Ostara
It
is believed that the name Ostara comes from the Germanic Goddess Oestara.
Oestara is the Goddess of Fertility. The first indications of Spring,
and her green fields, are now appearing. At Ostara also called the
Spring Equinox, light and dark are in complete balance and from this
day forward the scales will tip in favour of the Sun. Most seeds are
planted around this time for summer gardens. Indicating the future
growth potential of the Sun. As like seeds for the garden, our plans
for our year should be implemented into full force at this time. Most
rituals at this Sabbat emphasise blessing and the laying of plans.
All seeds that are to be used for garden purposes should be blessed
on this day for a fruitful "harvest". The hardy seeds can be planted
after blessing. On a personal level, we should make plans for our
own personal growth ... be it in love, happiness, wealth, and the
like. Many of these plans are the ones that were written out or memorised
at Yule. These plans should now be re-evaluated and finalised. Many
may not need to be implemented at this time, but the ones that require
the longest time to become reality ... we should implement. The Summer
months are the time for growth, so we should start looking forward
to this.
Ostara is celebrated at the Vernal Equinox (Spring Equinox), which
is around March 21. This is one of the two days in the year when the
hours of daylight and darkness are exactly the same length. Though
some regions are still buried in snow, the promise of spring is evident
in the lengthening days and the appearance of birds migrating from
the south.
The
God & Goddess At Ostara
The
weather is warmer and new life springs forth from field, tree
and nest.The world is beginning to awake from it's winter slumber.
At this time we celebrate the Goddess in her aspect of the maiden.
In the Greek myths, Persephone returns to the upper world at this
time and her mother, Demeter, celebrates by bringing spring to
the world that had been cold and barren in her daughter's absence.
The Germanic Goddess of fertility, and spring, Eostre (pronounced
yo'ster), was celebrated with the ritual lighting of dawn fires
as a protection for the crops. She symbolises springtime, new
growth, and rebirth. Once, when the Goddess was late in coming,
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 wounded
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.
|
|
Fires were one of the ways pagans celebrated the coming of spring.
They called these fires Spring fires. Until 752 A.D these fires were
forbidden by the Christian laws. The meaning behind these fires is
"Life and light triumph over death and darkness.
Some Pagans still like ringing bells, singing of songs, and decorating
of hard boiled eggs. Eggs were a symbol of both the sun god (the golden
yolk) and fertility (the white shell symbolising the White Goddess)
and were used both as talismans and eaten in ritual. The eggs of wild
birds were gathered. As it isn't an ecologically sound practise to
do that today, instead we dye eggs and display these instead for our
Ostara celebrations.
Another tradition for Pagans at this time of year, particularly those
with small children, is the tradition of knocking on the ground (with
a hand, stick, or wand) to "wake up" Mother Earth. This can be done
ceremonially, marking a four-pointed circle/compass on the ground.
The child who will do the "wake up" call starts at the southernmost
point, walks to the northernmost point - representing the cold north
- and knocks there. Children can take turns doing this. If you're
inclined to noisier celebrations, drums or rattles could be used,
or shouting out the door at the moment of the Equinox, or even fireworks
could be used.
|
|
Herald
the arrival of Spring with flowers, bring them into your home
or give them to others in keeping with the theme of balance.
If there are wildflowers growing near you, this would be an
ideal time to pick some (respectfully). However, remember
that many wildflowers do not survive even one day after being
placed in water, so choose wisely.
Your local florist will certainly have a wider selection of
flowers for you to chose from, whether or not flowers are
in bloom in your area. Traditional choices include violets,
daffodils, primrose, iris, peonies, narcissus, and cowslips.
Yellow, white, and purple are most often connected with Ostara
and Easter, and these would be among the colours to select
for flowers and for candles. Pink is another colour that some
people choose, but yellow is the most traditional.
|
Chocolate has become associated with this time of year as
are sweet treats. For those with little children how about
starting a new Ostara tradition that they can be 'in charge'
of? Let them make chocolate 'Ostara Nests'. Even very young
children can have a go at making these. They require no cooking
and look really effective.
|
Ingredients
50g Rice Krispies, 100g Milk Chocolate (don't use cooking
chocolate, use something like dairy milk) Little chocolate
eggs - the coloured candy coated ones look best (we've used
the smarties mini eggs but there are lots of others on the
market). You'll also need some little paper cake cases
Method:
Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering
water (with young children this will have to be supervised).
Mix the rice krispies and the melted chocolate together in a
bowl. Use sufficient rice krispies to make a nice firm mixture.
Take a spoonful of the mixture and press it gently into one
of the paper cake cases. Make a hollow in the centre so that
it resembles a nest. Fill the hollow with two or three of the
little chocolate eggs. Leave to 'set' before eating.
|
Submitted
by Moonshadow -
We rise early and have a traditional 'eggy' breakfast and I save
the egg shells to add to the garden (see below). I like to have
lots of fresh flowers in the house, you can't beat the scent of
a vase of fresh jonquils, hyacinths & freesias. I also put some
twiggy branches in a large vase and decorate the base with moss,
I then tie small egg decoarations and ribbons to the tree and put
small chick and rabbit decoartions on the moss. Ostara
is the time I chose to 'Spring clean' the house, some people do
that task at Imbolc but I prefer Ostara. I open all the windows
to let in the spring and let out the winter asking the winds to
cleanse the home on their travels and take away the dark of winter
and bring in the light of spring.
|
After
the cleaning we have a light lunch and go for a walk, I love finding
signs of new spring growth, it always seems calming and leaves
me feeling full of energy and life as well as full of the promise
of new things to come. If it's a nice, fine, dry spring day we'll
take a picnic with us instead of eating before the walk. After
the walk it's back home and I like to potter in the garden, moving
plants and sowing seeds out doors and doing any pruning and clearing
that needs doing.
|
|
Other Things To Do
 Have
a traditional Ostara breakfast of bacon and eggs or boiled eggs (see
omelette recipe below). After your breakfast crush the eggshells and
sprinkle them on your garden, or go for a walk in a wood or park and
drink in the magick of the Nature around you, offer the eggshells
to the Goddess and the God in a spot that 'feels' right whilst you
are out.
Have an Ostara Egg Hunt,
recite the following over your pre-decorated eggs:-
In
the name of the Goddess of spring, (supply
your goddesses name here),
And the ever-returning God of the sun, (supply
your gods name here),
By the powers of the four elements - earth, air, fire, and water,
I do consecrate these eggs of Ostara.
Now
point the athame at the eggs, make the sign of the pentagram, and
visualise the energy flow through the blade into the eggs, and say:
New
life within as new life shall enter the soil. Let those who seek this
life find it and consume it, for all life feeds on life.
The
eggs may be hidden and Ostara Egg Hunt commences.
If
you're new to all this and don't have a Goddess or God that you work
with yet then simply make your offerings to the Lord & lady.
Go on a Ostara nature walk, look
for the Green Man (or Green Woman, or Jack-in-the-Green). An Ostara
nature walk is to celebrate nature, not for any other purpose such
as exercise.
Spring
clean your home, or do some 'personal spring cleaning' rid yourself
of guilt and stop looking at your negative aspects. Witches must learn
to be honest with themselves about their good and bad points. Only
when you understand yourself will you be ready to understand magic
and its ways.
Learn about some of the plants and herbs that you use this Sabbat.
A good basic knowledge of herbs and their workings is essential for
a witch. You could even start a herb garden or grow some herbs in
pots after blessing the seeds during your ritual.
You may also want to learn about edible flowers or flower petals (most
violets and rose petals come to mind), and use them to decorate cakes.
Be certain to use only flowers intended for food purposes; many florists
treat flowers with sprays or special chemicals, so the flowers remain
fresh longer. These chemicals are not always safe to ingest.
On Ostara Eve: Light
a purple or violet candle and burn violet scented 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 you wend;
And merry we'll meet next winter again.
Blow out the candle and say: Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet
again!
|
Ostara
Breakfast Omelette Serves 2 - 3
This is something that I put together and it makes a rather nice
breakfast anytime of year but especially for Ostara.
A Few Sprays Of 'Fry Light'
4 Large Free Range Eggs
6 Button Mushrooms
(Sliced)
3 Spring Onions (Sliced)
6 Baby Tomatoes (Sliced in half)
4 Slices Honey Roast Ham (Cut into thin strips about 1")
2 Tbs Milk or Cream
Salt & Pepper
Shredded Basil Leaves or other herb of choice
|
|
| Method
: Spray a large pan with 'fry light' and fry the spring onions
and mushrooms until transulcent, add the sliced ham and continue to fry
until the ham is heated through. Meanwhile to a bowl add your eggs and
the milk or cream and season with salt and pepper and then beat them together.
Add the tomatoes to the panand pour on the egg mixture add the shredded
basil and cook until the base is set. Once the base is set put the pan
under the grill and continue to cook until the top is set and golden brown. |
Ostara
Hot Cross Buns - Makes
12 - 14
It is believed that Hot Cross Buns came from the Anglo-Saxons to
honor the goddess of springtime, Eostre. After the Anglo-Saxons
were converted to Christians the continued to make these pastries
Strong
white flour - 450g (1 lb)
Caster sugar - 50g (2 oz)
Dried yeast - 15g (½ oz)
Warm milk - 250 ml (9 fl oz)
Egg - 1
Butter - 50g (2 oz), melted
Currants - 110g (4 oz)
Mixed peel - 50g (2 oz), chopped
Ground mixed spice - 1 tsp
Salt - pinch
Glaze:
Caster sugar - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1 tbsp
|
|
Method
: Warm
a large bowl. melt the butter and let it cool. Cream the yeast
in a small bowl with 3 tablespoons of the milk and a teaspoon
of the sugar. Leave in a warm place to froth up. Sieve the flour
and spice into the bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour in
the yeast mixture.
Beat the egg, stir it and the remaining sugar into the warm milk.
Pour it together with the warm, but not hot, melted butter into
the well in the flour, add a pinch of salt and the currants and
candied peel and mix until you have a sticky mass.
Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes, when it will become easier
to handle, then place on a floured board and knead with lightly
floured hands. When the dough is smooth and puffy put it back
in the bowl, cover it with a damp cloth and then a sheet of polythene.
Stand the buns in a warm place and allow them to double in size.
Preheat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F / Gas 6. Take out the dough
and knead it again to knock it down. Cut it into 12 or 14 pieces,
knead and shape them into small balls, place them on a greased
baking tin and cover them lightly with a cloth. Leave them in
a warm place to prove for 15-20 minutes. When they are swollen
and puffy mark a cross in the top of each with a knife. Put the
buns in the middle of the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
While they are baking make the glaze. Dissolve the sugar in the
milk in a small cup. Take the buns out, brush them with the glaze
and put them back for 5 minutes to give them a lovely, shiny,
sticky finish |
NB:
More Ostara recipes including one for incense can be found on the
Sabbat recipes page.
Ostara Herbs: All
spring flowers, Broom, Cinquefoil, Myrtle, Lemon Balm, Passion Flower,
Coriander, Ginger, Daffodil, Iris, Jasmine, Lavender, Lily, Rose,
Sage, Violet, Spearmint, Willow.
Ostara Incense: Jasmine, Rose,
Frankincense, Myrrh, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Aloe wood, Benzoin, Violet,
Sage, Strawberry & Lotus.
Ostara Colours: Pink, Pale Green,
Yellow, Pale Blue & White.
Ostara Decorations: Coloured
Eggs, Rabbit decorations, Spring flowers, Butterflies & Violets.
Ostara Foods: Seeds, Leafy green
vegetables, Spiced or flower cupcakes, Candied flowers, Hot cross
buns, Fruits, Fruit cups, Hard-boiled eggs, Devilled eggs, Nuts,
Honey cakes, Fish, Ham & Chocolate.
Spellwork appropriate for Ostara:
New beginnings and growth spells, Spells for improving communication,
Fertility, Happiness & Emotional Security.
|
