Vernal Equinox (CTD)

The Vernal Equinox, March 21st, is a Festival of the Kithain celebrating be beginning of Spring.

Overview

The first of the two “days of balance,” the Vernal Equinox — or the first day of spring — marks a time when light and darkness stand together as separate but equal powers. When the Seelie and Unseelie originally shared rulership among the fae, the Vernal Equinox heralded the beginning of the end of the Unseelie’s reign. Unseelie kings and queens began making their preparations for the transfer of power that would occur at Beltaine.

Although the Seelie acknowledge this date, and some individuals even hold private ceremonies to mark its passage, they expend most of their energies preparing for what they consider the “real” coming of spring — the Beltaine celebration.

For the Unseelie, the Vernal Equinox serves as a dark reminder of what they've lost. Many Unseelie pointedly ignore it, just as their Seelie cousins ignore the concept of alternating courts. Others spend this day in meditation, trying to find a sense of balance in their lives.

In The Shadow Court

The Shadow Court celebrates the balance of light and dark by lighting fires from alder branches at dawn and dusk. Sacred to the Celtic god Bran, the patron of healing and resurrection, the alder tree retains its foliage longer than most other trees, and thus symbolizes the bridge between the seasons. Dawn and dusk, the threshold times of the day, have more significance on the Equinox than on other days. Ritualists of the Shadow Court attempt to see visions in the smoke from the alder fires of the Vernal Equinox. They hope these premonitions will guide their actions during the part of the year when the brightness of Spring and Summer drives away the shadows they clasp so tightly.

Rule of Conjunction

On certain days, the Dreamstuff in some materials becomes more potent. It is a good idea to harvest materials according to these dates. The following chimerical Dreamstuffs are most potent when gathered on the Vernal Equinox.

• Alder branches
• Stems from common trees
• All feathers
• Poppies
• Wildflowers
• Birch bark
• All seeds
• Jade
• Coral
• Platinum
• Octopuses
• All herbs
• Silver
• Diamond
• Unicorn horn

References

1. CTD. The Shadow Court, p. 45.
2. CTD. Dreams and Nightmares, p. 121.