The Spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, March 20th, is the beginning of the new zodiacal year. The rise of the constellation Aries indicates the beginning of a new cycle in evolutionary development. Aries, symbolized variously by the ram, ewe or lamb, has represented new starts since antiquity. Spring fever is not just a cliché. It is that impatient feeling we all have during the time the Sun is passing through Aries. We feel full of (Aries) new ideas and new starts but we may not have the (Taurus) resources, time or proper weather just yet to carry them out. Take advantage of this creative energy by making plans and getting in shape. The active time of the year is here.

On March 20th the Sun enters the sign Aries. This is the Spring Equinox or Ostara. Easter is celebrated the Sunday after first full moon on or after first day of spring.

The equinoxes are the two times during the year when the dark of night and the light of day are in balance or equal. The vernal equinox is Ostara, from the name of a German Goddess of fertility, Oestarae. She is the deific equivalent of Aurora, the personification of the sunrise. Her name is where East and Easter both come from. This is logical considering that the sun rises in the East.

A creature associate of hers is Ostara's hare or the Easter bunny. She transformed a pet bird into a rabbit in order to amuse the children who follow her everywhere. Even though the bird is now a hare- she still lays eggs, only now they are brightly colored eggs. Another version has Ostara herself becoming a hare in order to distribute colored eggs in the Goddess' honor. That one doesn't work as well for me, but either way, this is the pagan explanation of Easter eggs.

Click here to read Beyond Eggs: Ways to Celebrate Oestara by Melanie Fire Salamander

International Astrology Day - Though officially it coincides with the March Equinox, astrologers celebrate throughout the month of March with lectures, discussion panels, astrology fairs, and get-togethers. March 2001 will be the ninth IAD and each year the number of events and participants has grown. IAD has gone from a few events mostly in the U.S. to a truly international celebration of astrology with events in Canada, Croatia, Russia, and elsewhere. There are even special events on the 'Net for those of you who are unable to attend events in your local area.

For more information, click here to go to the AFAN home page.

March 21st is Purim. Purim is a holiday that takes place in Spring, beginning on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (usually March). Jews go to the synagogue at this time to hear the story of Purim read from the Old Testament Book of Esther.

The Purim story took place in Persia around 500 BCE (BC) Purim is derived from the Hebrew word pur, which means "lots," and the holiday is also known as the Feast of Lots. This is because Haman, who was chief advisor to King Ahasuerus, cast lots made from small stones to determine the date on which all the Jews of Persia would be destroyed. The date chosen was the 13th day of Adar.

Haman was an enemy of all Jews, but especially of Esther's uncle, Mordechai, who refused to bow down to Haman whenever Haman passed. Mordechai explained that Jews do not bow down to men as if to worship them. Haman was also angry because the king had honored Mordechai, who had foiled a plot to kill Ahasuerus. When he learned of Haman's plan to kill the Jews, Mordechai told Queen Esther and asked for her help.

Esther knew that only the king could save her people. But it took great courage for her to approach him. Under law, no one, not even the queen, could approach the king without being summoned. The penalty could be death. Esther fasted for 3 days and nights and then went before the king. He received her kindly and granted her request to hold a banquet.

At the banquet, Esther told the king of Haman's plan to kill the Jews and revealed that she herself was Jewish. She asked the king to save the Jews. The king was furious at Haman and ordered that he be hanged. He then granted Esther's request by allowing the Jews to take up arms and defend themselves against soldiers whom Haman had already sent out. On the 13th day of Adar, the Jews rose up and defeated Haman's soldiers.

Today, Jews remember this day as the Fast of Esther. At sundown (which marks the start of the 14th day of Adar), the festival and merrymaking of Purim begin with the reading of the Book of Esther in the synagogue. When Haman's name is mentioned in the Purim story, the usually quiet synagogue fills with noise. People twirl graggers (a type of rattle that makes a grinding sound), shout, stomp their feet. This is done to fulfill the command in the Book of Esther; "May his name be blotted out!"

At synagogues and Jewish schools and community centers, there are plays that tell the story of Esther, carnivals, and parades. At home, Jews often take a feast, or Purim seudah, where triangular-shaped cookies called hamantaschen are served. Shalach manot (gifts of food and clothing) are also distributed to that all Jews can enjoy this holiday that all Jews can enjoy this holiday that celebrates Esther's courage and the rescue of the Jewish people from destruction -- Written by Melissa, IEM's staff consultant on Jewish affairs.

March 24^th is a New Moon.  The Moon and Sun are conjunct in the sky. The moon is dark and gradually increases to a crescent. This is the time to begin a ritual involving a new project, to ask for new vision.

April 1st is April Fool's Day. "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." -- Mark Twain

Here is how the American Embassy explains this holiday: In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools."

Click here for an Urban Legends discussion of this.

April 1st is when Daylight Saving's Time begins. Remember to Spring Ahead!

Click here for the best explanation I can find of Daylight Savings Time. 

April 6^th is Tartan Day. The Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed on April 6, 1320. The American Declaration of Independence is widely acknowledged to have been modelled on that inspirational document. This is understandable when you realize that almost half of the signers of the American Declaration were of Scottish descent.

Click here to read about Tartan Day.

Also check out Scott’s article about his clan and related links in the Duncan Domain. 

April 6th (the first Friday of the month) is The Monthly IEM Get Together. Come, share an evening with us.

Inga’s Earth Magic has a new product available: Ritual soaps. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about rituals of clearing and strengthening the auric field. I came up with the idea of using my daily shower or the act of hand-washing as a way to ritualize my intention. Now, if you want to transform cleansing into a protective ritual then Irish Spring or Dial are not going to work! So I got to work in the kitchen and made a black, transparent glycerin soap that I am calling OBSIDIAN. It is in the shape of a sacred circle and is scented with a cypress and violet blend I designed specifically for it. Scott sniffed a bar and said, “Wow, so that is what black smells like.”  I am selling them for $2.99 each

April 7^th is a Full Moon.  The Moon and Sun are opposite each other in the sky. The Moon reflects all of the Sun's light. This is the time to perform rituals for protection, clarity of vision and consecration.

April 7^th and 8^th is Stewart’s Body-Mind Workshop. Scott and Inga are taking part.

April 13th is Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Golgotha. This event is reported in detail in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 and John 19.

The crucifixion demonstrates Jesus' renunciation of "the easy way". He refuses to defend himself, use his political connections or allow others to intervene to avoid the death that was prophesied in Psalm 22.

April 13^th is also a “Friday the 13^th”

Douglas Winter writes… “Of all superstitions, perhaps the most pervasive -- and yet least explicable -- is the aversion to the number thirteen. Many buildings (particularly hotels) tall enough to have a thirteenth floor will not number it as such. We are told that the registration of Princess Margaret's birth was delayed so that she would not be entered as number thirteen. So firm is its grip upon us that even hospitals, those supposed bastions of rational thought, decline to label their operating theaters with the number.

Click here to read more on the Urban Legends website.

April 15^th Is Easter Sunday

Easter is the Christianized version of Oestara or Ostara. It celebrates the resurrection of the Christ after three days in the tomb. See Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20. This coincides with the Sun gods of many cultures who spend three days in the underworld before coming forth with a treasure or a new teaching.

Christians dropped the fertility rituals of Ostara but retained the traditional rabbit and eggs. The early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.

April 15th is Tax Day - "The income tax created more criminals than any other single act of government." Senator Goldwater, 1989

Prior to 1913, taxes were most commonly levied against consumption of various goods and services. Remember the Stamp Tax, the Tea Tax, and others during the Colonial era. It was taxes such as these that helped give birth to the American Revolution.

Click here to read about IMPORTANT DATES IN U.S. TAX HISTORY

Click here for the IRS' e-zine for understanding taxes.

Click here for a debate on the morality of paying the Federal income tax.

Carnelian is a member of the chalcedony family, a type of quartz. It is colored in bands of red or orange ranging even to brown. The surface is translucent with a shiny luster. It can be found polished or faceted and is once again becoming popular for jewelry.

Carnelian resonates with Aries and is used for energy, physical vitality and initiating activity. Wear Carnelian to shake off sadness, to start a new project, for physical exercise.

Click here to learn more about purchasing Inga's Earth Magic Jewelry.

This is a beautiful and useful item that you can use every day, created by Trevor Trefiro of Seattle! Scott and I have them next to our desks. Sensitivity to the moon’s phase and cycle thru the zodiac can do wonders for the effectiveness of your projects and rituals plus they just look cool on your wall! I have information sheets on Using the Phases of the Moon and on The Moon thru the Signs posted in the Library on this website.

Trevor is selling them for $7 each if you pick one up from him locally or $11 each if you'd like him to ship it to you in a tube. Click here to e-mail him: Infiniteloopdesign@mail.com

Jason P. asks “What do you mean by meditation?”

I use the term “Meditation” for any pure consciousness, or out of body experience. Prayer, guided meditation, meditation in motion and astral travel all qualify as meditation to me. You can practice a mantra. Ponder the attributes of the divine: Truth, Love, etc. Talk to a god or archetype. Relax your senses and allow your inner voice to speak to you. Experience your oneness with the Universe. Above all, take some time several times a week to stop receiving input from the TV, radio, your own inner narration and experience non-ordinary reality by listening to the voice inside you.

Don’t worry if your inner voice doesn’t have much to say at first – It isn’t like you’ve given it much of a chance to get a word in edgewise over the years. There is no trick to meditation, its keys are practice and discipline. You can train yourself to listen. But only if you schedule yourself the time to do it.

We think of this newsletter as a community forum. You, our friends and clients, are welcome to participate. We celebrate diversity and we'll print whatever you send in be it Wiccan, Christian, Pagan, New Age, etc., as long as it reflects Love. You may choose a one-time holiday to write about or have a regular column. We'll give you space and a byline! Please send in your own book reviews, ideas for rituals, ideas about stones, your journal excerpts, your experiences and most of all, ask us questions. We love answering questions!

Charlie, Stewart & Erika all sent in this website: http://www.gaelwolf.com/pendulum.html

A tray of sand below a trembling pendulum recorded Washington's quake. Thousands are now calling it art. (Norman MacLeod/Gaelic Wolf Consulting)

I have also received a couple of good quotes this month…

"Science and math may save the world... but art and culture are what make it worth saving."

We've always wondered what would happen if we got the friends we've made through Inga's Earth Magic (IEM) into a room together. Why? Because every one of us has a unique gift to offer to the world. And if we get enough of us in one place at the same time, something magical is bound to occur.

• When: The 1st Friday of every month. Please join us for dinner. We start eating around 6:30 PM. Or join us for dessert later on!
• Where: Our place (click on LIBRARY in the navigation bar at the top of the screen and then MAP ROOM for directions)
• What to bring: Just your enthusiasm and love! There's a big pot of pasta on the stove and plenty of microbrews and red wine. If you have specific preferences, please bring whatever you'd like.
• How long: Until the witching hour, midnight, at which time Scott turns into a pumpkin. It's quite a sight! If you'd like, you can spend the night on one of the couches with the kitties or bring your sleeping bag and mat and camp out on the floor of Inga's office.
• RSVP: Just let us know in advance via e-mail or phone if you are coming and if you are bringing guests so we don't run out of food or beer!

Scott is on sabbatical. */:-)

Click here to check out our auction items on Ebay!

Click on this link to visit the Amazon home page. If you buy a product through this link, Amazon will pay Inga's Earth Magic a referral fee that we'll use to help offset the cost of our web page. Thanks in advance!

Distribution via e-mail is free of charge. We feel the Internet is a great way to share knowledge and information and very compatible with the environment.

Distribution via US mail is also free but if you'd like to help offset the paper, postage and envelope costs, please send $12. That pays for 12 issues for one year. Please send a check and your name and address to the address listed below. Thanks!

We certainly hope you enjoyed our newsletter. If you are not interested in this information and would like to be removed from this mailing list, please click the e-mail link below and place the word "REMOVE" in the subject line of your message. This message is being sent to you in compliance with the Federal legislation for commercial e-mail (H.R.4176 - Section 101, Paragraph (e)(1)(a)) and Bill s.1618 Title III passed by the 105th US Congress.