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 Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:40 am
March NewsLetter
The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21. The Venerable Bede said the origin of the word is actually from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring. Of course, it's also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season. Typically, the Celtic peoples did not celebrate Ostara as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.
A New Day Begins:
A dynasty of Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz -- which means "new day." It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries, and has its roots in Zoroastrianism. In Iran, a festival called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri takes place right before No Ruz begins, and people purify their homes and leap over fires to welcome the 13-day celebration of No Ruz.
Mad as a March Hare:
Spring equinox is a time for fertility and sowing seeds, and so nature's fertility goes a little crazy. In medieval societies in Europe, the March hare was viewed as a major fertility symbol -- this is a species of rabbit that is nocturnal most of the year, but in March when mating season begins, there are bunnies everywhere all day long. The female of the species is superfecund and can conceive a second litter while still pregnant with a first. As if that wasn't enough, the males tend to get frustrated when rebuffed by their mates, and bounce around erratically when discouraged.
The Legends of Mithras:
The story of the Roman god, Mithras, is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Born at the winter solstice and resurrected in the spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death. In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife entered the creature's body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras' cloak became the night sky. Where the bull's blood fell flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail.
Spring Celebrations Around the World:
In ancient Rome, the followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a consort who was born via a virgin birth. His name was Attis, and he died and was resurrected each year during the time of the vernal equinox on the Julian Calendar (between March 22 and March 25). Around the same time, the Germanic tribes honored a lunar goddess known as Ostara, who mated with a fertility god around this time of year, and then gave birth nine months later – at Yule.
The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its "western face...is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid's northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent." This has been called "The Return of the Sun Serpent" since ancient times.
According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic goddess Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox -- almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west. One delightful legend associated with Eostre was that she found an injured bird on the ground one winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But "the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs...the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre."
Modern Celebrations
This is a good time of year to start your seedlings. If you grow an herb garden, start getting the soil ready for late spring plantings. Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to tip the scales, and the return of new growth is near.
Many modern Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Ostara as a time of renewal and rebirth. Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature -- walk in park, lay in the grass, hike through a forest. As you do so, observe all the new things beginning around you -- plants, flowers, insects, birds. Meditate upon the ever-moving Wheel of the Year, and celebrate the change of seasons.
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:41 am
Ostara Ritual
This is the spring equinox. Night and day are equal length, as the sun begins to win out over the dark of winter. It is a time of exuberance and fertility, a celebration of the abundance of nature. In fact, a time for the celebration of just about everything. Winter is over! We've made it! Huzzah!
Tools: Candles for the quarters, and one each for Goddess and God. Nothing else out of the ordinary. Set your altar according to custom.
Supplies: At least one pomegranate, and a knife for getting into it (a major pain, if you've never tried). One of these will go a long way, but if your group is particularly large, you may want to bring a spare, just in case.
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Cleansing: Whatever you're comfortable with. Mine can be found on the Rites and Blessings page.
Casting the circle: Begin facing East, then turn to each direction as you call its guardians. "Reader" can be assigned, or passed around. I like passing better, but no one should be forced to speak if they're not comfortable with what's happening.
Reader:
Spirits of the East, spirits of air,
Awaken us with the Spring breeze
Fill our lungs, and join us
In celebration of the endless renewal of light and life. (light candle)
Spirits of the South, spirits of fire,
Warm us with the rising sun
Quicken our hearts, and join us
In celebration of the unfolding of the Earth. (light candle)
Spirits of the West, spirits of water,
Wash us in gentle rain
Revive our longing, and join us
In celebration of boundless possibility. (light candle)
Spirits of the North, spirits of earth,
Clothe us in the finery of new growth
Support our steps, and join us
In celebration of a world made green again. (light candle)
Turn to the altar now, and address the candle for the Goddess:
Reader:
Goddess of Earth, mother of all
With love we greet you
As night and day once again
Greet each other in passing.
Be with us, complete our circle,
And help us always to see your face
In all that lives. (light candle)
Turning to the God candle:
Reader:
God of the growing light
With love we greet you
As night and day once again
Greet each other in passing.
Be with us, complete our circle
And help us always to see your face
In all that lives. (light candle)
If possible, all should hold hands around the altar for this:
Reader: (either solo, or pass it phrase by phrase around the circle. Thanks to Scott Cunningham for the Blessing Chant)
The circle is cast, the ritual begun.
May the powers of the Ancient One,
Source of all creation,
May the powers of the Goddess, bright lady of the moon,
And the God, horned hunter of the sun,
May the powers of the guardian spirits,
Rulers of the elemental realms,
May the powers of the stars above and the Earth below,
Bless this time, this place, and all who gather here.
All:
Blessed be!
Okay, now we have a little bit of casting to do. Select one person to be Hades, lord of the underworld; another to be Demeter; and another to represent Persephone, her daughter. These are all speaking parts. The Reader gets some lines here also. Again, if folks are comfortable, share the wealth. The more people who wish to participate, the more powerful the ritual. Staging can be as realistic or as stylized as you wish. As long as you identify your characters, it is enough to place them at the points of a triangle, perhaps with the Reader in the middle. The rest of the group can sit around the outside of your circle. The ending of this section gets pretty tricky, so make sure people are familiar with their parts. Rehearsal ahead of time is great, if you can make the necessary arrangements. While everyone is getting into their places, the Reader or another narrator can begin with the following.
We stand, as ever, at a point on the wheel
Remembering that we begin each journey
Only when we are brought to our first step
We wake each morning
Because we have slept through the night
We rejoice in the burgeoning springtime
Because we have waited, in the arms of the Mother
Through the season of darkness and cold
Reader:
Winter is for bedding down.
We watch the days grow shorter,
and feel the chill that heralds the first snow.
All:
Let there be joy in the cold and the dying.
The seeds of new life are borne on the winter wind.
Hades: (to Persephone)
I, the lord of all below
Have watched, enraptured, as you go
About the fields, you twirl and shine
Persephone, you will be mine
My chariot awaits, my love
To take us from the world above
Now put an end to childish play
I claim you for my bride today
Reader:
We feel January in every joint.
We insulate, and isolate
and strain to believe that the darkest days are behind us.
All:
Let there be joy in the cold and the dying.
The seeds of new life are borne on the winter wind.
Persephone: (to Hades)
Hades does me great offense
To play upon my innocence
Though you may call me Bride-to-be
I'll not go with you willingly
By force you take me to your lair
Do not presume to keep me there
My mother, Goddess of the grain
Will see me safely home again
Reader:
Almost any effort seems too much, and grief comes easily.
How quickly we forget that rest is necessary;
that only in stillness is our motion defined.
All:
Let there be joy in the cold and the dying.
The seeds of new life are borne on the winter wind.
Demeter:
From lofty perch on highest peak
To deepest ocean, still I seek
By night, by day, some sign or clue
But nowhere is there news of you
Let this, my cry of woeful loss
Be carried forth and so across
The world of men, that all may hear
And share Demeter's pain and fear
Reader:
Inactivity turns to wrath,
as we remember the warmth of sunshine,
and hold the Earth responsible for our confinement.
All:
Let there be joy in the in cold and the dying.
The seeds of new life are borne on the winter wind.
Demeter:
The Earth has taken you from me
And so my wrath accordingly
Shall fly. Today, against the land
In anger I will set my hand
Corn and cattle, all will die
The rivers run with dust, and I
Shall not relent, until I see
Persephone returned to me
Reader:
What bargain may we make with Time?
Will the seasons turn more quickly,
or stay with us longer to suit our needs?
All:
Let there be joy in the cold and the dying.
The seeds of new life are borne on the winter wind.
Demeter:
The Gods have witnessed this foul deed
And mighty Zeus shall intercede
He will return you to my care
If you have eaten nothing there
Persephone:
But mother, in my dark ordeal
The pain of hunger did I feel
And I was given in my need
A taste of pomegranate seed
Hades: (to Demeter)
For this, my lady, half the year
Your daughter will attend me here
And then once more to you ascend
Now let this pact our quarrel end
Reader:
Winter is for bedding down,
gathering our strength that we may burst forth
with energy and joy to welcome the season of new beginnings.
All:
Let there be joy in the cold and the dying.
The seeds of new life are borne on the winter wind.
Demeter:
So will it be, within the land
Hades: (to Persephone)
That when each year you take my hand
Persephone:
The living, breathing world you see
Shall wither and retire with me
But when, in springtime, I once more
Am to the world above restored
Demeter:
A mother's joy at your rebirth
Will waken and renew the Earth
At this point, the drama is ended. Distribute one or two pomegranate seeds to each person in attendance. You may all eat together at the end, or one at a time as you receive your seeds, whatever feels right to you. As you eat, feel your kinship with Persephone. Feel the strength that comes from your community, and feel yourself as a part of the great and endless cycle of death and life. Distribute the following lines as you see fit, but find a way to distribute them somehow. It's important.
With Persephone, we have journeyed to the land of the dead,
and returned safely to the light and warmth of Spring.
May we grow with the brightness of the young God,
and open ourselves to the energy of creation.
Goddess of Winter, Goddess of Life,
Keep us close in your embrace.
Accept us as your children
and buoy us upon the tide of time.
With love, we thank and honor you
for the world that blooms within us once more.
All:
Blessed be!
The simple feast: Eat, drink, be merry! We have all survived another winter! When you feel you're through (or when all your candles burn out), open the circle according to your custom, bidding thanks first to the Goddess and God, and a hearty farewell to the Guardians. Here's a matching set if you need them.
God of the growing light
For the Spring
For your warmth
For your power
For the lengthening day
For the energy that surrounds us
For your presence within our circle
We thank you, and ask your blessing,
Until we gather here again.
Goddess of Earth, mother of all
For the Spring
For your love
For your power
For the pomegranate
For the fertility of the world we share
For your presence within our circle
We thank you, and ask your blessing,
Until we gather here again.
For the Guardians, I normally use Starhawk's, because they're simple and beautiful. Here's how they go:
Spirits of the East (South, West, North...)
We thank you for your presence here
And ask for your blessing as you depart
May there be peace between us now and forever (extinguish your candles as you go).
And one more thing:
All:
The circle is open, and yet unbroken
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart
Merry meet and merry part
And merry meet again.
Blessed be!
There you have it. May it speak to you in the doing as much as it did to me in the writing. If you use this, or even any bits of it, let me know how it goes. I'd love to make your acquaintance.
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:43 am
March rolls in like the proverbial lion, and if we're really lucky, it might go out like a lamb. It's the time of the Storm Moon, the month when Spring finally arrives, around the time of the Equinox, and we see new life begin to spring forth. As the Wheel of the Year turns once more, heavy rains and gray skies abound -- the earth is being showered with the life-giving water it needs to have a fertile and healthy growing season. This is also a time of equal parts light and darkness, and so a time of balance.
Correspondences:
Colors: Green, yellow, light purple
Gemstones: Bloodstone, aquamarine
Trees: Dogwood, honeysuckle
Gods: Isis, the Morrighan, Artemis, Cybele
Herbs: High John, pennyroyal, wood betony, apple blossom
Element: Water
Use this month for magical workings related to rebirth and regrowth. New life is blooming during this phase of the moon, as is prosperity and fertility.
Also Known As: Seed Moon, Lenten Moon, Crow Moon
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:47 am
Recipes of the Month
Modern belief that eggs are delivered by a rabbit known as the Easter Bunny comes from the legend of the Goddess Eostre. A rabbit wanted to please the Goddess so much that she laid the sacred eggs in her honor, gaily decorated them, and then humbly presented them to her. The Goddess was so pleased that she wished all humankind to share in her joy. Honoring her wishes, the rabbit went through all the world and distributed these little decorated gifts of life. Other foods for springtime are pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds. Sprouts also carry out the springtime theme. (Taken from A Pagan Feast: Food for the Sabbats)
Spring Sabbat Incense
3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Benzoin
1 part Cinnamon
a few drops Patchouli oil
Burn during spring and summer Sabbat rituals.
Spinach (or Broccoli) Quiche
1 9-in pie crust, unbaked
3 eggs, beaten
8 oz pkg of Swiss cheese slices
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp flour
dash pepper
1 c milk
dash nutmeg
1 small onion, sliced and sauted lightly
10 oz pkg frozen spinach (chopped) or broccoli, cooked and drained
Cut cheese in strips. Toss with flour. In pie crust, alternate layers of onion, spinach (or broccoli) and cheese, ending with cheese layer. Mix milk, eggs, and spices. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Ostara Incense
2 Parts Frankincense
1 Part Benzoin
1 Part Dragon's Blood
1/2 Part Nutmeg
1/2 part Violet flowers (or few drops violet oil)
1/2 Part Orange peel
1/2 Part Rose petals
Burn during Ostara rituals.
Ostara Oil
2 parts frankincense
1 part benzoil
1 part dragon's blood
1/2 part nutmeg
1/2 part violet
1/2 part orange
1/2 part rose
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:49 am
Eostre
The Mythology
The Germanic Goddess of fertility, and spring, Eostre (pronounced yo'ster), or Easter, was celebrated with the ritual lighting of dawn fires as a protection for the crops. She symbolizes springtime, new growth, and rebirth. Once, when the Goddess was late in comming, a little girl found a bird close to death from the cold and turned to Eostre for help. A rainbow bridge appreared and Eostre came, clothed in her red robe of warm, vibrant sunlight which melted the snows. Spring arrived. Because the little bird was wonded beyond repair, Eostre changed it into a snow hare who then brought rainbow eggs. As a sign of spring, Eostre instructed the little girl to watch for the snow hare to come to the woods.
The Lessons of this Goddess
Eostre comes into your life with her springtime message of personal growth. It is time to open to things in your life that facilitate growth, development, evolution. Is there a class or workshop you've been wondering if you should take? Do it now! Is there something new that you want to include in your life? Let it in now! Have you just gone through a period of stagnation and lethargy where nothing seemed to be happening? Let it go! Now is the time of growth. The Goddess says that wholeness is nurtured when you to stretch. The stretching promotes your growth.
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:52 am
Spirit Lesson Spread readings
This month only!!! I ( guardian/mor) will be giving people spirit lesson readings. To see where you are in your spiritual journeys and to see what you need to work on right now. This is a very accurate spread, so do not be upset if it tells you that you need to get off your a** and pay attention more to your spirituality.
First reading is 10 gold, if you want any other readings afterwards they are free.
This will be starting today.
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:20 pm
(I don't think this has any exact relevence, but someone might find it useful... It's easier to open a pomegranate while it's in a bowl of water.)
Callmebutterfingers has read this...
And is very curious about the readings. ^_^
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