Spring in australia (or NZ where from I originate) is very different from spring in the US. It's not as simple as just 'turn the wheel upside down' like a lot of northern pagans will have people believe.
Fall is amazing here in the US. Suddenly I 'get' Samhain like I never did before at home. The seasons - are hugely different in NZ. Depending on where you are in the world seasons may be shorter, or even non-existant. I think it's really important to realize that these catagories will only be useful for your location.
I agree with gemmagic. These catagories can be helpful as a guideline for structure in your own personal spiritual path but can easily come to define it. They will change depending on the person, their experience with deity, and also their experience with the natural patterns in their locality.
In the US I now live in a place where crops are grown. Corn, rice, wheat, cotton etc. I walk outside my front door and I see these crops. Their rise and fall effects my local economy, and my view each day. I walk outside right now and I get the idea of fall being a time of death. My fields are burning. In New Zealand autumn was simply wet and muddy and cold and in New Zealand not many crops are grown. Farming is mostly dairy and sheep. Lots of grapes/wine and kiwifruit too. So summer being a time for gods/goddesses of harvest/plants does not really make sense in New Zealand. Actually it's more likely a time for animals.
To give an example pertaining to diety - in New Zealand summertime I associated much more with Deities associated with the ocean, and the tides. Because I was at the beach almost every day. The ocean was warm enough to swim in. So for me I would have a connection with the Ocean Mother.
Living in an Island, surrounded by ocean - which controlled so much of life (including seafood harvests) where you have a lady of the moon i would be more likely to have an 'ocean goddess'. The moon has an effect on the tides, but the ocean is much more than just that to me.
This kind of structure always seemed to hinder my spiritual growth. The catagorization etc that I came across in Wicca 101 books. I always felt they boxed things in too much and compartmentalized things that just don't fit neat catagories. I guess what you have here is a personal list for your own personal spiritual path - so not surprising that it won't translate to mine :P If it helps you then great :)
Fall is amazing here in the US. Suddenly I 'get' Samhain like I never did before at home. The seasons - are hugely different in NZ. Depending on where you are in the world seasons may be shorter, or even non-existant. I think it's really important to realize that these catagories will only be useful for your location.
I agree with gemmagic. These catagories can be helpful as a guideline for structure in your own personal spiritual path but can easily come to define it. They will change depending on the person, their experience with deity, and also their experience with the natural patterns in their locality.
In the US I now live in a place where crops are grown. Corn, rice, wheat, cotton etc. I walk outside my front door and I see these crops. Their rise and fall effects my local economy, and my view each day. I walk outside right now and I get the idea of fall being a time of death. My fields are burning. In New Zealand autumn was simply wet and muddy and cold and in New Zealand not many crops are grown. Farming is mostly dairy and sheep. Lots of grapes/wine and kiwifruit too. So summer being a time for gods/goddesses of harvest/plants does not really make sense in New Zealand. Actually it's more likely a time for animals.
To give an example pertaining to diety - in New Zealand summertime I associated much more with Deities associated with the ocean, and the tides. Because I was at the beach almost every day. The ocean was warm enough to swim in. So for me I would have a connection with the Ocean Mother.
Living in an Island, surrounded by ocean - which controlled so much of life (including seafood harvests) where you have a lady of the moon i would be more likely to have an 'ocean goddess'. The moon has an effect on the tides, but the ocean is much more than just that to me.
This kind of structure always seemed to hinder my spiritual growth. The catagorization etc that I came across in Wicca 101 books. I always felt they boxed things in too much and compartmentalized things that just don't fit neat catagories. I guess what you have here is a personal list for your own personal spiritual path - so not surprising that it won't translate to mine :P If it helps you then great :)
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