5 minute read
Ode to Spring
The Mystery School By Ortrun Franklin
When I think of Spring, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 or Pastoral Symphony runs through my mind. The composition was used in Walt Disney’s animated film Fantasia. One of my favorite memories is watching it over and over again with my grandchildren.
Advertisement
Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony musical segment takes place in a mythical pastoral garden. It begins with cupids pulling aside the night sky. Then, the sun rises. Birds begin to chirp, flowers are opening their petals, centaurs and centauresses (centaur ides), mermaids and mermen are joining to joyfully walk and dance together. When, suddenly, a thunderstorm causes them to take shelter underneath the trees.
This scene, along with its flowing music, takes my thoughts to the beginning of Spring. It reminds me of the dark nights of winter waning with daylight, starting to increase. Seedlings begin pushing through the soil reaching for the sun. The plantings flow back and forth in a rhythmic dance. Different than the mythical characters running for shelter at the eruption of the thunderstorm, the plantings cheerfully soak up the rain and dance with joy knowing that it will help them grow and become stronger and more vital.
The segment continues with the thunder and lightning abruptly stopping. The sun comes up; everyone emerges from their safe shelters. They look to the sky and see the Sun God/Goddess in his/her chariot riding off beyond the clouds.
Spring has sprung. It is the time of year in which the Spring Equinox occurs and daylight starts increasing. It reminds me of Light always returning to Earth.
Igor Stravinsky’s musical score for the ballet Rites of Spring or Sacred Spring (Le Sacre du printemps) specifically wrote this piece about Russia’s Old Ways and their pagan rites. The subtitle itself, Pictures of Pagan Russia in Two Parts, supports this. In the ballet, dancers portray primitive life with the dancers depicting various primitive rituals and customs while celebrating the advent of Spring.
Ancient Religions celebrated the turn of the season by having solar festivals. Similar to Stravinsky’s depiction in his ballet, the Druids, Celts, Vikings and those of the Neolithic Irish descent chose a woman and man to act out the roles of the Spring God and Goddess; they played out a courtship and together they planted seeds. At these festivals, eggs were symbolic of rebirth and the beginning of new life, and hares represented the Goddess of Fertility. The Spring Festival is called Ostara and is named after the German or Teutonic Goddess Eostre, also known as Ostra.
Modern Pagans continue to celebrate Spring by attributing the changes going on in the world to the powers of the God/ Goddess. At the time of the Spring Equinox they are often portrayed as The Green Man and Mother Earth. Green Man is said to remain in Mother Earth's womb during Winter and in Spring begins his growth.
The Spring Equinox was of great importance to the ancient cultures. Many of their monumental structures were built to capture the sun during this special event. This evidence can be found in numerous locations around Earth.
For instance:
The large Neolithic cairn temples of Scotland. The 100 ft passage lets in the sun to fully light up its chambers on the morning of the Spring Equinox.
In Egypt, the sun sets on the shoulder of the Sphinx (halfman, half-lion).
At the Step Pyramid of Chichen Itza, when the sun begins its way towards the horizon, shadows begin to appear on the faces of the main pyramid. But the grandest show occurs when the sun sets. Seven triangular shadows, resembling the body of a snake project on the north side of the building. Symbolically, it represents Kukulkan, the feathered serpent deity overseeing agriculture of the Mayan people, coming to fertilize the earth for a good harvest.
Easter or Ostern (German) is celebrated by modern day Christians. It is the holiday which represents Jesus’ Resurrection. It is celebrated by special church services, music, candlelight, flowers and ringing of the church bells. Many view it as the greatest feast day of the church calendar.
At the onset of Christianity, old traditions became intertwined with Roman Catholicism. Ingrained ancient customs, such as eggs representing new life, became symbolic of Jesus’ Resurrection. Easter is a joyful season when everything comes anew: life, birth and rebirth.
Ranger Eliza of www. facebook.com/OlympicNPS/ posts says:
On a deeper spiritual level, the Spring Equinox represents the journey of the Sun around the Universe. It can personally represent the struggles between night and day, dark and light, death and life, evil and good. At the moment when night and day are equal, time stands still. At this time, new choices can be made. As daylight increases, the new choices bask more and more in Light. You can become the Illumined One.
The Spring Equinox brings new life, new beginnings. It is the time for us to explore our inner most feelings, plant fresh seeds, seek new paths and begin anew. To assist you in experiencing of Beginning Anew, I have prepared a guided meditation/visualization for you. Make yourself comfortable, become still….
*Remember that being in the meditative state slows down your reflexes. It is advised that you do not listen to the meditation while driving or performing services where acute attention is required.
References: www.wikipedia.org www.Ireland-calling.com www.DruidNetwork.org www.facebook.com/ OlympicNPS/posts
Ortrun Franklin is a columnist for Star Nations Magazine. She is the co-host of the live stream show “Living in Two Worlds” which focuses on the connecting the physical world with the spiritual world. It airs the last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT. www.ourspiritualascension.com | Ortrun71@aol.com | fb: @Living in Two Worlds
Check out Ortrun’s book: Key of Life
