the romance of spring

spring equinox is a time of new fire,

the light and dark are in perfect balance today,

and now light is growing.

last night there was an enormous full moon, but here it was too cloudy and stormy to see anything

but a misty nighttime world aglow with ghostly light. could you see it? i left my bootprints in the slushy snow.

 i wanted to do a ritual for the beginning of spring but it snowed and rained all day. the snow flattened the new daffodils and now it has melted and they are still bright and yellow but sleeping on the ground. 

my book says that "the reason behind all of our magic - the rituals, observances, meditations, and spellwork - is to constantly remind us that we are a factor in the larger scheme of things. Anything we do on an individual level affects the whole."

 i think of replanting the earth, caring for animal friends, weaving love into daily tasks.

i didn't take any photographs today; all of these are from the last few days when the sun was shining and i could see spring's renewal at work.  but tomorrow i will go outside to bury my compost, like seeds in the earth, to make the soil rich and to give my part to that wonderful cycle of return. over the next few weeks i hope to gather honeysuckle, oakmoss, dogwood, crocus, lavender, thyme, rose hips, and daffodils to work some springtime magic as the sun gains momentum.

i feel romantic as late winter turns into spring, like a victorian lady with a house to keep and spring cleaning to do, rugs to beat and knickers to air, or a jane austen character with fields to tromp through in the rain.

i don't even mind if my hem gets a little dirty.

yesterday i put on all shades of rose and wore these tiny rosette earrings gifted to me from rachel.

this skirt was made by my mom in the 70s and is the softest calico and velveteen. there is a matching vest somewhere, maybe in my mom's old cedar chest. over the years she has probably given me every article of clothing that she happened to keep from the 60s and 70s and i have worn them again and again since high school. going through her old treasures is one of my joys in life.

this time, i also borrowed her jewelry :)

 

i like to think of my handsome little cat as belonging to the world of fairies, or whatever magic exists under the surface of life. he sees things everywhere, alert and attentive to invisible spirits,

a frolicsome guardian.  

"keep your eye on the bunny and the bird..."

i'm daydreaming of the fairy world, the way that opal knew, and the old green man's face etched in the bark of the trees. i think i want to write a tree song for these hills. 

white blouse: thrifted for me years ago by addie in sebastopol

vest: thrifted $1.50

rosette earrings: gift from rachel

necklaces: my mom's

silk flower brooch: found on an old hat

shoes: thrifted $4

socks: target, years ago

skirt: made by marmy in the 70s

bodysuit: thrifted $1.50

fairy pictures: taken from this book gifted to me from missa