice, this energy reaches the center of the earth where it is furthest away from our presence. This is the season where energies are sorted. This life force energy then reverses direction, coming back up to the surface of the earth, closer to us. On the spring equinox, officially it reaches the surface. We feel re-energized and in nature things are blooming again. More energy is available on the planet.
What are you producing in your life? You planted seeds on New Year’s Eve. Remember your New Years resolutions? Are weeds or flowers in the soil (soul) you planted them in? 

Sources: Ancient Ways by Pauline Campanelli and Holiday Folklore, Phobias and Fun by Donald Dossey