Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. For this week’s Mermaid Monday blog post, I have decided to discuss how the two meanings of Spring in Nature entwine and overlap. Spring is a season, but Spring is also a word to describe a natural water site, like the Red and White Springs in Glastonbury!
The fact that we have two meanings for Spring in the English language that relate to Nature (in addition to the non-Nature related meanings of the word, gotta love the complexity of the English language), has really been on my mind lately. This is partially because we are finally in March, and the season of Spring is truly in the air. However, this is also because of the theme of this year’s Water Priestess Confluence, which just happened this past weekend. I spoke at the Water Priestess Confluence, which was my first time speaking at a conference, but more on that later this week when I have time to write a reflection post! Anyway, the theme of the Water Priestess Confluence was Sacred Springs: The Healing Power of Water. That is why I discussed Melusine’s Lady of the Fountain aspect in my lecture.
So, that brings us to the deeper meditation on the two meanings of the word Spring that we find in Nature. Yes, Spring is the Vernal time, the time when new life springs forth (hence why we call the season Spring). Everything is blooming and growing green, but it is also a time when, early on in the season, we have much rain. The rain comes forth to nourish the soil and ultimately promote the green growth of new life as the flowers and plants burst forth from the earth! So, even the Spring season has watery connections, with the rainy weather needed to nourish the thirsty land. The other Spring is the natural Wells, the Fountains of Water held within the earth. The Spring is a natural water source, one bubbling with healing and potential! That is why we often buy Spring Water to drink, if we do not have access to Spring Water from a clean local source, as we know it is purer, healthier, and more hydrating than filtered water. Beyond that, Springs often hold Sacred Waters and Healing Waters. This is certainly true of my two cited examples of Sacred Springs above, the ones found in Glastonbury. The Red Spring (also known as the Chalice Well) has red iron-oxide-rich waters that are very healing. The White Spring holds white calcium-rich waters, which are also healing.
So, we can see that the Spring season and the natural Water Springs both hold a connection to renewal and healing. Whether that is healing of the body, the mind, the spirit, or the Land herself. Beyond this, there can be a link to fertility with both types of Spring. After all, the Spring season is a time of great fertility when things grow in abundance, and many Sacred and Healing Springs have connections with fertility. It has been a tradition to visit certain Sacred Springs across the world when seeking to be cured of infertility for centuries. For more on these traditions, I highly recommend reading the incredible book Wisht Waters by Gemma Gary, as she dives deep into the folklore and traditions associated with many Springs in that book!
It really is incredible to think about how all of these various connections can be made through examining the use of language. I often look to language, whether it is through connections like the one I have examined today, or through the study of stories, to find deeper meanings in life. And, I have to say, this is a very beneficial activity for me!
I hope you have enjoyed this meditative exploration of two meanings of the word Spring. What other words that mirror one another can you think of related to Nature? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is a gorgeous artwork titled Sacred Spring by Cher Lyn. I found the art on https://www.artstudioprints.com/store/art_print_products/sacred-spring.
LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries
Further Reading
- Wisht Waters by Gemma Gary