March 27, 2026

REMINDER: YOUR SUBMISSIONS ARE ENCOURAGED

A Java Sparrow in Kona, Hawaii

Overview for this week.

1. Bindu's Corner: Bindu has given us a new morning affirmation this week.

2. The Heavens: On the evening of April 1st, the first full moon to rise after the spring equinox will shine in the night sky. Called the Pink Moon and also the Pasech Moon, this first full moon of spring is significant to the annual timing of both Passover and Easter.

3. Navaratri: The nine-day Hindu festival Navaratri, celebrating the divine feminine in the form of the Goddess Durga, concluded Friday, March 27th.

4. Holy Week: In Christianity, this coming week is observed as Holy Week, starting this Sunday, Palm Sunday, and concluding next Sunday, Easter Sunday.

5. Passover: The weeklong Jewish festival Passover (Pesach) also starts in the coming week, beginning the night of the first full moon of spring, Wednesday, April 1st, and running through Thursday, April 9th.

6. Reader Submission: High priestess of living, Queen Bindu, and her son, Dr. Puneet Shroff, have shared some photos from their travels to India to celebrate Navaratri with family.

7. Flock Spotlight: This week, I'm putting a very talented designer I've been working with into the Flock Spotlight, Greer of Greer Interiors.

8. Marathons: The Los Angeles Marathon race organizers made a tough decision earlier this month, allowing runners who were struggling with unseasonably hot weather to finish their race at the 18-mile mark and still receive a race medal.

9. Triathlons: I'm going to be taking on the Running leg for my team in this year's Lavaman Triathlon on the Big Island this Sunday, March 29th. I'll keep the Flock posted and let you know how we did in a future issue.

A Note from Beth

Don't give up hope! 
Please keep praying for Nancy Guthrie's safe return to her family.

Now, to this week's Flock.

Thank you for this thought, Bindu. Keep bringing the light.

April's full moon, the first full moon of spring, called the Pink Moon or the Pasech Moon, will rise next Wednesday evening, April 1st. It is significant for determining when both Passover and Easter Sunday are celebrated. Passover begins the night of the first full moon to rise after the spring equinox, and Easter is celebrated on the following Sunday.

Moss Phlox sublata, cherry trees, and Brassica napus flowers in full springtime bloom.

Navaratri is a nine-day Hindu festival that celebrates the Divine Feminine and the nine forms of the Goddess Durga. There are typically two to four Navaratri celebrations; the primary two are associated with equinoxes: the spring festival, Chaitra Navaratri, and the fall festival, Sharada Navaratri. Chaitra Navaratri started on the last new moon before the vernal equinox, March 19 this year, and continued for the first nine days of the waxing moon, with each day dedicated to a different form of the goddess Durga. The festival is observed with fasting, vegetarian feasts, prayers, spiritual cleansing, folk dances, family, and cultural unity.

What is Navaratri

From: Hindu Life at Yale

Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the Divine Feminine, often associated with Durga Ma, and the Goddesses Saraswati and Parvati. This festival lasts for nine days and nights, during which various forms of the Devi are worshipped. Navaratri celebrates Her various incarnations and victories over terrible demons. One such sacred triumph was a battle against the powerful demon Mahishasura, who could not be killed by any man or God. On the 10th day Durga Ma was victorious. It is believed that Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, was advised to worship the Goddess to ensure victory over his enemy Ravana. During each of the nine days of this battle Rama worshipped a distinct form of the Goddess. He finally achieved victory on the day after Navaratri, known as Vijaya Dashami/Dusshera/Dasara. In Nepal a version of this festival to the Goddess is called Dashain and lasts 15 days with the 10th day called Vijaya or Bijaya Dashami.

Each day of Navaratri has an associated color which devotees are encouraged to wear. 

Ritual observances and even the names of the goddess vary by region and sampradaya.

Ashtami/Kanjak, the last day of Navaratri, is dedicated to honor young girls aged 2-10 as embodiments of the Goddess Durga by offering them special food and gifts. I must thank Bindu Shroff and her son, Dr. Puneet Shroff, for these photos of the Ashtami/Kanjak celebration.

Ashtami/Kanjak treats and gifts. credit: Puneet Shroff

 Presentation of Ashtami/Kanjak gifts. credit: Puneet Shroff

The Christian Holy Week, the week starting on Palm Sunday and culminating in Easter Sunday, commemorates significant events from the Bible leading to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Thursday, April 2nd, marks the end of the forty days of Lent, commemorating the Last Supper, which some theologians and historians argue may have been a Passover Seder.

From: Florida Today, By: Lianna Norman, March 27, 2026

The Easter season will come to a close in a little over a week, on Easter Sunday. But the days leading up to Easter Sunday are equally important to many Christians and Catholics. Holy Week begins this Sunday, March 29, with Palm Sunday.

Each day of Holy Week commemorates different events in the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, according to the Bible.

Holy Week begins one week before Easter, with Palm Sunday this weekend.

Here's the Holy Week 2026 calendar:

• Palm Sunday: Sunday, March 29. Commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
• Holy Monday: Monday, March 30. Commemorates Jesus driving out people selling livestock and changing money in the temple, declaring it a "house of prayer."
• Holy Tuesday: Tuesday, March 31. Commemorates Jesus' final teachings in Jerusalem.
• Holy Wednesday: Wednesday, April 1. Sometimes referred to as "Spy Wednesday," Holy Wednesday commemorates Judas conspiring with local authorities to betray Jesus.
• Holy Thursday, Lent ends: Thursday, April 2. Sometimes referred to as "Maundy Thursday," Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus shared his last meal with his disciples before being arrested and establishes the sacrament of communion.
• Good Friday: Friday, April 3. Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.
• Holy Saturday: Saturday, April 4. Commemorates Jesus's burial.
• Easter Sunday: Sunday, April 5. Commemorates Jesus's resurrection as described in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20 in the New Testament of the Bible.

Passover is the weeklong Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus and the emancipation of Jewish people from slavery in ancient Egypt. In past issues of the Flock, I've posted about the history and traditions of Passover, the Passover Seder meal, and how to set the Seder plate. This year, I am looking more closely at the moon's relationship to the timing of Passover's observance.

From: Chabad.org, By: Aron Moss

I am very connected to the zodiac and was wondering if there is a link between the stars and the timing of Passover. I have also noticed that the Seder always coincides with the full moon. What is the significance of all this?

Answer:

There is indeed deep astrological significance to the date of Passover. We celebrate the festival of freedom on the 15th of the Jewish month of Nissan, the night the Israelites were freed from Egypt. This is the full moon of the month of Aries, the ram.

The Egyptians worshipped the ram as a god. Aries is the leader of the star signs, the first and most powerful, and the Egyptians saw themselves as the leaders of the world, receiving their strength and fortitude from their god, the ram.

So the strongest time for the Egyptians would have been the month of Aries, when their god is ascendant, and the strongest day of that month would be its full moon.

Egyptian power would reach its zenith on the 15th of Nissan, and that is exactly when the Israelites left Egypt. Aries was rendered impotent at its very moment of strength.

But there's more. The Israelites ate a festive meal on the night before the exodus, and the main course was lamb roasted on a spit. They were openly eating the Egyptian deity—the ram—in front of the Egyptians, under the full moon of the strongest month, and they got away with it.

In addition to the Ashtami/Kanjak celebration photos posted above, weekly contributor to the Flock, high priestess of living, Queen Bindu, and her son, Dr. Puneet Shroff, have graciously to shared these photos from the preeminent spiritual site of Sikhism, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.

Bindu and Puneet pose in front of the Golden Temple

I've been working with Greer Interiors on my home in Aspen, and this woman's talent and sense of space blow me away. She's not limited to interiors, either. Scroll down to see the mountain retreat she designed. If you're not in Aspen, no worries, she can come to you.

From: Greer Interiors

Greer is the founder and creative director of Greer Interiors — a design studio built on the belief that true beauty begins with alignment. Her work lives at the intersection of intentional living, modern elegance, and quiet transformation.

With a background in both interior design and project management, Greer approaches every space like a story waiting to be told. She’s not just designing rooms — she’s designing how you move through your life. From the flow of a floor plan to the energy of a corner, every detail is purposeful, personal, and deeply intuitive.

Known for her “simple yet significant” aesthetic, Greer blends clean lines, warm neutrals, and emotional intelligence to create interiors that feel as good as they look.

Your space should be more than stylish — it should be a sanctuary that reflects your values, adapts to your growth, and gently grounds you in who you are, especially when life feels anything but calm.

Whether she’s leading a full-scale renovation or refining the rhythm of a single room, Greer’s process is collaborative and quietly transformative — aligning your home with who you are and who you’re becoming.

For Greer, alignment isn’t a trend. It’s the blueprint.

Greer designed this beautiful and energy-efficient mountain retreat.

The home harvests sunlight through solatubes and exterior light shelves that reflect natural light into the interior.

The West Coast has been experiencing an unseasonal heat wave this spring. On March 8th, during the Los Angeles Marathon, temperatures approached 90°F. Race organizers decided it would be wise to allow participants to finish their race at the 18-mile mark and still receive a race medal. I think they made the correct and responsible decision. I know some may disagree, and most of the runners still chose to finish the full course, but giving runners who may have been having problems dealing with the heat the option to finish early could have saved a few lives, and that's the right choice.

The marathon’s early turnoff point was implemented for athletes “having a tough day” in the warm race day conditions. A new report shows how many runners used it.

From: Runner's World, By: Sean Abrams, March 23, 202

When the Los Angeles Marathon announced its heat-related contingency plan ahead of race day—that runners would be allowed to stop at mile 18 and still pick up a medal—the decision lit up the internet with the usual split-screen debate between following tradition and staying safe.

Now, postrace timing data from the race on March 8 shows how many runners actually opted for an early end to 26 miles.

According to official timing data and postrace statistics that LA Marathon officials shared with Runner’s World, 985 runners chose to end their course at 18 miles and crossed the alternate timing mat. That represents about 4.5 percent of the field.

The mile-18 option was built around an existing split on the course used by charity half-marathoners, giving marathon runners a defined “off ramp” if conditions started to feel unsafe or if they realized they were having a rough day and didn’t want to push deeper into the later miles.

The storms caused by last week's Kona Low on the Big Island of Hawaii have cleared, and I'm excited to compete with my team in the 28th edition of the Lavaman Triathlon this Sunday. I'll be responsible for the running leg of this year's race as part of a three-person relay team. The Lavaman is an Olympic-distance triathlon, a fun race with a friendly, community atmosphere and a great post-race party described as a top-notch celebration of "aloha spirit".

About Lavaman

From: Lavaman Triathlon

Gerry Rott launched Lavaman Triathlon Waikoloa in 1998 in honor of her husband, Nick Rott, who died tragically on a bike training ride in 1994. That first year 83 competitors gathered along the sandy beach of Anaehoomalu Bay ready to take on the 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run as the newest Olympic Distance event on the circuit. Lavaman celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023 after missing two years as a result of Covid. The race grew from the first 83 to an average of 1600 athletesfrom across the United States, Canada and Europe.

Gerry leaves a lasting legacy. She will forever be remembered and admired as a pillar of our sports community devoting her life to helping others make positive changes by living an active lifestyle. Gerry gave extensive contributions to and was an advocate for youth groups along with schools across the Big Island. She was a true champion and inspiration helping to shape the next generation of community leaders through LavaKids. Gerry's LavaKids motto "Kulia I Ka Nu'u", Strive to Reach the Highest will forever remain in our hearts. Mahalo Gerry!

Wild Plumeria

These Flock regulars are always here for you:

Cita Scott for paintings, photography, and culinary art. Cita will be in and out of town all summer. Don't hesitate to give her a jingle. (520) 404-1551

Kimberly Gomer, MS, RD/LDN:

Registered and licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist. Find me on my website at KimberlyGomer.com for information about nutrition coaching.

Sarah Smallhouse & Make Elections Fair ArIzona

– Sign the petition here

Sensitive & Specific: The Testing Newsletter by Mara G. Aspinall and Liz Ruark. Mara is always here to help in understanding testing knowledge and how it's being applied.

Kyria Sabin of Fletcher Pilates:

(520) 323-7070

The Fabric Jeanie!

Tap to learn more. 

(520) 245-0589

Linda Collazo, mezzo-soprano:

for piano and voice lessons

Andres Valbuena: drum selection, drum basics, and more.

Dr. Hayward M. Fox, Ph.D.

The institute of Personal andTranspersonal Knowledge

Tucson Village Farm:

Vegetaable growing in the summer heat.

The Physio ShopThe Physio Shop:

Elite physical therapy services and more.

Icebox Cryotherapy:

Icebox Tucson’s unique enhancers allow you to be your best version! 

Nathan Anderson of Catalina Acupuncture:

(520) 999-0080

Greer Interiors: Insightful, elegant spaces that complement your life. True beauty begins with alignment. 
(970) 570-3039

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our third year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

520-818-4433

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