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Almanac of the Ancients:
April 2007
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by Triple Moon Goddess |
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I suppose that the ancients were able to relax just a bit now. The weather should have already been a little warmer and wetter. Time to plant, and hopefully the hunt was better by now. Animals would begin to get fatter, and the world turned “green” again. Maybe you have had the opportunity to throw open your windows already ! The ancients went through spring cleaning rituals. They aired out their homes, and got ready for warmer, happier, more productive times.
It is time for new beginnings, last month I suggested new affirmations or manifesting. This is a great time to start anything new. Think of what your next goal will be and get it started. Let’s join the ancients in the joy and rebirth of SPRING !
Please remember to feel free to email me (triplemoongoddessgina@hotmail.com),if you have any questions or comments . I have more information on some of the items listed here and will be happy to share with you.
It is now April and last month we were thinking “spring” now we get a chance to “live it”! The name April comes from Aprillis, the ancient Roman love goddess Aphrodite. This was her Latin name, and it ended up on the Gregorian calendar. April was originally the second month, on the Roman calendar, before January and February were added by King Numa Pompilius. Some scholars claim the name April comes from aperire, meaning “to open”.
April shares the sun signs of Aries the Ram and Taurus the Bull. Two headstrong signs. The traditional birth stone is a diamond, and the flowers are daisy and sweet pea. There probably are no daises poking their heads up in your garden yet, but a trip to the florist will help you really brighten up your home with their buttery yellow sunshine. Welcome in the ancient deities associated with this month, they are: Aphrodite, Artemis, Astarte, Erzulie, Terra, Venus, and Yang-Hua.
While you are reading the almanac, take note at how many cultures have rituals involving running water this month! The tie between all of us is there indeed!
The Anglo-Saxons called April “Oster monath “or “Eostur monath”. This is because it was sacred to their goddess of Spring, Eostre or Ostara. We take the name “Easter” from this goddess. Easter falls in April at times, and in March at times, this year it is April 8. Eostre was honored last month, even though her “holiday” falls in April this year. I will not delve deeply into Easter and Passover as I am sure that you are all very familiar with those traditions. Some of the ones I will write about are older than these, and some are newer, but they all share the same theme, that being renewal and rebirth.
Apr 1- I am sure that the first thought in your mind was “April Fool’s Day”, this doesn’t go back to the ancients, but it does go back quite a few years to 1565. French King Charles IX had stated the year would start on April 1 from now on. In protest the people sent each other worthless gifts, and the tradition was born! This day is “celebrated” in the UK and France among other places.
Palm Sunday-Palms are carried to the church to be blessed. In England (where it is known as Fig Sunday),willow, hazel or Yew, replace the palm fronds. The blessed fronds are put into the home for protection, and are sometimes fashioned into crosses. The palms represent the entry into Jerusalem by Jesus, and the return is often commemorated by a Passion Play.
Venus Verticordia- This was what the ancients did on April 1, the women bathed in myrtle, and wore it on themselves. They washed Venus’ statue and adorned her with myrtle also. They put gold necklaces on her and left flowers at her feet. Some English lore to this day says that myrtle will not grow unless a female plants it!
Apr 2-Sizdeh Bedar- A Persian holiday of joke playing! Persians would stay outside all day, and remove any old greenery from their homes (sound familiar?). They leave their homes becasue they believe that on this day the spirits have the run of the place. They take down greenery so that the spirits cannot hide in them later when they should be gone. They should then leave the family alone for the rest of the year. Dishes of sprouted seeds are thrown in to running streams to rid the homes of any demons. People would actually empty their homes of their furniture and take it with them for the day! Some people in Iran still continue this tradition. It is considered unlucky to stay in the house on this day, so head outside to the fresh spring air!
Passover-This reminds Jews of the flight from Egypt. This is a seven day celebration marked with special meals and services at the temple.
Apr 3- Magna Mater- An ancient festival to honor Cybele. An oracle told that to end the wars, the meteorite that was said to represent Cybele must be brought to the Phrygia to Rome to her temple. The meteorite was brought and the wars ended and the crops flourished. Then there was an annual festival to honor her. Her image was carried through the streets or ancient Rome on a chariot drawn by her animal, the lion. Priests who served her dances alongside the chariot gashing themselves. They believed to thank her every year was to guarantee continued peace and happiness.
Apr 4- Artimis Soteira is honored on this day, but the references to why all seem to have been lost. There were several festivals in her honor in the ancient world.
Apr 6- Birthday (this year) of Kuan Yin-This goddess of compassion is revered in several cultures and under different spellings of her name. All agree however that she is a goddess of compassion, healing, forgiveness, and mercy. She is asked for love, protection, mercy and wisdom, especially on this date. She is honored by lighting violet colored candles, so today, light a candle for Kuan-Yin.
Good Friday-Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calgary.
Apr 8- Buddha’s Birthday - Offerings of flowers are taken to Buddhist temples and left at the Buddha’s feet. Hydrangea tea is poured over the bronze statues of the infant Buddha who sits in a pool of sweet tea. Buddha’s birthday is celebrated in many countries to this day (including India and China). This day is also known as the “flower festival” in Japan or Hana Matsuri. If you have a statue of Buddha, share your tea, and flowers with him today!
Easter- A Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. It was actually Pesach (or Passover) until the eighth century. Some churches still celebrate with the ancient rituals of water and fire.A fire is lit and doused with holy water.
Apr 9- Feast of A-Ma-This ancient goddess is celebrated to this day in Macao. She is goddess of the sea and fishermen. This day is actually sacred ot all Amazonian goddesses.
The Monday following Easter celebrates the Blajini or “kindly ones” are celebrated annually in certain parts of Rumania, this centuries old practice honors water spirits. Women toss red colored eggs into running water.
Apr 10- Maimuna- A separation ceremony to mark the end of Passover. This day is still celebrated in northern Africa. The evening meal features dairy food, to symbolize birth, and pancakes. A bowl of live fish is placed on the table. The following day is dedicated to picnics, especially near beaches.
Apr 11- Fortuna, the ancient Roman goddess of the sea is still honored to this day. People read “fortunes” on pieces of oak that are drawn from a jar. She is the goddess of luck and fate. Bread is baked with crosses to honor the Roman goddess Diana on this day. In Greece to this day myrtle and bay are worn by children to protect them from the “evil eye”. In Armenia Anahit, the goddess of love and the moon is honored. It is easy to see how different days carry the same themes from cultures all over the world.
Apr 12-Cerelaia- The goddess Ceres was honored on this date. It was a seven day festival to honor the goddess of agriculture. Different scholars give different dates for the beginning of her festival, but this date is most “popular”. Woman dressed in white and ran through the streets with lit torches to re-enact her search for her lost daughter Proserpina.
Apr 13-14-Songkran- The ancient Buddhists celebrated this day as “new year”. In Thailand, Buddhists still celebrate New Years as April 13 and 14. Statues of the Buddha are bathed in water, and water is thrown everywhere until everyone and everything are soaking wet! There are boat races, as water is a central theme, and plays. Gold leaf is added to the Buddha statues after their “bath”. Children will even buy live fish and set them free in the streams and rivers. Pyramids of sand are built along river banks with small flags added to their tips. Some children also buy and release songbirds!
In Sri Lanka, this is also celebrated as the New Year. Visits are made , and forgiveness is asked of those who they may have wronged (which also is part of the Jewish New Year).
Apr 14-Maryamma or Mariamne is honored on this day. She is the Hindu goddess of the Sea.
Apr 15-Fordicidia- A pregnant cow was sacrificed to honor Tellus Mater, the mother goddess of the earth. The festival was held in ancient Rome. The unborn calf was burned in a bonfire to ensure fertile crops.
Apr16- Apollo was honored during a festival called Hiketeria in ancient Greece.He was the god of medicine, truth, light and archery.
Apr 17-Nepal- The annual festival of the Rain god, named the Chariot Festival begins and lasts for approximately eight weeks. The festival is dedicated to Machendrana, the ancient Indian god of rain.
Apr 18- Rama and Sita are honored on this date in India the Hindu religion. These ancient deities are celebrated annually and have been for thousands of years.
Apr 19- Last day of Ceralia where the common people would join each other for feasts, and later would let loose foxes with torches tied to their tails.
Apr21- Birthday of Rome- Palila, the Feast of the goddess Pales, was held annually on this date. Purification rites were performed to keep sheep disease free. This included shepherds jumping through bonfires. In the city there was wine and merriment.
Apr 23- Vinalia-There are two wine festivals or vinalias. This is one and the other is in August. The first wine stored last autumn is poured to honor Jupiter. Have a glass of wine and celebrate!
Apr 24- St. Mark’s Eve- This is said the be the only time during the year to do divination on death. Seers could tell who would die during the coming year. It is said that in England, if you stand on the steps of St. Marks tonight, you will see the spirits of the doomed pass the church.If by chance you fell asleep, you would die during the coming year. I would say this is a good night to stay in.
Apr 25- St. Mark’s Day- In Hungary the wheat is blessed and a sheaf is brought home to guarantee fertile fields.
Robigalia-The ancient Romans asked Robigis, to protect them from a blight on the crops. Christians later turned it into Rogation Day. The Greeks honored Apollo for protection against blight on this day also.
Apr 26-Sumarmal- The Thursday between the 20th and 26th of April was celebrated by the Vikings as the beginning of summer (yes summer),in Iceland. There were feasts, and much outdoor revelry.
Apr 27- The Tyi Wara is honored annually today. It is a half man, half beast who is honored with songs and dance in Mali. The tribes there believe that this creature teaches man how to farm, and was sent by the gods for that purpose.
Apr 28- Floralia-The ancient Romans honored the Sabine goddess Venus with flowers on this day. Goats and rabbits were let loose, and vegetables were distributed as fertility tokens. People dressed in their most colorful clothing and put flowers in their hair. Wear a flower in your hair today to honor Venus!
Apr 29-Casse Canarie-This is a day to release and honor the dead in Vodou tradition. A ritual of breaking jugs helps send the souls into the afterlife.
Pagan tree day. Plant a tree to honor an ancient goddess. Myrtle is popular in celebrations this month. The myrtle celebrates Venus and Aphrodite. Plant an oak for Demeter or Diana, a Pine for Attis, Cybele, a sycamore for all Egyptian goddesses, or a willow for Atremis.
Apr 30- Manage-le-morts- A day in the Vodu tradition for feeding the dead ancestors who have not passed into the afterlife, or who remain nearby to help us.
In Germany a similar type of ritual for Walpurgisnacht. Birch boughs are places around all openings in the home to protect it from evil spirits and spells. Bonfires are lit along with rosemary and juniper torches.
Beltane Eve- An ancient Gaelic holiday based in the Celtic tradition. It was the beginning of summer season, time to move the livestock to the summer pastures. The celebration began with a bonfire, especially in Ireland. Beltane means “May” and soon you will be reading about that month!
Have a wonderful , healthy, warm, safe and happy April! Drink some wine, wear some flowers in your hair and celebrate those April showers as your running water! Please be very careful with bonfires, we want you and Gaia safe! |
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Triple Moon Goddess,
Psychic Tarot Consultant
& Author
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Triple Moon Goddess has been psychic all her life, receiving her first deck of cards, 36 years ago, at age ten.
As a Psychic, she is currently reading on KEEN, Kasamba, and in person, most recently, in Evansville, IN.
In addition to a BA in psychology from Montclair State in NJ., She has studied Mediumship with Denise Ilwaine, and currently studing Reiki.
She is a student who "plays Tai Chi", and enjoys playing with energy.
Triple Moon Goddess also teaches monthly metaphysical classes at the Bead Angel, in Evansville, covering different topics each month. She has also taught Tarot classes and psychic development classes; led "ghost hunts", and "seances".
She has attended many metaphysical classes, both in person and correspondance (before the internet!). She also teaches quilting!
As an avid reader, she loves to pass on everything she can to others.
She was the editor on "C.R.U.M.B.S.," a New Age self help book., and currently writing a book on tarotand readings.
She is the mother of two children, one of which is autistic, and teaches her a great deal about viewing the world through different eyes.
Email:
triplemoongoddessgina
@hotmail.com
Web:
www.Keen.com/
Triplemoongoddess
URL
www.myspace.com
/triplemoongoddessgina
Blog URL
http://blog.myspace.
com/
triplemoongoddessgina
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