The Tide of Air begins February 1st, reaches its peak at the spring equinox (March 20-21) and
concludes April 30th. As a whole this tide is concerned with new beginnings, bringing to birth new
ideas and activities, and thus it resonates with the magical direction of East, where the sun rises to start
the new day. The renewing power of this tide also makes it significant for healing, and restoring
balance. In esoteric traditions we find this is also the time of the reappearance of the Maiden of Light
and her foster child.
Clustered around the beginning of February are energies and traditions particularly associated with preparation,
anticipation and blessing of new things, which is why many spiritual workers bless candles and objects of healing
around this time. Because of its forward-moving inner momentum, early February is also a good time for
working with the powers of foresight and farsight.
The equinox is when day and night are in balance and it marks the beginning of the ascendancy of light over dark
which will culminate on the summer solstice. It is of course the first day of spring, with its associations of birth
and renewal, and is thus the time of the resurrection of deities, and the magical re-creation of the cosmos. The
latter often involves the recitation of sacred stories of creation and origin, but it's easiest and perhaps most
powerful form is a simple breathing or sounding of the vowels in reiteration of the primal utterance or song of
creation.
