Ostara
Solstice
Again did the earth shift
Again did the nights grow short
And the days long

And the people
of the Earth were glad
and celebrated
each in their own ways
- Diane Lee Moomey

Around March 20/21, we celebrate Ostara, the Spring Equinox, which heralds the beginning of spring and the of the agricultural year On this day darkness and light are in balance. From this day onward, day will dominate the night and the Earth will explode with life. Ostara is a celebration of this renewal and rebirth of nature and warming of the Earth. As mirrors of the world around us, this is an ideal time to put plans into action for growth in our own lives, to actively encourage change.

Ostara is named after Eostra or Ostara, who is the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring to whom offerings of cakes and colored eggs were made at the Vernal Equinox. Rabbits were sacred to her, especially white rabbits, and she was believed to take the form of a rabbit.

It is time for the Earth to "spring" into action and for us to initiate and celebrate new beginnings. One of the most universal symbols of this Sabbat is the planting of seeds and the sprouting of new life from the womb of the Earth Mother. The Vernal or Spring Equinox marks the beginning of the "light" half of the year, when day gradually becomes longer than night. From now until Autumn, the power of the Goddess dominates our festivities bringing light, warmth and fertility to the earth. The courtship of the God and Goddess commences with this Sabbat and this is an appropriate time to focus on the balance of male and female energies within ourselves.

In the Pagan Wheel of the Year, this is the time when the great Mother Goddess, again a virgin at Candlemas, welcomes the young Sun God unto her and conceives a child of this divine union. The child will be born nine months later, at Yule, the Winter Solstice.

The word "Easter" is derived from the word "Eostre" and the symbols used to celebrate Easter have pre-Christian origins. The Easter bunny reminds us of the hare, the animal most sacred to the Goddess Diana and the eggs that the hare brings symbolize new beginnings, rebirth, continuity and growth. Have you ever wondered why Easter changes dates and months from year to year? Interestingly it is always the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox!

A tradition that did not exactly move over into the popular celebration of Easter was having sex in freshly plowed fields. This tradition came from the pagan farmers who would finish plowing and planting their fields. Once the crops were all planted, the farmer and his wife would make love in the field, the idea being that the fertility of their sexual act would help the plants grow into a bountiful crop. Another variant of this is leaping in the fields. Instead of having sex in the freshly plowed fields, the farmer and his family would go out into the field and leap as high as they could into the air, the idea being that the crops would grow as high as their leaps into the air. This is an example of sympathetic magick, where the crops are supposed to imitate the actions of the farmer's family.

For pagans, this is a day of preparation. Reconsecrating magikal tools, balancing their energies for new work. Blessing seeds for the spring planting, or starting your garden by cleaning the area and tilling the soil. It's a good time for the lady to acquire a new broom and for the gentleman to craft a new staff.

It's also a time for introspection. Meditation and evaluation of the current events and attitudes in your life. Examine where you might be unbalanced and where you might need to let go of the past and prepare for a fertile future. If you've been working extra hard during the winter months, then now you should turn some attention to home and hearth. If you've secluded yourself from the world other than school and work, then now turn some attention to family and friends.

Ostara Correspondences:

Other Names: Ostre, Alban Eiler, Mean Earraigh, Pasch, Caisg, Pess

Date: Spring Equinox (March 20-22 in Northern Hemisphere) or when the Sun is 1 degree Aries.

Symbolism: The beginning of spring, new life and rebirth, the God and Goddess in Their youth, balance, fertility

Goddesses: all love, virgin, and fertility Goddesses; Anna Perenna (Roman), Aphrodite (Greek), Astarte (Canaanite), Athena (Greek), Cybele (Greco-Roman), Blodeuwedd, Eostre (Teutonic), Flidais (Irish), Gaia (Greek), Hera, Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian), Isis (Egyptian), Libera (Roman), Minerva (Roman), The Muses (Greek), Persephone (Greek), Renpet (Egyptian), Venus (Roman)

Gods: all love, song & dance, and fertility Gods; Adonis (Greek), Attis (Greco-Roman), Cernunnos (Celtic), The Great Horned God (European), Liber (Roman), Mars (Roman), Mithras (Persian), Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian), Thoth, Pan (Greek), the Green Man

Symbols: Eggs, rabbits

Foods: Hard-boiled eggs, honey cakes, fresh fruits, milk punch, leafy green vegetables, dairy foods, apples, nuts, flower dishes, sprouts
Plants & herbs: Acorn, celandine, cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil, dogwood, Easter lily, gorse, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, jonquils, narcissus, olive, peony, rose, tansy, violets, woodruff and all spring flowers
Incense and oils: African violet, jasmine, rose, strawberry, lotus, magnolia, ginger and any flower

Colors: Light green, lemon yellow, and pale pink

Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, red jasper
Animals and mythical beasts: Rabbits, snakes, unicorns
Decorations: Daffodils, tulips, violet, iris, narcissus, any spring flowers, eggs, butterflies, cocoons

Spell/ritual work: Garden/plant blessings, balance, growth, communication

Planetary ruler: Mars

Activities:

Spring cleaning (new beginnings)
sunrise observances (to celebrate the growing light of the sun)
sowing and planting done ceremonially
ashes from the Ostara eve bonfire mixed with the planting seed as a fertility charm
eating of cake and cider in the planting fields
burying a piece of the cake then pouring a cider libation to show the earth what it is expected to produce
Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on the Magick of nature
moon cakes which are round cakes marked on top by a cross dividing it into quarters or "farls" symbolizing the quarters of the moon and the four elements - they are the original hot cross buns
Have a traditional breakfast of buns, ham, and eggs.
On Ostara Eve, light a purple or violet candle and burn patchouli incense. Carry them both through the house, and say:
Farewell to wintry spirits and friends; On morrow we greet the spirits of spring. Our blessings to thee as your way we wend; And merry we'll meet next winter again. Blow out the candle and say: Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
At this time, witches cast spells for careers, relationships, and love. It's a time for planting new ideas. Seek harmony and balance in the incredible energy of the season, and project good health, good fortune, and confidence in achieving goals.
· Light a fire
· Ringbells
· Buy a new besom or staff

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At Ostara, you can buy a carton of eggs and dye them just like you did at Easter when you were little. You can buy the dyes at the store, or make your own if you happen to have the right materials. Here are some natural dyes*:

Carrot tops : Yellow
Vanilla Extract : yellow orange
Dandelions : Orange
Onions : Orange
Heather : Pink
Blackberries : Red Violet
Red Cabbage : Robin's Egg Blue
Blueberries : Blue
Beets : Blue Violet
Cayenne : Rust

   You can also use wood, plastic or foam eggs if you dont want to decorate real ones, just dress them up a bit and paint symbols on them.

Robins - The Robin is a symbol because at this time, the robin starts to emerge and when you see one, its sign that spring is on its way. They also lay eggs in the spring, and eggs are a fertility and Ostara symbol.

Rabbits - Rabbits are another popular symbol for Ostara. The Hare is a Goddess symbol and in European folklore the Goddess could transform herslef into a hare. The hare is a feisty little animal that gives birth to quite rapidly each spring. The rabbit is an obvious spring/fertility symbol.

Lambs and Goats - Goat are seen as "randey" creatures with much vigor. They are a symbol of the God who is a young man at this time. They have horns (which are a phallic symbol) and is a symbol of the God also. The lamb is born around this time, so its a symbol of life at spring. The lamb is also the symbol of the young spring maiden, the Goddess. Milk and diary foods are a symbol of this time and since goats give milk that was used a lot in past times, diary products were seen as a symbol of spring.

Sun symbols - Since this is the time when the sun will overcome the darkness of winter, sun signs are a symbol for this time. It is a symbol of re-birth and the warming of the earth, as well as a symbol for the God.

Flowers - Flowers like Daffodils, Primroses and Crocuses are a symbol of spring as they start to sprout now and symbolize new life. In Rome, they had a festival in honor of the goddess Flora which was celebrated around this time and in Welsh traditions, the Goddess Blodeuwedd, is the flower Goddess of earths revival, and honored especially at spring.

Seeds and Gardens - In spring, we start to think about new life, so seeds and plants are a symbol of this time in the year. New plants and flowers are blooming, and the trees are starting to sprout new leaves. If you have seeds that you want to plant for the summer, then now is a good time to start planting them. In most parts of the world, its too cold to plant them outdoors, so its a good idea to start them indoors. As they are growing, help them along by chanting helpful supportive chants and making sure they have plenty of sun, so plant them near a window.

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For more information of Ostara

"Ostara" by Edain McCoy
"Celebrate the Earth" by Laurie Cabot and John Mills
"Wheel of the Year" by Pauline and Dan Campanelli
"In the Circle" by Elen Hawke


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