The question of how wiccans in the Southern Hemisphere should celebrate the seasonal festivals is an old one on here (ie: whether to have Beltane in November, etc
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I've thought about this before to a certain extent, even just contemplating the different traditions and how some people start in the North instead of the East, or even the North-East, and how some use different colours for each of the cardinal directions, etc. I've reflected on my own current geography and how it would almost make more sense to switch the Air/Water associations because of the Westerlies and the Atlantic (relatively close by, compared to the Pacific, and ignoring Lake Ontario to my immediate South). However I understand that the East is also associated with Dawn, which wouldn't have to change. Also geographically, the cold barren Earth is to the North in the tundra, and to the South is the equator where it certainly gets Hot, hence fire.
However in the Southern Hemisphere, suddenly that equator is to the North, and the cold barren is to the South.
To a certain extent, I'm not sure if it matters what is associated where, as long as it works for you. I haven't tried so I don't know for sure, but I couldn't see why differing associations couldn't still work, as long as you're personally consistent.
As a sort of aside, you know the old saying "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.. etc?"
I'm pretty sure that originated in the Northern Hemisphere (shepherding here being a relatively new (~150 years) pastime), right?
Well, in New Zealand, pretty much all our weather comes from the west. So a red sky at night, showing light refracting through water in the atmosphere, would be a warning that wet weather is on the way. And red sky in the morning is a sign that wet weather has just been over. Whether the wetness would bring delight or warning is another matter (we're in drought here so rain=dancing farmers).
Of course, it doesn't rhyme if you say it the way it actually works here, so people still use it. ;-)
However in the Southern Hemisphere, suddenly that equator is to the North, and the cold barren is to the South.
To a certain extent, I'm not sure if it matters what is associated where, as long as it works for you. I haven't tried so I don't know for sure, but I couldn't see why differing associations couldn't still work, as long as you're personally consistent.
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As a sort of aside, you know the old saying "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.. etc?"
I'm pretty sure that originated in the Northern Hemisphere (shepherding here being a relatively new (~150 years) pastime), right?
Well, in New Zealand, pretty much all our weather comes from the west. So a red sky at night, showing light refracting through water in the atmosphere, would be a warning that wet weather is on the way. And red sky in the morning is a sign that wet weather has just been over. Whether the wetness would bring delight or warning is another matter (we're in drought here so rain=dancing farmers).
Of course, it doesn't rhyme if you say it the way it actually works here, so people still use it. ;-)
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