Pagan Origins of Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is the remnants of a pagan ritual to wake up the sun. 

Originally, the groundhog was a bear, or fox or badger and someone would go into the cave to wake them up. The bear is an earth and solar symbol. 

The winter solstice represents the sun going to sleep and a period of hibernation on earth. Six weeks later, by the time midwinter rolls around, we realize that we need to wake up the earth and initiate the spring. So we go into the burrow of a hibernating animal, who symbolizes nature and we wake them up. 

This ritual got blended with farmer’s almanac-type weather predictions. The science behind Groundhog Day:

If the groundhog see his shadow, it means that the skies are clear and there is little moisture in the air, so spring is not yet coming. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, then the skies are overcast. This means that there is moisture in the air and spring rains are imminent. 

I think this is an interesting depiction of humanity’s interaction with nature. Humans use symbols and rituals to interact with and affect the Earth. After a period of darkness, we are the ones to awaken the light so that spring will come. The impetus for the unfolding of spring happens in the dark and is unseen yet we experience the effects thereof. 

I’ve been thinking about ayahuasca recent. I haven’t drank it in over a year and it is time. I keep getting reminded that I need to have a journey.

I celebrated Midwinter by cleaning my temple space. I temporarily abandoned my temple. I kept my meditation practise and it is time for more. I’ve been putting it off a lot. I painted the space, which is great. I cleared it. Really procrastinating. Considering more procrastination by setting up more ornate alters. Yes, that’s what I need- more ornate alters…

Ego are wonderful. 

I’ve been thinking about ayahuasca. 

I experience terror and extreme discomfort when I drink ayahuasca. And I am always very glad that I do the journey. The solution is ayahuasca regularly. The transition gets smoother. 

The mind fuck is terrifying because I am really free yet I pretend to be limited and then I get afraid that the limitation is real.

In the past, I would experience peak discomfort and just as I couldn’t handle any more, extreme bliss. I have had beautiful, ecstatic experiences wrenching into buckets.

Horrible grind, tension, knots in my belly. Fear of my mind, paranoia and then sheer ecstasy, waves of pleasure, beauty, peace; perfect bliss.

Fear of everyone else, fear that they are trying to hurt me, use me, violate me, exploit me.

Fear of there being someone in my head & body. [lol]. Absolute terror of death, life, communication. Having a body, being out of alignment. Afraid that I’ve been doing it all wrong. Afraid of being alone. Afraid of not being alone. 

I am afraid of The Presence wanting to hurt me or fuck with my mind. It’s like being afraid of myself.

I drink the medicine because it is the most fun thing ever. Non-euclidean space rocks ! and so does creating my reality with my mind. 

Im so afraid of the beings because I can only see them with my 3rd eye and the depth perception is so weird and they don’t exactly incarnate. They shape shift. I feel like these beings are my family and they love me and they love to co-create. 

They ask me to trust in peace and ease and I feel so afraid that I’ll do it wrong. Just so afraid. False Evidence Appearing Real. 

Afraid of dying, afraid of lying. Afraid of living a lie. 

It feels amazing in my third eye and so peaceful. The light show in my head is incredible.