| Rites
of Spring text and photos ©Ani Williams April 2005 by Ani Williams As published in the Four Corners Magazine |
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and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away" —Extract from Canticle 2, Solomon's Song of Songs Spring is the time of renewal, greening of the earth, blossoming life and a renewal of the human spirit. After a long, dark, moist winter filled with Tsunami, torrential rains and unprecedented changing weather patterns, a difficult season is springing to life with voluptuous beauty. Varieties of flowers are emerging in the Southwestern deserts that have not been observed for 100 years, and the end of a decade of drought is in sight. and the whole world became heavy with leaves and flowers. …..she showed the performance of her rites and taught her Mysteries… Whoever among men who walk the earth, have seen these Mysteries is blessed.” —Homeric Hymn to Demeter Rites of spring have been celebrated since ancient times with a series of ceremonies, feasts, music and dance, giving thanks for the greening of the earth and the renewal of spirit. We mark the beginning of spring with the Equinox (literally meaning equal night/day) which falls at the mid-point between winter and summer solstice. In both Pagan and Christian traditions, the new year is begun with a series of rites occurring in a particular sequence. Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) is one of the first feasts of spring and commemorates the escape of the Jews from Egypt, led by Moshe (Moses) over 3000 years ago. (It is interesting to note that in 33 AD it happened to coincide with the timing of the Last Supper).  Last Supper window St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh
Passover is a rite of spring that may
be celebrated by all people, regardless of creed, as it symbolizes
individual and spiritual freedom. This year, Passover begins at
sunset on April 23, just hours before the Wesak Buddha Full Moon.
Wesak celebrates what theosophical schools consider to be the birthday
of Gautama Buddha. The Buddha Moon occurs every year at the full
moon in the Tropical sign of Scorpio, which is always directly opposite
the Sun in the sign of Taurus. This ancient holy day is a high point
in the yearly cycle, in which great spiritual forces are released
which may affect the whole of humanity. Wesak celebrates the wisdom
of Buddha's clear mind and compassion awakening in the hearts of
all humans.  Buddha of Spring by Mazatl Galindo To add impact to this year's Full Moon Wesak festival, we also have a Lunar Eclipse! This eclipse will be visible in North, Central and South America, New Zealand and Indonesia. The eclipse begins at 1:06 am PST (same time in Arizona); the middle of the eclipse and exact full moon is at 3:06 am and the last phase of the eclipse is at 5:06 am. (Eclipses occur in pairs and the first eclipse in this duo is on the April 8 New Moon, with the Sun and Moon uniting in 19 degrees Aries to form an annular-total eclipse, when a narrow ring of the Sun is visible around the mask of the Moon. This Solar Eclipse will be visible in New Zealand, southern U.S., Central and South America.)  Alchemical Marriage of the Lunar Queen and Solar King
A Youth Holding a Lighted Candle Sabian symbols were first developed
in 1925 to interpret each of the 360 degrees of the zodiacal year
and they serve as archetypes to deepen our understanding of celestial
events. According to author and astrologer Dane Rudhyar, the Sabian
symbol for the Moon's eclipse at four degrees Scorpio is, a youth
holding a lighted candle in a devotional ritual. Keynote: The educative
power of ceremonies which impress the great images of a culture
upon its gathered participants. Passover's Canticles to the Beloved Traditionally the eight canticles of
the Song of Songs were read during the eight days of Passover, marking
the renewal of God's sacred contract with the people of Israel.
The source of the Song of Songs is most often attributed to King
Solomon, who is said to have composed it during the 5th century
BC. Metaphorically, these sensual love songs to the beloved relate
to the bridal chamber of the people and their God, and more literally,
to Solomon's beloved, the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba. In Islamic tradition,
Sheba was known as the Mistress of Wisdom. A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi. Behold, thou art fair, my love; thou hast dove's eyes" Extracted from Canticle 1, Song of Songs
Sophia Pentecostal Bride Sophia is both silent and veiled,
unlike her partner, the Logos, who goes forth speaking openly. But
the silence of Wisdom precedes the speech of the Logos. Pouring forth from ancient days. Come my friend, to meet the Bride" 16th c. Hymn to the Sabbath Bride' from Caitlin Matthews' 'Sophia Goddess of Wisdom' This spring holds potent promise of renewal and rebirth, with the synchrony of Passover and the Wesak Full Moon Eclipse April 23-24, followed by the lunar queen and solar king leaping the Beltane fires in the Celtic fire festival of May Day. Then Pentecost May 15th brings the return of the Dove and Sophia, the Sabbath Bride of God. Let us gather in our communities this spring to celebrate our possibilities and give clear direction and true purpose to our lives. Let us celebrate the greening of the earth and wisdom's precious jewel in a song of awakening. Ani Williams is a harpist, singer, writer and Voice Spectrum Analysis practitioner. She will be bringing her music and Daughters of Voice sound workshops to several conferences this spring, including the Sedona Namaste Retreat with BJ. King on Wesak Buddha Moon, Mary Magdalene Retreat on Beltane weekend, April 30-May 1 in Carefree AZ and Awaken to the Divine Feminine Conference on Pentecost, May 14-15 in Tucson AZ, both with Margaret Starbird. She will be leading the annual Pilgrimage of Magdalene and the Holy Grail Sept. 5-16 in Britain. See pilgrimage details, music recordings and articles on sound and the sacred feminine at www.aniwilliams.com.
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