Spring or The Vernal Equinox
Provided By: Lady Celestial Storm
Also known as: Lady Day. Spring Equinox or Alban Eiler (Druidic)
As spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals. The next full moon (a time of increased births) is called the Ostara and is sacred to Eostre the Saxon Lunar Goddess of fertility (from whence we get the word estrogen, whose two symbols were the egg and the rabbit. The Christian religion adopted these emblems for Easter which is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The theme of the conception of the Goddess was adapted as the Feast of the Annunciation, occurring on the alternative fixed calendar date of March 25 Old Lady Day, the earlier date of the equinox. Lady Day may also refer to other goddesses (such as Venus and Aphrodite), many of whom have festivals celebrated at this time.
Deities
Appropriate Deities for Ostara include all Youthful and Virile Gods and Goddesses; Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, Love Goddesses, Moon Gods and Goddesses, and all Fertility Deities. Some Ostara Deities to mention by name here include Persephone, Blodeuwedd, Eostre, Aphrodite, Athena, Cybele, Gaia, Hera, Isis, Ishtar, Minerva, Venus, Robin of the Woods, the Green Man, Cernunnos, Lord of the Greenwood, The Dagda, Attis, The Great Horned God, Mithras, Odin, Thoth, Osiris, and Pan.
Magic
Key actions to keep in mind during this time in the Wheel of the Year include openings and new beginnings. Spellwork for improving communication and group interaction are recommended, as well as fertility and abundance. Ostara is a good time to start putting those plans and preparations you made at Imbolc into action. Start working towards physically manifesting your plans now. The most common colors associated with Ostara are lemon yellow, pale green and pale pink. However, also appropriate colors include grass green, all pastels, Robin’s egg blue, violet, and white. Stones to use during the Ostara celebration include aquamarine, rose quartz, and moonstone. Animals associated with Ostara are rabbits and snakes. Mythical beasts associated with Ostara include unicorns, merpeople, and Pegasus.
Traditional Foods:
- Leafy green vegetables, Dairy foods, Nuts such as Pumpkin, Sunflower and Pine. Flower Dishes and Sprouts.
- Ostara Recipe
Mint Tea Cakes
4 C. Flour
6 Eggs, beaten
11/2 C. Granulated Sugar
Crumbled, dried Mint leaves or 1/8 t. Mint flavoring
1 Quart Milk
2/3 C. softened Butter
Glaze:
1/2 C. Powdered Sugar
2 T. Milk
* Preheat oven to 350 F.
* Cream butter and sugar together until light.
* Beat eggs until very light. Add to butter and sugar mixture.
* Add mint flavoring – taste. Do you want the mint flavoring stronger?
* Add milk and mix well.
* Add flour and mix well.
* Pour into mini-muffin tins to fill each cup to halfway. Bake for approximately 10 minutes.
* Allow to cool completely. Remove from muffin tin.
* Leave tea cakes “upside down” and drizzle with glaze. Garnish with candied violets
Herbs and Flowers
- Lily of the valley
- Tansy
- Lavender
- Marjoram
- Thyme
- Tarragon
- Lilac
- Violets
- Lemon balm
- Dogwood
- Honeysuckle
- Oakmoss
- Orrisroot
- Sunflower seeds
- Rose hips or petals
- Oak
- Elder Flower
- Willow
- Crocus
- Daffodil
- Jonquil
- Tulip
- Broom (Scotch or Iris)
- Meadowsweet
- Acorn
- Trefoil (purple clover)
Incense:
- Scents: Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type.
- Ostara Incense Recipe (By Scott Cunningham)
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
Stones
- Clear quartz crystal
- Rose quartz
- Agate
- Lapis lazuli
- Amazonite
- Garnet
Altar
- Candles should be light green.
- Incense
- Decorate the circle with spring wildflowers.
- Place an earthenware or wooden bowl containing soil or a large seed of some kind on the altar.
Ideas
- 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.
- Plan a fertility ritual for your garden. Bury an Ostara egg in the east corner of your garden, or one egg for each direction, or dig an entire circle for them (depends on how much you hate egg-salad)
- Planting seeds or starting a Magical Herb Garden
- Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on the Magic of nature and our Great Mother and her bounty.
- 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.