Spring 2026 - 5786 Adar Anticipation!

Finding the Rhythm: The Joy of Adar and Ancient Earth Calendars

Are you curious about Adar? Recently I've been diving into the calendar the Creator established centuries ago—the one that sets the stage for the special Holy Days. Right now, we are in the month of Adar, and the more I learn, the more I realize how much this ancient Hebrew system speaks the same language as the traditional First Nations calendars here in North America.

Are you ready for the "Quickening"?

A Calendar of Observation

One of the most striking similarities is that both systems are Lunisolar.

In the Hebrew tradition, a month begins the moment the silver sliver of the new moon is sighted. Similarly, many Indigenous cultures track time by the "Moons." Both cultures understand that time isn't just a linear line; it’s a circle.

Just as the Hebrew calendar adds a "leap month" every few years to keep the spring festivals in sync with the sun, First Nations elders traditionally observed the behavior of animals and plants to know when a season had truly turned, ensuring their lives stayed in harmony with the Great Spirit’s design.

The Original Design: The Lights in the Sky

When I first started looking into why we follow these specific months, I went back to the very beginning. In the first chapter of the Bible, HaShem (the Creator) is very clear about why He placed the sun and moon where they are:

"And Elohim said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs (otot), and for seasons (moadim), and for days, and years." — Genesis 1:14

In the original Hebrew, the word for "seasons" is moadim, which doesn't just mean "winter or summer." It literally means "appointed times" or "sacred meetings." The word for "signs" is otot—divine marks in the sky left for us to follow.

It’s amazing to think that the same moon we see tonight is the same ot (sign) HaShem gave to people centuries ago. Whether it was the ancient Israelites tracking the moadim or the First Nations elders watching for the "Crowning Moon" or "Goose Moon," we were all looking at the same divine clock. We understood that the lights in the sky weren't just decoration—they were an invitation from the Creator to meet with Him at the right time.

The Spirit of Adar: Transforming Gloom to Joy

In Hebrew teachings, Adar is the happiest month of the year. There is a famous saying: "Mishenichnas Adar, marbin b'simcha"—When Adar enters, joy increases.

It is a month of "hidden miracles" and the famous "turn-around" (Nahafoch hu), where gloom is transformed into victory. This mirrors many Indigenous teachings about this time of year:

• The Quickening: As the final month before the "New Year" of Spring (Nisan), many First Nations recognize this late-winter period as "The Quickening"—when life begins to stir beneath the snow.
• Transformation: The "Sugar Moon" or "Budding Moon" teaches us how the harsh winter is transformed into the sweet life-blood of the trees, much like the joy that increases in Adar.
• The Seen and Unseen: During Adar, people often wear masks to celebrate Purim, symbolizing that HaShem is often "hidden" in nature. This resonates deeply with the respect many Indigenous cultures have for the "seen and unseen" worlds.

Preparing the Heart: The Season of the Turn!

Adar isn’t just an ending—it’s a vibrant threshold! In the Hebrew tradition, this month is the joyful gateway to the first great moed (appointed time) of the year: Nisan, the month of redemption and Passover.

Just as First Nations people we prepare our homes and hearts for the return of life-giving sap and the migration of the birds, as Messianic believers we use these final days of Adar to "clean house" spiritually with bold anticipation. We aren't just waiting; we are stepping into the Spring New Year—expectant, joyful, and wide-awake! We are watching the same otot (signs) in the sky that have guided the faithful for generations. Nisan, the month of miracles, is almost here!