The energies of the earth change during the year depending, on the tilt of the earth towards or away from the sun. At the winter solstice the earth starts to change her direction, and in the northern hemisphere the days start to lengthen – even if we are not aware of it. Traditionally, the time of the Winter Crone began at Halloween and ended around the 1st February when she turns into the Spring Maiden.
The Maiden emerges tentatively from the darkness of the underworld. She is born into a land of snow and ice, of grey skies, leafless trees and icy water. She is inquisitive in her new world, exploring her senses and delighting in everything the world shows her. Depending on local tradition, the Snow Maiden can ride an elk, a polar bear, an ermine, a white winter hare, a wolf or a magical animal. She embodies the openness of a young girl, the innocent joy of the heart, and the lack of deception. She is the curious intellect, the explorer, the path finder pushing through the snows.