The Spring Equinox, Egypt, & the Garden of Eating

It is March 20^th and the spring equinox, a day in which the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night is equal. Although the weather in NYC still screams f*ck! I am cold, wear a sweater, fleece, down jacket, scarf, and hat, one can feel the sunshine itching to break through more profoundly, to make his royal presence more clear. Hello Mr. Sun, father Ra, please come out to play.

A cleansing period of rebirth and renewal, for many of us in the west it is also the concurrent celebration of Easter or Passover. I am feeling the intensity of it all, the need to peel layers away like a plump sweet red onion unfolding, to remove the debris and attachments that do not serve. And although by no means easy of course to delve deep into one’s soul, to honor one’s strengths and shadows and to simply let go, the time is now.

Don't fear the bears!

  

I am called to head to Central Park, chugging through the wind tunnels of 79^th street until I reach the entrance near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is around noon and hoards of children sit near and around, munching through paper bag lunches with sandwiches and fruit and some brave/ polar bear mimicking souls even enjoying ice cream. I follow the trail around the noble building, passing the trio statue of bears and elegant trees still lined with snow, ducking under the stone archway and past many more clusters of kids before reaching the sacred obelisk.

Strolling through Central Park

The obelisk is a regal site, an Egyptian artifact that was commissioned by a pharaoh in 1450 BC. It is the oldest man-made object in the park also affectionately known as Cleopatra’s Needle, a gift from the Egyptian Khedive to America in exchange for money to modernize his country. Moving the 71 foot, 244 ton monument from Egypt to New York was a laborious and complicated process and on January 22, 1881 crowds flooded the park to celebrate the arrival. So it goes there is a time capsule buried under the obelisk that includes an 1870 U.S. census, the Bible, Webster’s Dictionary, the complete works of Shakespeare, a guide to Egypt, and a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence. Pretty sweet, no?

The Obelisk

I want to touch the sanctified statue yet signs of construction and renovation prevent me from doing so, the guard rails and tape crying “do not pass go”. And I listen, unlike my customary self who would prefer to invent my own rules, and head to a local tree instead for a chat. I am carrying a crystal to be buried and carnations, cacao beans, and incense as an offering. With the crystal I attempt to do a soul retrieval, taking back a piece of myself that I have given away and also letting go of a relationship attachment from the past. I hold the crystal tightly in my hand, closing my eyes and praying for such intentions before digging a hole in the earth next to the tree with my bare hands, the exposed skin on my hands subjected to the brutal air. I bury the crystal with my negative thoughts, attachments, etc., asking for a cleansing from gaia, pachamama, Mother Earth. And to her, and to the elements, my ancestors, and spirit guides, I gift the carnations, cacao, and incense.

I would have loved to stay put for a bit longer to meditate and pray but the chilly weather makes it prohibitive and instead head to the nearest holy sanctuary, a Methodist church on 86^th street. It is nearly empty with the exception of an anxious African sister. I send her love as I sit on the wooden pew to continue my equinox task of releasing, feeling like a molting bug as I remove my heavy outer-coat. Eventually I peruse the bible texts curious to read their version of genesis, which is quite unforgiving and depicts Eve’s consumption of the apple to be a truly evil act. Wow. I do not concur but am pleased regardless to experience such idiosyncrasies. I see Eve as simply curious, hungry, human (and probably damn sexy in a loin cloth!)

With the feeling of gratitude and grace I head home to whip up something sweet, which although were made with heart and pure intention turned out to be a complete baking bomb. I spontaneously through together some ingredients- vegan butter, flax "egg", vanilla, baking soda, salt, flour, coconut sugar, a bit of cacao, some with dried coconut, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. The vegan uncooked dough looked/felt the correct texture but turned out a bit flat and oily after being in the oven. Oh well. Eve ate them anyway.

The cookies look promising...

but alas aren't so kind to the eyes.