Vernal Equinox -- It's Spring!

Spring begins today officially at 4:32 pm PDT. The term equinox originates from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because at the equinox night and day are equally long. An equinox occurs in the Spring and Fall when the center of the Sun can be observed to be vertically overhead on the Equator.



The Spring equinox marks the beginning of many calendar systems including Western astrology, Iranian calendar, the Bahá'í calendar, and ancient Eqyptian (Coptic) calendar. The Persian/Zoroastrian calendar marks the new year at the Fall Equinox. The Ancient Mayans marked this shift in the architecture of their temples. During the equinox at Chichén Itzá the rays of the setting sun shine across the stepped northwestern corner of the site's principal temple casting a zigzag shadow that resembles a diamondback rattlesnake in profile. The shadow stretches from top to bottom connecting with the carved stone snake's head at the foot of the balustrade. It is the resurrection of a solar deity called Kukulcán/Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent of the ancient Maya.



It is only in India where tradition uses a Sidereal zodiac that the new year begins around April 14 when the Sun actually enters the first sign of Aries in which it is exalted.

Today's equinox chart has the constellation Leo, the Sun's own sign, rising on the horizon in the nakshatra of Magha. Magha is composed of six stars including the bright fixed star Regulus, which is said to be one hundred time more luminous than our own Sun.



Magha translate as 'the mighty one' and its symbol is a palanquin, the royal seat of the king. Magha gives tyage kshepani shakti, the power to leave the body and is described as a very mystical nakshatra. Watch the media for resurrection themes.

In addition the Sun is transiting the early degrees of Pisces in the nakshatra Uttara Bhadrapada. This lunar mansion has the power to bring cosmic rain, varshodyamana shakti, which is typical of March weather patterns. It consists of two stars, Pegasi and Andromedae which form the two legs of the back part of a funeral bed. Like the myth of Andromeda, it signifies the release of bondage, the release of kundalini, the release of life through death -- the deep sleep of consciousness.



The deity associated with Uttara Bhadrapada is Ahir Bhudhanya, the serpent of the deep. Watch the media for stories about what is happening deep in the oceans, like the History Channel's How the Earth was Made: the Marianas Trench and the CBC's One Ocean. Click here and here for links.





The 8th house placement of the Sun in the Equinox chart gives mixed results for those celebrating this day as their new year. The Sun represents the father and kingship, so its placement in the 8th house would weaken leaders of those countries who follow this calendar as their new year. The 8th house is a dustana house that weakens most planets as it rules the unknown and chronic aspects of life. It is often described as the house of death, sex, and hidden matters. Certainly recent headlines like Church Sex Scandal Reaching the Pope do not bode well for the leader of the Catholic Church. The attack on the Pope that occurred on New Years Day may be repeated, especially around Easter.

I also view the 8th house as giving opportunities for transition, metamorphosis, and longevity. The 8th house is also a place of secret activities and health issues, so the recent push towards passing the US health care bills is marked with a lot of backroom bargaining.

The nicest astronomical moment of the first day of spring will occur in the Western sky just after sunset when the crescent Moon in its sign of exaltation will transit through the nakshatra Krittika that contains star fields of the Pleiades cluster.

Namaste!

UPDATE:
Another cool astrological event this morning -- the Sun released another CME on its far side.