Ostara

Ostara takes place on the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox (usually right around March 21st) and marked the fullness of the Earth and the triumph of the Sun over Winter. Church's feast of Easter, celebrating when Jesus Christ arose triumphant over Death, is named after this feast. Prior to Easter, the Church prepares with the Lenten season, a time of meditation and sacrifice. The white rabbit, an animal representing fertility, and the decorated Egg, symbolizing the Sun's triumph & the wheel of eternity, fit well with this holiday.

Ostara comes from a Latin name for the Spring Goddess Eostre, for whom Easter was named. In fact, the story of the Easter Bunny which delights children so much in America comes from the legend of a humble little rabbit's dealings with the Goddess Eostre. As the legend goes, a lowly little rabbit wanted so much to please his Goddess that he laid sacred eggs in her honor and decorated them in beautiful rainbow colors. When the rabbit presented Eostre with his gift, she was so pleased that she desired for all humans to share in her joy and asked the little rabbit to go throughout the world distributing the little gifts. During Ostara, eggs are decorated and used as altar decorations to honor the Goddess and the God, as well as carried as magickal talismans for fertility. As sacred objects of life and fertility, eggs are also given as cherished gifts. The Great Rite, symbolic of the sexual union between Goddess and God and of the physical and spiritual union between all men and women, began to be enacted on the day of Ostara. The positive effects of this rite, a form of sympathetic magick, helped to bring fertility to the people, the land, and their animals.

Some history for you: Megalithic people on Europes Atlantic fringe calculated the date of the Spring Equinox using circular monuments constructed of huge stones.

Germanic tribes associated it with the fertility goddess Ostara.

The Mayans of Central America still gather at the pyramid at Chichen Itza which was designed to produce a "serpent" shadow on the Spring Equinox.

The Ancient Saxons held a feast day for their version of the fertility goddess, Eostre, on the full moon following the Vernal Equinox. Eostre is associated with the symbols of decorated eggs and hares.

Ancient influences from the worship of the goddess Ostara or Eostre have persisted in the form of fertility symbols of Easter eggs and the hare or rabbit. By the use of these symbols of spring, rebirth, and fertility we reinforce our connection to humanity's past.

This is a time both of growth and of balance, and we may work on balancing ourselves and the subtle energies within us, such as our chakras, the inner masculine and feminine qualities, the light and dark aspects, etc. The equinox is also the time of Persephone's return from the underworld, to re-unite with Her mother Demeter, making the earth green again.

This is the time of spring's return, the joyful time, the seed time, when life bursts forth from the earth and the chains of winter are broken. It is a time of balance when all the elements within must be brought into new harmony. The Prince of the Sun reaches out His hand, and the Kore, the maiden, returns from the dark underworld. Where they dance, wild flowers appear, sorrow turns to joy, and scarcity turns to abundance.

Decoration: daffodils, violets, white spring flowers, leaves, grape vines.

Food: green veggies, nuts, sunflower seeds, dairy foods, bean sprouts.

Herbs: daffodils, jonquils, violets, all spring flowers, iris, peonies, olive and jasmine.

Colors: white, green, yellow and pink.

Stones: aquamarine, rose quartz and moonstone.

Taboos: none known

Activities: Dying eggs and looking for spring growth.

Other things to try: Color and empower eggs for health, wealth and prosperity.  Bless seeds for the garden.  Hold ritual at dawn.

Recipes

Eggnog

12 eggs, separated                2 qtz whipped cream

1 lb confect. sugar                3/4 tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 c dark rum                    1/4 tsp salt

1 c water                                1 c milk

Mix yolks, sugar, salt and alcohol. Refrigerate overnight. Next day, beat whites stiff and mix everything together.

Pashka

2 1/2 lbs small curd cottage cheese            1 1/4 c sugar

3/4 c chopped pecans or almonds                1/2 c maraschino cherries

1/4 tsp salt                                                    2 eggs

1 1/4 tsp vanilla                                            3/4 c chopped peaches

2 sticks melted butter                                    2 c evapoarted milk

Over low heat, mix all except cottage cheese. Cook to consistency of pudding. Allow to cool. Mix with cottage cheese, beat well about 3 minutes. Put in cake pan and chill overnight.                    

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