Happy Spring Equinox!
20 Thursday Mar 2014
Posted Photography, Spring Equinox
in20 Thursday Mar 2014
Posted Photography, Spring Equinox
in14 Friday Mar 2014
Posted Photography, Spring Equinox
in20 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted Literary, Queer, Spring Equinox
in20 March 2013 ~ Hyacinth Noir’s Spring Equinox ‘Coming Out’ Issue
(literary issues are also available in the pull-down menu at the top)
~ as the sun peeks through a grey blanket of clouds, a robin glides along the warm spring breeze to rest upon the branch of an elder tree . . . emerging from winter’s darkness to an earth renewed, she calls, lilting and bright, to the world around her ~
the springtime and the spring equinox have always spoken of the magick of fertility, and renewal of being to us — a symbolic coming out and the acceptance of ourselves as we plant and nurture the seeds of our being and that which we want to draw toward us in the lighter months to come
our celebration of the spring equinox and the beginning of the warm season will take you through literary journeys of the butterfly emerging from her cocoon, a turtle emerging from her shell, the unspoken sorrow of unfulfilled love . . . these ‘coming out stories’ may mirror many of those in the community, and remind us that after the darkness, there is always the emergence of light
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~ an awakening, a renewing of internal and external light . . . ariadne merione, while reflecting the myth alluded to, is also the name of a species of butterfly, a creature that beautifies an environment then moves on . . . ~
Ariadne merione, by Alicia Cole
She preferred me in suits, I, a woman
warrior: suspenders, fedora, the obvious
arc of my breasts in a man’s tailored world.
… (read more)
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~ springtime carnivals and fairs parallel a world emerging after the dark winter . . . it is hope and brightness, along with unspoken sorrows that often hide in shadows . . . sometimes, coming out isn’t a battle cry, but rather a subtle admission of unfulfilled love . . . ~
“Hello, beautiful.”
I watched her turn and smile at the passing man, his eyes fixed on the perfect swell of her breasts peeking from the pink strapless gown. Wisps of blonde hair fell from her French knot and drifted across her face. She flashed a radiant smile as the rented photographer stole moments in time from her, locked away forever in the void of his camera.
… (read more)
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~ the symbolism of the turtle emerging stands out both in terms of springtime and the queer experience . . . as the creature gathers the strength to ‘come out’ of its shell, it realises that a community of support and love was waiting there all along . . . ~
Baby Turtle Emerging, by Emily Brooks
Painted turtle babe,
Stuck inside an artist shell,
Feels the need to hide.
… (read more)
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~ from the branch of the elder tree where she perches, the robin pecks at sunflower seed offerings . . . with a leap, she flits along the ground, now freed from frost, in search of nourishment for her young, who will themselves emerge from their eggs in the coming months of warmth ~
18 Monday Mar 2013
Posted Spring Equinox
in~ correspondences of the spring equinox ~
symbolism: beginning of spring, new life and rebirth, balance of light and dark, plant and animal fertility, sowing of seeds, sprouting plants and the greening of flora, lamb and chick birthing, love and sexuality
symbols and decorations: eggs, rabbits and hares, snakes, spring flowers such as daffodils and tulips, butterflies, cocoons
traditional activities: making egg baskets, colouring eggs, bird watching, egg hunts, beginning on new projects and undertakings, spring planting and cleaning
spellworking and ritual: garden, plant and seed blessings, spellcrafting for balance, growth and communication, blessing of new projects
herbs, incense and oils: african violets, celandine, cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, easter lily, elder flower, Irish Moss, ginger, hyssop, linden, strawberry, gorse, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, jonquils, lavender, lily of the valley, lilac lemon balm, lotus, meadowsweet, marjoram, narcissus, orrisroot, peony, snowdrops, rose, tansy, trefoil, tulip, thyme, tarragon, violets, woodruff, and additional spring flowers
foods and drink: hard-boiled eggs, egg salad sandwiches and other meals prepared with eggs, flower dishes, sprouts, seasonal fruits, apples, leafy green vegetables, nuts, fish, ham, maple sugar candies, honey cakes, hot cross buns, sweet breads, milk and egg drinks
colors: pale pink, grass green, robin’s egg blue, sunshine yellow, violet, white , and any pastel colours
stones: amethyst, aquamarine, amazonite, agate, bloodstone, lapis lazuli, moonstone, red jasper, quartz, rose quartz
gods and goddesses: all virgin and fertility Goddesses, and Gods of the song and dance, and fertility; Aphrodite (Greek), Athena (Greek), Gaia (Greek), Persephone (Greek ), Cybele (Greco-Roman), Blodeuwedd (Welsh), Eostre (Saxon), Hera (Greek), Isis (Egyptian), Libera (Roman), Minerva (Roman), Venus (Roman), Renpet (Egyptian), Isis (Egyptian), Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian); Adonis (Greek), Pan (Greek), Attis (Greco-Roman), Cernunnos (Celtic), The Great Horned God (European), the Green Man (Eurpoean), Dagda(Irish), Liber (Roman), Mars (Roman), Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian), Thoth (Egyptian), Mithras (Persian)
17 Sunday Mar 2013
Posted Crafts, Spring Equinox
in~ in many cultures, decorated eggs are a symbol of fertility, and they represent both the god, with the golden-coloured yolk, and the goddess; they are a symbol of life, renewal and rebirth, fertility and good fortune ~
supplies:
eggs
salt
food colouring
water
oil
white vinegar
spoons
tongs
elastic bands
wax
q-tips
toothpicks
paper towel
aluminum foil
baking pan
sauce pan
instructions:
step 1:
prepare the eggs to colour by hard-boiling them for approximately ten minutes (add a pinch of salt to the water in the sauce pan, bring to a boil, and allow to simmer for ten minutes)
carefully pour off the hot water and run the eggs under cold water. Dry with paper towel
note: freshly bought eggs that have been stored in the fridge for a few days are easier to shell after they have been hard-boiled
step 2:
to prepare the food-safe colouring dye, add 1 tbsp of white vinegar to ½ cup of hot water in a stain-proof cup. Add twenty drops of food colouring and mix together
note: if the eggs are going to be consumed after, use food-safe colourings
step 3:
decorate the eggs any ways you wish! A few ideas include:
— to block off parts of the shell when dyeing, wax can be applied to the dry shells with either a Q-tip or toothpick. Allow the wax to dry and place the eggs into the colouring cups, using tongs. Allow the colour to darken to the desired shade
to remove the wax, place the eggs in the oven at 250 degrees for 10 minutes (place aluminum foil into a baking pan and place the eggs upon it). The wax will melt away, and the remainder can be wiped away with wet paper towel
different areas of the egg can be blocked off with more wax, and subsequent colourings performed to create a variety of designs with myriad colours
— elastic bands can be wrapped around to create uncoloured patterns on the shell. Place the eggs into the food colouring, using a set of tongs. When the desired colour has been achieved, set aside to dry and remove the elastics. The uncoloured parts of the eggs can also be set into a lighter dye for a two-toned egg
— solidly coloured eggs can be created by placing the eggs into the food colouring (use tongs to avoid colouring your hands). After allowing the colour to develop, run the eggs under hot water for a few seconds and pat dry with paper towel to create a diluted effect on the egg; alternatively, the eggs can be set to dry to keep the colour solid and vivid
— to create mottled or marbled eggs, add a few drops of oil to the colouring, stir vigorously (but carefully to avoid colouring the walls or the table) and place the eggs into the mixture as before; different dispersions of the oil will create different patterns upon the eggs
note: make sure you are finished with the un-oiled dyes prior to adding the oils as they cannot be removed and new colouring will have to be prepared to colour without the oils
step 4:
mix different egg colouring techniques to create a diversity of patterns
step 5:
allow the eggs to dry, remove the waxes and elastics from the eggs if necessary, and store in the fridge
clean up the colouring area and rinse the dyes from all utensils
give some of the eggs as gifts to family members and friends, or eat and enjoy! Hard-boiled eggs can be used in egg salad sandwiches or eaten as they are
the eggs can also be placed upon the altar and used in ritual
15 Friday Mar 2013
Posted Queer, Spring Equinox
in~ queer celebrations of the spring equinox ~
as winter fades and spring blossoms, the energy of the earth begins to re-waken — the snows begin to melt and the robin chirps in the budding trees; in preparation for the warmer months, seeds are planted by the hearth, to be transplanted into the thawed ground during the time of Beltane; the daylight hours, which have been growing steadily since Yule, are now equal with those of the night
in addition to making pagan celebrations personal to one’s own path and beliefs, ceremonies can also pay homage to the practitioner’s sexuality and gender, such as those shared with the community on the gaywitch.org forum (please visit the link to explore one gay practitioner’s method of celebration)
during this spring equinox, we invite you to share with us, in the comments section ways that you choose celebrate the sabbat
13 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted Crafts, Spring Equinox
in~ like the prism of colour hidden behind the grey clouds of winter, the soft colours of springtime can parallel the beauty of our own symbolic rainbow; like butterflies on the wind, our lights shine when we emerge from our cocoon ~
supplies:
soft flex wire, cut in desired length
flat nose pliers
crimp beads (2)
clasp
beads, of course – the ones used for this particular project are swarovski crystal which have an incredible sparkle and wide-range of colours
instructions:
step 1:
cut the soft flex wire a few inches longer than your desired length. For instance, if you’d like a 16″ necklace, make sure you have at least 2″ on either side extra, so cut 20″ (it’s always better to have it longer than shorter).
note: soft flex is not required, but preferred as it’s the strongest and most flexible wire for jewellery making. It’s worth the extra money
step 2:
slide a crimp bead on one end and thread it through your toggle clasp bar. Making a loop, thread the wire back through the crimp bead so there are two pieces of wire going through the one bead
step 3:
pulling the loop tighter (but not too tight – if the wire is too tight on the clasp, the nylon coating will eat away and the wires underneath will eventually fray) and when it’s at the desired position, flatten the crimp bead with flat nose pliers. No need to do this too hard as the delicate jewellery tools may break (I’ve done this a few times myself)
step 4:
begin stringing your beads in the desired pattern. When you have enough beads on the wire, measure it, being sure to include the clasp in the measurement. If it’s the correct length, go ahead and slide on the final crimp bead
step 5:
using the same loop technique, flatten the last crimp bead, pulling the wire through the crimp bead and the bead next to it. Pull the wire tight, but again, no too tight or the beads will rub against each other and potentially scratch. It may also not have as much give. Make sure it’s loose enough to drape on your neck
and voila, wear with pride!
11 Monday Mar 2013
Posted Photography, Spring Equinox
in~ as the last traces of winter’s frost melt away, life emerges from the thawed ground . . . from bare branches come fragrant blooms and the first signs of green . . . all around, animals emerge from hibernation and bask in warming streams of sunlight filtering through parting clouds ~
09 Saturday Mar 2013
Posted Links, Photography, Spring Equinox
inTags
~ the springtime and the spring equinox is a celebration of fertility, the renewal of nature and oneself, as well as the balance between light and dark ~
… as the Sun grows warmer, so life begins to show through the soil. Small signs at first – the daffodils and crocuses – then more green as the bluebells and wood anemones spread through the woodland … (quoted from alban eilir)
the rites of spring ~ an article at witchology, with a focus on the origins and celebration of ostara (the wiccan celebration of the spring equinox)
ostara ~ a brief article from the urban pagan, on the celebration of ostara, with focus on the meaning behind some celebrations and decorations
a blessed spring equinox ~ a 2012 patheos newsarticle, containing some quotes from fellow pagans around the world on the celebrations of the spring equinox, as well as a lovely artwork of a springtime goddess
alban eilir ~ a lovely paragraph describing springtime (and associated with the spring equinox), from a druidric path
celtic druid’s spring equinox ~ an detailed article at ireland’s druidschool, with a focus on the gods and goddesses associated with ancient equinox celebrations, as well as its evolution into modern religious paths
22 Tuesday Jan 2013
Posted Spring Equinox, Submissions
in~ we are accepting submissions for our Spring Equinox 2013 issue ~
the springtime and the spring equinox have always spoken of the magick of fertility, and renewal of being to us — thus, for our spring equinox issue, we are currently accepting ‘coming out stories’
fiction submissions (flash and short story), poetry and non-fiction must be a ‘coming out story’, with elements of the springtime and the spring equinox weaved into the piece (springtime, the energies of maiden, fertility — this can be interpreted in as many ways as you’d like!)
we also are accepting other non-fiction and/or artwork that contains theme(s) of the season and/or sabbat, preference will be given to pieces with a queer-ified angle — anything queer with themes of the season, whatever pagan path you follow!
we love literary and experimental prose, engaging characters and plots, stories that electrify the air of the season, and above all, celebrate queerness and/or queer paganism in any form
submissions will close for the Spring Equinox issue on 15 March 2013
the Spring Equinox issue will be available 20 March 2013
for more information on the spring equinox, please visit — Spring Equinox (at Witchology), Ostara, (at Religious Facts), and Alban Eiler (at the Celtic Lady)
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submissions length and how to submit:
short stories (less than 3000 words) and flash fiction (less than 1000 words), poetry (any length), non-fiction (less than 2000 words) and/or artwork and photography submissions can be sent via e-mail to hyacinthnoir@live.co.uk, with: ‘Submission Spring Equinox: [type of submission (example, poetry or prose)]: [title of your submission]’ as the subject heading
all submissions must include the following to be considered for publication — failure to follow these guidelines will result in some annoyed little gnomes reading your piece(s):
– a cover letter contained in the body of the email (no attachments) with the following information:
– a short, third-person biography (less than fifty words), letting us know more than just a list of your previous publications
– a short (approximately one hundred words or less) statement regarding why the piece (any submission type, including fiction and poetry) speaks ‘spring equinox’ and related themes and symbolism to you (this can follow any tradition of paganism, as well as any general queerness in the LGBT community, and should relate in a way to the piece you are submitting)
– in other words, briefly enlighten us with your personal gnosis and experiences; it will be included, if the piece is accepted
– the piece(s) pasted into the body of the e-mail (no attachments accepted)
– however, artwork can be attached (preferred method)
– the proper subject heading with the title of the piece, else the submission might be lost in the ether of the junk mail folder
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other random information:
we accept both previously unpublished works and reprints, but if you are submitting a reprint, please let us know which publication your piece first appeared, along with a link to the piece, if applicable
we accept multiple and simultaneous submissions; though please let us know, and let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere
we are currently unable to pay our contributors
published submissions will be lightly edited to conform to the format of the site
please consider reporting our submissions times to Duotrope
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