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The Spring Equinox

The 2008 spring equinox in the northern hemisphere occurs Wednesday, March 19, at 10:49pm PDT; 05:49 UT 3/20, when the Sun enters Aries. It is one of the two days of the year that the Sun moves across the celestial equator, the imaginary line among the stars that lies directly above the Earth's equator circling from east to west. The Sun's crossing of the celestial equator occurs one other time on the autumn equinox. Both times this crossing occurs, the Sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west!

Note: In spring the Sun springs up above the celestial equator moving toward the northernmost position of the summer solstice Sun; in the fall it falls below the celestial equator moving toward the southernmost position of the winter solstice Sun.

Celestial Sphere ~ Key Concepts

[Image]

The Sun crosses the celestial equator at both equinoxes.
The Sun is ascending "springing" in March, and descending "falling" in September.

On the Equinox, the Earth and Sun are in perfect balance and harmony, as the sun is centered between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and centered between earth and sky. This creates a sacred cross of balancing energy that naturally harmonizes the planet and humanity. Aluna Joy

Spring Equinox
A new healing balance comes into play.

Surprise your friends with these Equinox Facts:

At every equinox the day is really longer than the night!

The word "equinox" means "equal night," and it refers to a time when the period of daylight and the period of darkness are equal, amounting to 12 hours each. In reality it refers to an instant in time at which the Earth is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun. Since the Earth's tilt relative to the Sun is constantly changing, the 12-hour symmetry can be only approximately true anywhere. However, if you look at the sunrise sunset times for your location, you find that it is several minutes off on this date! The date on which there is closest to 12 hours of daytime and 12 hours of dark is several days earlier (on the March 17 in Denver). Why? It's because the refracting or bending effects of the Earth's atmosphere alters the observed time of sunrise and sunset. The Sun rises a little earlier and sets a little later due to this effect, causing the observed equinox to precede the true equinox by a few days in Spring. In the fall it follows it by a few days. Larry Sessions at Space.com

Only on the equinox does the Sun move in a perfectly straight line across the sky.

A time exposure any other day reveals the Sun on a curving path that's concave toward the north during the warm half of the year, and toward the south during the cold months. But on March 2O the solar track is laser-straight. Bob Berman Astronomy Magazine 4/03

You can use this day to "orient yourself."

You can calibrate your sundial, that chore you've been putting off for so long. You can orient yourself and figure out which windows of your house face where. The term "orient yourself" originally arose because if you knew which way the Orient lay, you could correctly point east. It's true, scout's honor. Bob Berman Astronomy Magazine 4/03

The Sun's crossing the celestial equator, rising exactly due east and setting due west, has a "driving" significance in your everyday life!

If you're driving to work at sunrise and traveling east on a due east highway you will actually see the sun rise directly over the yellow line in the middle of the road. And conversely if you're driving west on a due west highway at sunset you will see the Sun set directly over the yellow line in the middle of the road. In fact I would venture to say that there will be more sun visors down on the first day of spring and the first day of autumn than on any other days of the year. Star Gazer

The spring equinox will start to occur in Aquarius in 2597.

The point the Sun occupies at the equinox creeps westward among the stars. Two millennia ago it was in the constellation Aries, and the equinoctial spot is sometimes still called "the first point of Aries." In the year 69 B.C., however, it moved into Pisces, where it's been ever since. The 25,780 year precessional wobble in our axis is the culprit. We have another 600 years before the true age of harmony and understanding, when telephone solicitors will stop calling on weekends and supermarkets will again stock tasty tomatoes. Bob Berman Astronomy Magazine 4/03

Why Is Spring Called Spring ...
... and what does this have to do with our founding fathers?
You'll enjoy this cartoon!

Why Has the Date Changed for Start of Spring?
The first day of spring used to be
March 21. It is now March 20.
Note: Europe experiences it's last March 21
equinox in 2007, and not again until 2102.

More spring equinox facts from Learning About the Seasons:

The direct rays (of the Sun) are at the equator

Six months of daylight begins at the North Pole

Six months of darkness begins at the South Pole

It is the longest day of the year on the equator (autumn equinox is the longest day, again)

The sun rises due east and sets due west

Spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere

Autumn begins in the Southern Hemisphere

Global Meditations ~ Spring Equinox

International Earth Day
March Equinox
Thursday, March 20, 2008

Learn about St. Francis and the birth of Earth Day.
Take a moment to say the St. Francis Prayer.
Singing the St.Francis Prayer

Worldwide Didgeridoo Meditation
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sunset your time

This meditation is a worldwide link-up of people
supporting environmental and personal awareness.
It is held on the equinoxes and solstices.
Starting at sunset participants are asked to play or
listen to meditative music (preferably didgeridoos)
for 45 minutes and then to sit silently for 15 minutes.

Healing Our Oceans ~
Marine Meditation
March Equinox
8:00pm your time
Thursday, March 20, 2008

This "Wave" meditation directs healing and loving
energies to the oceans of the world and will circle
the planet during this 24-hour period.
Gather for "Healing the Oceans of the World"
at a body of water or a sacred site.
The following link is related ...
Golden Water Activation Meditation
Merge with dolphin and whale consciousness.

Solar Wave 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
13:20 - 13:52 Your Local Sidereal Time (LST).

Do you have 32 minutes to change the world?
The 14th Annual Solar Wave is going Galactic!
Calculate your LST and learn why it is important to
this meditation. This stellar synchronized 24 hour
global equinox event is the call to the awakening
masses to join together to activate a Huge Stellar
Wave of POSITIVE MASS CONSCIOUSNESS, to usher
in the age of PEACE, HARMONY, LOVE, COMPASSION
& IMPECCABILITY. March 21 is Mayan New Year!
Network the Wave. Invite others to participate.
Plan an event in your living room, or fill a stadium!

Gaiafield Equinox
Planetary Healing Meditation
Monday, March 31
11:00am-12:00pm PDT; 18:00-19:00 UT

This global meditation broadcast links groups at
Findhorn (Scotland), the Tree of Life (Arizona),
and the California Institute of Integral Studies.
The event will be a one-hour ceremony involving
chanting, music, silent meditation, and prayers for
peace, with contributions from all three live venues.
Free Online Broadcast

Current and Ongoing Global Meditations

May new life sping up within you!

I'd like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky and
if you'd like reminders to Look Up! ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun

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