September 2024 and Autumnal Equinox Dates

September arrives and tells us that the summer has ended.  September tells us that we must finish our harvesting because in several weeks, we will hit the Fall Equinox or Autumnal Equinox and then the possibility of snow.

Fall Equinox in our area always signals that winter is right around the corner.  The day signals even shorter daylight and longer night.  It is the quarter turning of the Earth.  For many, it is a time to give thanks for the bounty of the harvest.  When so many live in the cities now, the celebration of the harvesting of good, nourishing, natural food is not practiced.  For city dwellers, it is like giving thanks to Superstore or other grocery chain.

We have lost much of the art of celebrating the passage of one season to another.  A passing season is a big event - much like a birthday.  It is a time of contemplation, wild celebration, and fantastic food all rolled into one day.  Even going outside and standing on a balcony or going to a park to give thanks to Nature and the beings that care for all things in Nature is a great way to celebrate Fall Equinox.

If you want to say words as part of your celebration, try these three lines:

We give thanks for the harvest.
We give thanks for abundance
We give thanks for the blessings in our lives through the year. 

Here are the autumnal Equinox Dates from 2024 to 2027.

Autumnal Equinox Dates

Year	Autumnal Equinox (Northern Hemisphere)	Autumnal Equinox (Southern Hemisphere)
2024	Sunday, September 22	Tuesday, March 19
2025	Monday, September 22	Thursday, March 20
2026	Tuesday, September 22	Friday, March 20
2027	Thursday, September 23	Saturday, March 20

Note: Dates listed above are based on Eastern Time (UTC-5). Due to time zones, the date of the equinox may differ by +/- one calendar day in your location.

-from the site almanac.com.

Many blessings,

Judyd

Swallow is a Spirit Animal

 

A popular tattoo for both men and women is the image of a swallow.  Some like the stylized version which is more symbolic.  Here is a design that I like.

I began to wonder why Swallow was such a popular choice for tattoos, and why so many people say “Swallow” when you ask them to name a bird.

Some of the reasons that Swallow has such a following are:

1. Our  Norse ancestors tell the story that the Swallow flew around Jesus’ head, and sang songs to distract him from his suffering.
2. British and German ancestors say that if Swallow nests on your house, all within will have good luck.  Additionally, the house is protected from disasters such as fires, heavy wind, and hail and snow.
3. North American First Nations legends tell how Swallow tricked the Sun, and was able to steal fire from the Sun, and bring fire to The People so the people would be warm in winter.
4. Farmers believe that the time that Swallow arrives back from migration will indicate the type of year that farmers will have.  Late arrival means a short and cooler summer.  Early arrival means a long, warm summer which means a good growing season.
5. Farmers also believe that a high flying Swallow meant good weather, and Swallow flying low, close to the ground, indicated cooler, rainy weather.  (Note that because Swallow is an insect eater, it probably tells more about the behaviour of the insects and weather.)

Most gardeners love Swallow and build or buy big Swallow Houses for the Swallows to live in while they are in the north.  The benefit is that Swallow eats so many insects, including mosquitoes.

Swallow has played a role in our belief systems because of the various legends told about it.  If Swallow is hanging out around you, it is a good thing, and she will bring you blessings.

Many blessings,

Judy