I saw this image on a wonderfully interesting Swedish blog,  Fine Little Day. Folks have hung all their pacifiers from a tree. It’s called the soother tree. Making a ritual of the habits that no longer serve us. How can we commemorate and honor the important transitions in life, in a meaningful way, that acknowledges that we all suffer, we all need soothing, we all let go, we all change, and that we are all in this together?

SPRING EQUINOX – Saturday, March 20th

The Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox is right around the corner – bringing equality between day and night… and marks our passage from darkness and cold to warmth and light. As the newly reborn sun moves across the sky, the days become longer, the air warmer and, once again, life begins to return to the land. The equinoxes mark the time in which seeds would be planted (spring) and then harvested (fall.) In the old tradition of celebrating Springtime, the ancient goddess, Eostre, a Saxon deity who marked not only the passage of time but also symbolized new life and fertility, was the key symbol of the celebration of the Vernal Equinox, which was also known as Ostara. Legend says that the goddess was saved by a bird whose wings had become frozen by the cold of winter. This process turned the bird into a hare. Yet this was no ordinary bunny; this long-eared rabbit could also lay eggs! I think you know who I’m talking about…

MORE IDEAS

TIP +  Spring Ritual for Abundance The planting of the new crops would often be held during the new moon closest to the Equinox (Monday, March 15th – New Moon in Pisces). In honor of this tradition,  gather seeds to represent the things you want to grow during the new year (refer to your vision board/resolutions) — abundance, wisdom, understanding, patience, love, partnership, unconditional love, etc. As you plant your seeds in a pot of soil or in your garden, visualize those qualities coming into full bloom in your life. As you plant them, bless the seeds honoring the 4 elements: pat the seed in the dirt (earth), water it, blow on it (air) and light a candle by it (fire) or hold up to the sun. Express your gratitude to all the people, places and things that have gotten you to this point in your life. Invite the seeds out the formlessness of winter’s dreaming…asking them (and yourself) to awaken to the light of spring – to grow and thrive with new life and new possibility. YES!

In Winter, we turn to the North. We acknowledge the Earth, our physical bodies, the ancestors, and our ability to manifest on the physical plane. We ask the North to enhance our powers of observation, listening, and how to be Silent.

Winter is the dreaming time when we return to the womb, to our cave, to stir our cauldron, to dream, to be in the formlessness, to incubate, and to regenerate ourselves. We are letting go of what we are ready to let go of, in order to transform into something new. This time represents the formless void in the transformational cycle when what is no longer and what is to be has not yet appeared.

On this day, we have the opportunity to drop the image that we have of our ourselves into the fire, to release it back into the dark mystery to be reborn with the Sun. With the help of the Aquarian moon and invoking the wisdom of winter, we release our attachments to “looking good” and allow ourselves to Break the RULES we set for ourselves, entertain new possibilities and allow more light to shine through our lives and livelihoods.

Dear Enthusiastic and Ready Participants,

We are delighted to invite you to beautiful Petaluma for our Spring Transformational Retreat:  Expect a Miracle – Shed Your Skin!

We are all in a process of letting go of old beliefs that hold us back.  We are all in a process of learning to trust.  This retreat is designed to Magically assist you in creating your Abundant Life.  Whatever you are letting go of, whatever you are wanting to create, this Retreat will help that process.

From Friday night to Sunday at Noon we will be in Ritual:  meditating, painting, hiking, writing, divination, eating, laughing, creating, singing and making new friends.  Join us and experience a deep, fun & transformative weekend surrounded by the beauty, abundance and grace of Nature. There will be an astrological element so we ask that all participants provide us with birth time, date and place so we can have natal charts prepared. This year the retreat is limited to 20 participants so please let us know if you plan on attending, or would like to invite someone you know.

Your Dreams can come true.  It just takes a little Magic.

Love to you,
+ Heather and Mary

LEADERS Heather Sullivan Bleasdell and Mary Swanson with assistance from Shannon Danilovich, Jena Lindh and Laura Tabet

DATE May 1 – 3, 2009

TIME Friday night 7:00 – 10:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sunday 9:30 AM – 12:00 noon

FOOD Tea, coffee, some snacks, plus Breakfast & Dinner on Saturday are included. Please bring Lunch for Saturday and any special snacks you enjoy.

ACCOMMODATIONS This is a non-residential retreat. If you would like to get more info on hotels, please visit registration page.

LOCATION Petaluma Art House, 608 Western Ave. Petaluma CA 94952

COST $250

WORK STUDY: 4 positions available to receive a $50 discount.

DEPOSIT $100 by April 15, 2009 (Deposit is non-refundable. Space is limited.)

REGISTER & More Info  http://www.buildaltars.com/springretreat09

This full moon says, it’s time to Re-Bliss your Vision Boards before the new moon in Aries!