Ostara 1997 Newsletter Meaning of the Sabbat

Ostara or Eostre, the Spring Equinox occurs between 20th and 23rd September each year. This year the Equinox falls on Tuesday 23rd September.

Here we stand, time held in suspension for a moment. We look back to the dark of Winter, and we look forward to the promise of Spring. Though we know we can not hold this sight for long, as the wheel constantly turning points us towards warmer days.

Ostara is a time of new beginnings and new growth. It is time to leave the dormancy and rest of winter behind us as the days start to lengthen and new growth matures during the summer months, climaxing at the Summer Solstice in December.

The Goddess is the Spring maiden who walks with the Young God (who was born at Yule). She is her most fertile, Her most creative, She inspires new growth and movement.

The egg is a traditional symbol for this festival. It is symbolic of new beginnings that have been developing quietly during its incubation period. The egg is a symbol of fertility and reproduction. Associated with this new fertility are rabbits (well we all know just how fertile these little critters are!). The saying "as mad as a March hare" is attributed to a 15th Century Northern Hemisphere inhabitant, Erasmus, who was either talking about rabbits vigorous mating habits, or their bouts of wild bounding over wetlands in the springtime! Eggs are also symbolic of the child within, which can be active in the new season - who hasn't felt like a young child again when walking with wonder through the bush, or sniffing the new season blooms? An egg hunt might be the thing for your family, with brightly coloured eggs representative of the new flowers and trees back in bloom.

Ostara is also a traditional time to bless your seeds before planting them - both metaphorically and literally. Bless your vegetable, herb or other seeds before planting them in the newly warming earth.

This time of year is also a good time to do a little Spring cleaning. Get all of the old cobwebs that have built up over winter out of your mind, and prepare for the new season by spring cleaning your house. You might like to place the new blooms of the season on your altar to honour this time of year. Or perhaps take a walk in your local park, or backyard to see what is blooming, listen to the birds as they set up their nests for their young. Lie in the new grass and gaze at the clouds - what do you see?

The Spring Equinox is also a time for dedications, rededications and initiations. Perhaps it is time for you to remember your dedication, renew your vision for the coming year, choose a new topic of study or goal to achieve in the next few months.