Spring is Returning!

Out here in Maryland where I live, Spring has definitely returned, with the red buds bursting forth from the twigs and branches of the tree in my front yard that I can see from my home office window. As I drove from Maryland to Virginia, where I currently do palm, tarot, graphology & Lipsology readings at a store called Sacred Circle Books in Old Town Alexandria, I noticed that many of the ornamental cherry trees are already in flower. Not so great for the scheduled cherry blossom parade in DC, but a beautiful sight whenever I get to see those delicate pink blossoms bursting forth.

All the way back in 1989 on the morning of Spring Equinox, I had a dream about writing a song that was more child-like and playful than my normal style, evoking the wonder and sheer joy of the exuberance of spring. When I woke up out of my dream, I wrote the song Spring is Returning. My friend and bandmate, Diana McFadden came up with the wonderful mandolin melody that starts the song and dances through to the end. We recorded the song in 1990 for my first KIVA album called The Healing Art.

When we performed Spring Is Returning, the little kids would come up and dance wearing their fairy costumes and flower crowns and the adults that were still able to express their little “kid-ness” also danced and sang with the band.

Persephone, with buds of green is dreaming from the underworld,
Her dreams become the warm breezes that start to wake the spring.

Chorus:
Everyone: Let’s all get up and dance and sing for
Group 1 – spring is returning,
Group 2 – spring is returning
Everyone: All get up and dance and sing for spring is returning now

Crowned with a star in moon’s bright light, our Eostar does grace the night,
descending to the earth once more on equal day and night.
Chorus

With cloak of rain and scent of dew our Koré is returning, too,
to give the plants new verdant life and creatures will to grow.
Chorus

Oh, Cerredwin with cauldron grey on equal night and equal day
becomes a maiden, laughing gay, to celebrate the spring.
Chorus

Parvati, Shakti Devi come down from Himalayas
to shower us with great delight and dance with us in spring.
Chorus

Oh, Aphrodite starts in spring to set our passions tingling
Some call this thing a fever, she’ll warm you in the spring.
Chorus

While change is dancing everywhere and passion’s growing in the air,
let go of what we do not need and celebrate the spring.

Everyone: We’ll all get up and dance and sing for
Group 1: spring is returning,
Group 2: spring is returning
Everyone: All get up and dance and sing for spring is returning now
Everyone: We’ll all get up and dance and sing for
Group 1: spring is returning,
Group 2: spring is returning
Everyone: All get up and dance and sing for spring is returning, spring is returning, spring is returning now.
Spring Is Returning © 1990 Ariana Lightningstorm

When I think of this song I always get a smile. It’s not deep and serious… it’s just fun. For a lighthearted ritual the Crow Women did that includes my song, check out the post A Theatrical Ostara Ritual.

Recently, I made a picture video for this song. Enjoy!

As they say on YouTube – Subscribe, Like and Share the video!

Happy Spring!

– Ariana Lightningstorm, Spring 2023

header photo of snowdrops by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

For more information about Ariana, including her collected articles here on Pagan Song, her bio, and links to KIVA’s and Ariana’s sites on the web, check out Ariana’s page on Pagan Song.

This post is part of a series by Ariana with posts about her songs for Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox, all with beautiful picture videos for you to enjoy. Check them all out!

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