[Fuusm-l] Soul Connections Topics for This Week

[BRENDA STETSON]

You are welcome to attend either or both of these events.  Tonight will be
more about the history and folklore connected with the vernal equinox.
Tomorrow night the time will be reflective and celebratory related to
welcoming spring to our lives.

Brenda Stetson

for Soul Connections Group

 

Tuesday, Mar. 21, 2017

7 to 9:30 pm 

1400 Washington Ave, Parkersburg, WV (corner of Latrobe St./Washington Ave.;
1st Christian Church Basement) 

 

Folklore Series - What Is Ostara? (Speaker:   Christopher Friend) 

Sponsored by Soul Connections Group

 

Could our modern day Easter Bunny and coloring Easter Eggs have links to
symbols related to the Pagan celebration of Ostara?  Come listen as Chris
shares information about this festivals background.

 

It coincides with the time of the spring equinox, when the return of spring
is celebrated.  It is believed by some to have been named for the
Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, also sometimes called Eostre, goddess of the
east and the dawn...these goddesses possibly being later forms of more
ancient goddesses.  Two symbols for this celebration are hares and colored
eggs (both associated with fertility and rebirth).  

 

The word equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night).  This
happens in the spring and the fall when night and day are approximately
equal in length.   This year, March 20, 2017 signals the beginning of spring
in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. 

 

 

Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2017

7 to 9:30 pm 

232 Third St, Marietta, OH (UU Church Basement) 

 

Spring Equinox-Ostara  (Facilitated by Rev. Kathryn Hawbaker)

Sponsored by 1st Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta and Soul
Connections Group

 

We will gather to honor the beginning of spring.  Components that may be
included are songs, readings and meditation.  This is not a presentation
about the background of the Spring Equinox or Ostara, but a time to quietly
reflect on the changing of the season.

                        

The word equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night).  We
have an equinox twice a year-spring and fall-when Earth's two hemispheres
are receiving the sun's rays equally so night and day are approximately
equal in length.   The spring equinox (March 20 in 2017) signals the
beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern
Hemisphere. It marks that special moment when the sun crosses the celestial
equator going from south to north.  Here, in the Northern Hemisphere, it
means sunrise comes earlier and nightfall comes later. Plants sprout, winds
are softer and we enjoy being outdoors during the warmer spring days; while
autumn begins for people living south of the equator. 

 

The Pagan celebration called Ostara coincides with the time of the spring
equinox, when the return of spring is celebrated.  Believed by some to have
been named for the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, also sometimes known as
Eostre, goddess of the east and the dawn...these goddesses possibly being
later forms of more ancient goddesses.  Two symbols for this celebration are
hares and colored eggs (both associated with fertility and rebirth).  Could
our modern day Easter Bunny and the practice of coloring Easter Eggs have
links to these symbols?

 

Events are open to the public. Love donations accepted (to cover group
operating costs and allows offering free events.)

 

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