* 9/1: Mindfulness Day–Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that harm to the Earth and sentient beings results from ignorance of interdependence.
* 9/3: Labor Day–Day to reflect on the sacredness of all work and the value of ethical, meaningful employment.
* 9/8: Animal Day–Day to honor all creatures of the land and to meditate on Deity manifesting as animals – God-Goddess as Ra/Lion & Rait/Lioness (Old Egyptian); Nandi/Bull & Prisni/Cow (Hindu); God as Cernunnos/Stag (Old Celtic) & Mica/Coyote (Lakota); and Goddess as Rhpisunt/Bear Mother (Haida). * 9/8: Death day of Mother Ann Lee (1784), mystic and founder of the Shakers, who worshipped with ecstatic dance and song, and believed Deity to be Father, Son, Mother, and Daughter.
* 9/9: Christian feast of St. Joachim, father of Blessed Mary and grandfather of Blessed Jesus; guide of grandfathers and elderly men.
* 9/13 to 9/19: Paryusana‑‑Jain festival of recitation of holy scripture, fasting, self‑discipline, introspection, and reserve.
* 9/15 (10:11 p.m. EDT): New Moon. * 9/15: International Coastal Cleanup Day. * 9/15 to 9/18: Iroquois Squash Ceremony–in thanksgiving for the squash harvest.
* 9/16 eve to 9/18 eve: Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year (Year 5773)–Commemorates Creation of the World by Elohim, the one universal Deity; begins ten days of self-examination and penitence for harm done.
* 9/17: Christian feast of St. Hildegard von Bingen (d. 1179)–mystic who sang praises to the Holy Spirit as Grace (Caritas) and Wisdom (Sapientia). She recognized the Holy Spirit to be the feminine aspect of the Holy Trinity, and found Her everywhere in Nature.
* 9/19: Appearance of Our Lady of La Salette, Mother of the Harvest (France 1846).
* 9/19 eve to 9/20 eve: Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes–Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.
* 9/19 to 9/29: Ganesha Chaturthi–Hindu festival honoring God Ganesha (son of Goddess Parvati and God Shiva) as the Challenger – creator and remover of obstacles.
* 9/21: International Day of Peace–Day to demonstrate for peace with justice
throughout the world. * 9/22 (10:49 a.m. EDT): Autumn Equinox–Marks the beginning of Autumn and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates the bounty of Mother Earth with feasting and aiding those in need.
* 9/22: Old Slavic Dozhinki–At the end of the grain harvest, God Jarilo/Lado betrays Goddess Morana/Lada, and he returns to the realm of the dead. Morana’s anger and sadness causes the world to become dark, cold, and dead.
* 9/22: World Car-Free Day–Walk, bike, or take mass transit everywhere!
* 9/22 to 9/23: Coya Rayni–Inca festival honoring Moon Goddess Quilla; focus is on purging sickness and evil.
* 9/23: Devi Puja–Day to fast from grains (and meat) and make offerings to Hindu Goddess Maha Devi. Flowers, incense, lamps, and vegetarian food are offered; bells are rung and drums beaten. * 9/23: Taoist festival honoring the Shen of Winds, West, and Autumn; thanksgiving is made for the harvest. Taoists believe the unity of Yin (Eternal Feminine) and Yang (Eternal Masculine) make up the psyche-matter-energy of the eternal all-encompassing Ch’i. * 9/23: Aki-no-Higan–Day Japanese Buddhists mark the time of change by meditating on the impermanence of life. * 9/23: Beginning of Libra (the Scales of Lady Justice).
* 9/25 (A 11/5): Old Egyptian festival of Neter Amen‑Ra‑Atem, the Great God, and Neteret Amenet‑Rait‑Mut, the Great Goddess. * 9/25 eve to 9/26 eve: Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement–Jewish day of fasting, prayer, reconciliation, making reparation for harm done, and helping those in need.
* 9/27 eve to 9/28 eve: Demokratia–Old Greek festival celebrating democracy, constitutional government, and justice under law. Zeus Agoraios, Athena Agoraias, and Themis were honored.
* 9/28: Indigenous Peoples’ Day–Day for honoring Native Americans and their life-affirming spiritual traditions. * 9/28: Birthday of Confucius (K’ung Fu-Tzu) (551 BCE). He taught that societal harmony could be realized when individuals acted with loving care for family, concern for friends and neighbors, benevolence to strangers, and respect for all. * 9/28 eve to 10/7 eve: Greater Eleusinian Mysteries‑‑Old Greek festival recalling Goddess Demeter’s search for Her missing daughter Kore. Devotees honored Demeter (as Mother Nature), Goddess Kore (as the harvested grain), and God Dionysos (as the harvested grape) for bringing life, death, and rebirth.
* 9/29 (11:19 p.m. EDT): Full Moon (Indigo/Wise-Crone Moon). * 9/29: Feast of Michael, Angel of Protection, and Uriel, Angel of Justice. * 9/29: National Estuaries Day–Day to celebrate the complex living community of water, plants, fish, birds, and mammals that live where rivers meet the sea. * 9/29 to 10/7: Navajo Sing–Festival in thanksgiving for the harvest. Estsanatlehi/Changing Woman is believed to represent life, and is manifested in the harvest.
* 9/30: Christian feast of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), Soul of the Universe, and source of faith, hope, and love. * 9/30: Birthday of Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207), Sufi saint and poet. He believed the soul to be one with Deity, and thought ecstatic experience of Deity could be attained with music, whirling dance, and chanting Deity’s holy names. * 9/30 eve to 10/7 eve: Sukkot/Feast of Ingathering.
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC’S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2012
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2011 Marija Miovski
www.WheeloftheYear.com
