With a few bursts of warm weather and a few courageous buds pushing through the cold ground, spring is slowly coming upon us. What does this mean for pagans and others connected to the earth? A lot. It means that our inner and outer worlds are slowly beginning to shift, to change, to move. Our cycles are no longer concerned with winter's introspective hibernation but with a new, springly extroversion. It is no surprise that EarthSpirit is slowly beginning to re-sprout during this period. While many were skeptical when she began to shed her seeds last fall, and while many lost hope during these long winter months, it is clear that EarthSpirit has prerogatives independent from her participants'. She is now stronger than ever. With rapidly growing membership, a budding new leadership, new social action projects, rituals and subcommittees, and a growing relationship with Northern Hills UU Fellowship's group, EarthSpirit has taken on an active life of her own. When our ancestors took notice of a slowly budding spring, we can only imagine the thankfulness they must have felt for the relief from winter's harshness. To celebrate this gratefulness, in fact, a series of rituals now known as the fire festivals were initiated. These ceremonies focused on the aesthetics of life, our need for relationship, and hope for a successful new year. EarthSpirit has chosen this time for her reemergence. So be it. Yours in faith, Lucas Hergert, EarthSpirit Interim Chair * Lucas Hergert was ordained in both the Fellowship of Isis and in another Pagan tradition. He is currently a student of religion and ethics at Miami University. Contact us with questions.