Holiday Edition
Ostara
by Sagewoman
3/2000

Our next stop on the Wheel of Life will be Ostara, the Spring or Vernal
Equinox.  It usually falls on March 20-21st and the day and night are
of equal length.  Winter has officially given way to Spring.  The trees
and flowers have begun to bud, the grass will start to turn green
again, the lambs and sheep have been born, and for the most part the
ice melts and the frigid chill in the air is past.

Ostara, or  Esther, the Goddess of Spring, was honored by the old
tribespeople of Europe.  She has been depicted as holding an egg in her
hand while watching a rabbit jump playfully around her feet.

The christianized version of this holiday known as Easter also occurs
anytime between now and April, depending on their calandar.  We
celebrate the end of Winter and the return of Spring…a death and
resurrection so to speak.

The symbology for both holidays are very much the same.  Eggs are
usually painted bright colors and in early time were used as talismans,
especially witches, to encourage a fruitful and prosperous summer.
Coloring eggs is a great activity to do with the children.  The
practice of egg painting was practiced by the Celts, but later spread
to the tribes of Eastern Europe and became an art form in itself.
Today, you'll find people who collect the most exquisite eggs for
display in their homes.

Another fun family activity for this holiday is an egg hunt.

I have included here some of the most common symbols that witches paint
on eggs as found in Laurie Cabot's book "Celebrate the Earth".  This is
a great book for getting acquainted with the pagan holidays and some of
the traditional practices.  (You can purchase it through our site at
www.oocities.org/wiccan_eschool/Reading.html)

Sun = Young God, God of Light, inspiration
Moon = Triple Goddess, lunar mysteries
Stars = Silver wheel, Goddess Arianrhod
Ram's Horns = Horned God, nature's life force, fertility
Deer or Stag = Prosperity, fertility, Horned God
Encircling Bands = Magick Circle, Wheel of the Year, Eternal Cycle of
Life.
Rake or Hoe = Agricultural Growth
Waves = the Element of Water
Oak Tree = Oak King, Merlin, Strength, Wisdom
Flowers

Ostara is also a time of planting.  The Lily has been typically the
plant which is usually given as a gift for the Easter season and is
used as a decoration for christian altars.  Well, Ostara is where the
symbol of plants came in; however, not only plants, but vegetables,
fruits, and herbs that will be used by witches for potions as well as
flowers are planted.  So now is the time to start your herb gardens.

Herbs

Some of the herbs that you would use to decorate your altar, circle or
home on Ostara would be:

Daffodil
Woodruff
Violet
Gorse
Olive
Peony
Iris
Narcissus
All spring flowers


Ostara Observance
according to Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary
Practitioner


Flowers should be laid on the altar, placed around the circle and
strewn on the ground.  The Cauldron can be filled with spring water and
flowers, and buds and blossoms may be worn as well.  A small potted
plant should be placed on the altar.

Arrange the altar, Light the candles and incense and cast the Circle
(Scott casts the circle of stones..see note below... performing the
rite out of doors)

Recite the Blessing Chant:

May the powers of The One,
the source of all creation;
all-pervasive, omnipotent, eternal;
may the Goddess,
the Lady of the Moon;
and the God,
Horned Hunter of the Sun;
may the powers of the Spirits of the Stones,
rulers of the elemental realms;
may the powers of the stars above and the Earth below,
bless this place, and this time, and I who am with You.

Note:  Prior to this, Scott recommends "Visualiztions For the Circle of
Stones".  I will include it here for you.

If you wish, you can back up the circle casting with the following
visualizations as you form the circle itself:

Prepare as usual.  Approach the North and set the North Stone (or the
candle) on the ground.  Then, visualize a stone slab standing upright
two feet to the left of and behind the North Stone.  Visualize this a
being bluish-grey, two feet wide, two feet thick and six feet tall.

When the stone is really there--in you visualization--create another
stone of the same size and color two feet to the right of the North
Stone.  this represents the God.

Now visualize a capstone resting on top of the two upright stones.  It
is about two feet by two feet by five feet.  This represents The One
before the goddess and God, the source of all power and magic.  The
Northern Trilithon is now complete.

The stones form an archway, a symbol of  and gateway to the realm of
the element of Earth.

Firmly visualize this, then gaze through the arch formed by the stones.
See the greenish haze of Earth energy.

Repeat this entire procedure to the East, South and West.  visualize
the appropriate elemental color within each trilithon.

Now purify the salt and water, cast the circle as usual, and carry
around the salt, censer, candle and water.

As you approach each quarter to call its Spirit of the Stone, see the
trilithon firmly in your mind.  Visualize it in all its Pagan splendor.
See the elemental hazes within them, boiling and writhing in
unmanifestedness.  Stretch out with your feelings; sense the arrival of
the spirit of each stone, then go on to the next.

With practice this comes easily, but such visualizations are never
necessary.

Note:  In Scotts book, he has an entire method for Casting the Circle
of Stones.  This book is really excellent for the solitary and we have
it available through our website.  www.oocities.org/wiccan_eschool/Rea
ding.html.

Invoke the Goddess and god in whatever words please you.  Stand before
the altar and gaze upon the plant as you say:

O Great Goddess, you have freed yourself from the icy prison of winter.
Now is the greening, when the fragrance of flowers drifts on the
breeze.  This is the beginning.  Life renews itself by Your magic,
Earth Goddess.  The God stretches and rises, eager in His youth, and
bursting with the promise of summer.

Touch the plant.  Connect with its energies and , through it, all
nature.  Travel inside its leaves and stems through your
visualization--from the center of your consciousness out through your
arm and fingers and into the plant itself.  Explore its inner nature;
sense the miraculous processes of life at work within it.

After a time, still touching the plant, say:

I walk the earth in friendship, not in dominance.
Mother goddess and Father god, instill within me
through this plant a warmth for all living things.
Teach me to rever the Earth and all its treasures.
May I never forget.

Meditate upon the changing of the seasons.  feel the rousing of
energies around you in the Earth.  Works of magic, if necessary, may
follow.

Cakes and Ale.

Release the Circle.

Ostara Lore

A tradition Vernal Equinox pastime:  go to a field and randomly collect
wildflowers. (Thank the flowers for their sacrifice before picking
them.)  Or, buy some from a florist, taking one or two of those that
appeal to you.  Then bring them home and divine their magical meaning
by the use of books, your own intuition, a pendulum or by other means.
The flowers you've chosen reveal your inner thought and emotions.

It is important at this time of renewed life to plan a walk, (or ride),
through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green places.
This is not simply exercise, and you should be on no other mission.  It
isn't even just an appreciation of nature.  Make your walk a
celebratory, a ritual for nature itself.

Other traditional activities include planting seeds, working on magical
gardens and practicing all forms of herb work--magical, medicinal,
cosmetic, culinary and artistic.

Foods in tune with this day (linking your meals with the seasons is a
fine method of attuning with nature) include those made of seeds, such
as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, as well as pine nuts.  Sprouts
are equally appropriate, as are leafy green vegetables.  Flower dishes
such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation cupcakes also find their place
here.  (Find a book of flower cooking or simply make spice cupcakes.
Ice with pink frosting and place a fresh carnation petal on each
cupcake.  Stuff nasturtium blossoms with a mixture made of  cream
cheese, chopped nuts, chives and watercress.)

Recipes

Here are a couple of recipes that I found in Patricia Telesco's A
Kitchen Witch's Cookbook.  I like this book because it's so down to
earth and gives you all the magickal info you need regarding the
recipes.  Enjoy!

Fellowship Fruit Cup

Many philosophers of old thought that honey was useful for everything
from aiding the natural healing process to helping in verbalizations!
Fruit appears in hundreds of civilizations as an offering to the gods,
or as an important element in local festivals.  Yogurt's smooth
consistency blends this energy together into a loving harmony.  I like
to serve fruit as an appetizer because it is light, refreshing and a
"happy" energy food.  Add or delete fruits according to your personal
preference.

2 ripe bananas, sliced    I (8-oz) can mandarin oranges
I (8-oz) can pineapple chunks   2 apples, peeled and sliced
2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced   1 cup blueberries
2 cups strawberries, sliced   2 cups grapes
2 ripe pears, peeled and sliced   ¼ cup shredded coconut
2 navel oranges, peeled and    16 oz. Vanilla yogurt
sectioned    3 tablespoons dark honey
3 cups melon balls, any kind

Place the fruits together in a large bowl, blending in the  yogurt and
honey as you go.  Allow to sit overnight in the fridge for fullest
flavor.  Yield:  16 servings.

Note:  Fruits such as apples can be carved into shapes to reflect your
magical goals.

Magical Associations:  Spirituality, communication, friendship, health,
pleasant gatherings, joyful occasions.

Celebrations:  Spring Equinox, Aloha Week, Handsel Monday, Joan of Arc
Day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ricotta Broccoli Pizza

The circular nature of pizza makes it the perfect representation of the
Wheel of the Year, movement, and change.

I package pizza dough     2 teaspoons basil
I (8-oz) container ricotta cheese,   2 teaspoons oregano
room temperature    I teaspoon minced garlic
8 oz. Mozzarella cheese, grated   2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup grated parmesan  cheese   2 tablespoons butter
I cup cooked, diced broccoli

Optional Toppings:

Tomatoes     Onions
Olives      Peppers

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare the pizza dough according
to the package directions.  Spread on a well-greased pizza pan or
cookie sheet.  Mix the cheeses and the broccoli in a medium-sized bowl.
Saute the garlic, basil, and oregano in the olive oil and butter until
the garlic is lightly browned.  (Browning garlic too much will cause it
to become bitter.)  Spread the garlic mixture directly on the dough.
Spread on the cheese mixture.  Top with any additional items you
desire.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Turn up the heat to 400 degrees F.; bake
until the cheese and crust have small patches of golden brown, 7-10
minutes.  Yield:  4-6 cheese lovers.

Variation:  Frozen bread dough also works for the pizza dough.  If you
feel creative, try shaping the dough like a heart for love or an eye
for intuition.  Various cheeses can be substituted for the mozzarella.
Cheddar works very well with the broccoli.

Magical Attributes:  Changing cycles; with broccoli for financial
matters, tomatoes for love, peppers for personal awareness and olives
to encourage peace.

Celebrations:  During the major cycles of change:  Spring and Fall
Equinox, Summer and Winter Solstice; your birthday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Earth Eggs

Burying an egg was sometimes used in folk medicine to "bury" and
illness.  The eggs in this dish look like they are surrounded by rich
earth, making them perfect for any "organic" magical goals.

I lb. lean ground beef     ½ teaspoon onion powder
I small onion, minced     6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs   1 egg, beaten
¼ cup milk      Vegetable oil for frying
I teaspoon salt      2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder    ¼ cup ketchup

Mix the ground beef, onion, 1/3 cup of the bread crumbs, milk, salt,
garlic powder, and onion powder.  Divide into six equal portions.  Form
each portion over a peeled, hard-boiled egg so that the egg is
completely covered.  Dip in the beaten egg; roll in the remaining bread
crumbs to coat.  Fry the eggs in the oil over medium heat, turning
frequently, until the meat is completely cooked and the crumbs are
golden brown.  Remove from the pan; slice in halves or thirds
lengthwise.  Pour off the remaining oil in the frying pan.  Mix the
Worcestershire sauce and ketchup in the frying pan; heat.  Return the
eggs to the frying pan for 2-3 minutes.  Turn frequently until the eggs
are well coated with sauce.  Yield:  6 servings.

Magical Attributes:  Health, grounding, connection to Nature, Earth
magic.

Celebrations:  Earth Day, Spring Equinox, Sealing the Frost, Binding of
the Wreaths, Festival of Durga, Saturnalia, Planting Festival, Festival
of Ishtar.

Have a wonderful holiday.  Say a prayer for peace on earth.

Hail and Farewell!  Sage