Tides of the Year
Over the course of one year, four mighty tides of energy sweep through and across our planet. They are based on the
position of the earth in relation to the sun and are marked by the two solstices and two equinoxes. Their effects are
readily evident in the pattern of the agricultural year, and they can be seen in our own lives as well, if we only look.
Learning to attune with this tidal energy and to work with its flow rather than fighting upstream can make transitions
smoother, endeavors more productive and magic more fruitful.
The Growing Tide begins at the spring equinox, when the sun enters the sign of Aries. The energy here is projective, dynamic and extroverted. There is a sense of awakening as seedlings push through the softening ground, the first flowers of spring appear, new ideas take hold and possibilities seem endless. The season brings a sense of expansion to all magical plans, it is an excellent time to begin studies toward spiritual enlightenment, initiation and to work magic of growth, gain and improvement. What is undertaken now will manifest six months from now at the autumnal equinox. As the spring season moves on, fields and gardens need to be tended, weeds removed and tender seedlings protected. Magical goals should be cultivated during this time too. Maintain meditation, write in a journal, experiment with ritual and continue to read, research and intuit.
At the summer solstice, when the sun moves into Cancer, the receptive, responsive energy of water takes over from the dynamism of fire. The solstice marks the beginning of the Reaping Tide and the waning light of the sun. In the garden, strawberries, tomatoes, summer squashes and beans are almost ready to harvest. There is a sense of bounty, fecundity and celebration as the season moves toward Lughnassa. Self confidence and satisfaction builds as we begin to reap the benefits of the hard work we put in. Magically, study should be beginning to pay off, skills becoming honed, and goals flourishing. In the garden, it is time to bring in the corn, cut down grains and harvest grapes.
After the gathering comes the Resting Tide. The sun transits into Libra and the intellectual element of air moves to the forefront. The autumn equinox is the point of balance between light and dark before the darkness takes hold. There is a feeling of transmutation about the season. Grapes are pressed into wine, corn and wheat are ground to meal and flour and kitchens overheat with the process of canning. It is a time to assess and process the harvest and store the best in preparation for the coming winter. Magically, the workings and goals set in motion at the spring equinox manifest on the physical plane and study comes to a climax. As the polar complement to the spring equinox, the energy of autumn is receptive, intuitive and introspective. Now is the time to assess progress made, allow inner awareness to come to the surface and decide what you would like to carry into the new year.
The debris of the year will be purged during the Cleansing Tide, which begins on the winter solstice when the sun moves to Capricorn. At this time of year, the vitality of the earth has ended and the fields lie dormant. All things must die to be reborn and under the surface , dead wood is being broken down and purified into nutrients to feed new life. Things will end at this time, so be prepared for changes. The energy of the season is slow and purposeful. The earth and Her creatures slow down to rest and renew; a few days spent hibernating is not a bad idea. At the midway point of the season, what began at the solstice becomes more apparent, the sun’s power is waxing and the earth is moving toward rebirth. Plough Sunday is an old festival in which the ploughs were brought out and blessed for a fertile season and it is still a time to begin preparing for the planting. Clean out cupboards and closets, purify the spirit and gather the tools and lay the groundwork for the new endeavors to be started during the Sowing Tide, when the cycle begins again.
Leave Feedback for the Author