Wednesday, April 1, 2020

– First Quarter Moon Phase: Step out, Take action

– Aspect of the Aeon Sophia: (Wisdom) Chinnamasta, Goddess who expands the Mind

– Aspect of the Aeon Thelete: (Will/Desire): Ian, God of the East, God of Wisdom

– Sabian Symbol for the Solar-Lunar Year: “A Triangle with Wings”

SUN: 13 ARIES – A bomb which failed to explode is now safely concealed

EARTH: 13 LIBRA – children blowing soap bubbles

The energetics shift today from the challenges of Crescent Moon phase to the boldness that is asked of us with First Quarter Moon Phase. In the cycle of life, First Quarter Moon phase is the time when a seed breaks through the soil to the light of day, ready for new experiences. It’s a time of action and a time when we experience changes and growth.

April Fools.

One of the things I am hoping to do is point out days throughout the year that people celebrate. Each Country, each religious group, tribe, call them what you will, has customs. Some are celebrated by a few. Others are celebrated by a lot.

I think it really hit home for me back in about 2010 when I was working on a programming project. We had a team in India providing coding. One day we arrived in the morning for our Conference call with the team and only one person was there. They mentioned that the rest of the team was off for the next few days for a National Holiday.

I felt . . . stupid to say the least. Here was a group of people I talked with and communicated with daily, on weekends, at odd hours of the day and night. And they all took a couple days off. I was embarrassed because I, here in America, had no clue. 1.4 Billion people in India were celebrating and we did not have a clue.

I vowed that day that I would try to change that ignorance. And not just in myself. But in others. Is it just us here in America that are completely clueless about the holidays around the world? Or are the Chinese, the Indians, the Russians, The Congolese also so insulated that they do not pay attention either? We will have to see.

So. April Fools. The day of playing jokes and pranks on people.

Still my favorite prank played on me ever was when my mother served pancakes to me and my friends on April Fools but cooked old rags into the middle of them. I thought it was kinda gross. But funny. I had one friend who was horrified. That really made the day!

And this is a holiday that has had some legs. They trace it back all the way to Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales – The Nun’s Preist’s Tale. Since it was written in old English and people still have trouble translating it. They are still not exactly sure if April 1 was that day for tricks and jokes. But let’s just go with it. Here is an example of the Old English:

For he that wynketh, whan he sholde see,
Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee!”

            “Nay,” quod the fox, “but God yeve hym meschaunce,
            That is so undiscreet of governaunce
            That jangleth whan he sholde holde his pees.”

            Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees
            And necligent, and truste on flaterye.
            But ye that holden this tale a folye,
            As of a fox, or of a cok and hen,

            Taketh the moralite, goode men.
            For Seint Paul seith that al that writen is,
            To oure doctrine it is ywrite, ywis;
            Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be stille.

I took an Ancient English Lit class in college. All I can say is that if you read it out loud, it makes more sense. We read wonders like Beowulf, The Fairy Queen and Paradise Lost. I cannot say I would recommend it as light reading, but I remember the stories very well. I think it was the effort I had to put into reading it. I Aced the class.

So for April Fools, I hope you enjoyed the day.