God and Goddess unite as one,
Sow your seeds in Springtime sun,
As you grow through Warmer days,
Your beauty shows in many ways.
Youth, vitality, young to old,
Your journey is forever told,
The earth will sleep when Winter comes,
But awake with you in the warm March sun.
So banish darkness with your light,
Let all things grow as well they might,
And we shall look in adoration,
At the God and Goddesses creations.
—Alan Faraway, Pagan Ways
Author: Mara Light
In these rather dismal times, people are worrying about their homes, their food, their families, and for those who are of the more humanitarian persuasion, their neighbors. It seems to me every one is wrapped up in their concerns right now, and in turn, wrapped in darkness. Up until a few days ago I was in this same funk, not sure where to turn or how on earth I was going to be happy with the news seeming to get worse and worse. And then as I sat around one day wondering what sabbat or esbat was coming up I was drawn to Ostara and thought, ‘Hm, Easter. I guess I could do something like that…’ and began to read up on it.
I am now very happy I did.
Ostara is a sabbat of light, of joy, of humor, of celebrating and growing. It is a time for balance of light and dark, and finding and starting new paths. ‘That sounds like Imbolc to me.’ some of you might be saying, and I thought so too until I took a closer look. Imbolc is a time when it is dark, and we huddle inside against the cold (unless you’re in the tropics of course) and contemplate where we want our journeys to take us. Think of it as being in a tunnel and seeing a light far ahead of you. You know its there, and you’ll get into it eventually, but you can’t quite reach it yet.
Ostara is the true emergence from this tunnel and into the light. It is time to celebrate and leap for joy! You are SO out of that cave, and the world around you is green!
This ‘lesser’ sabbat is a great one to celebrate; it brings for a sense of freshness and fun. After all, it’s the only holiday I can think of that has cute fluffy bunnies and chickens as their mascots! In the spirit of helping shine a light through the dark clouds hovering over all of us, I have written this article to help bring some fun and interesting facts about Ostara and some ideas for rituals that any one can do whether you’re a millionaire or barely making it. We could all use a break, so I hope this helps to bring some light to you all.
Most pagans know that Oestra, or Eastre, is the goddess of spring. These names stem from the Saxon goddess. She and the god are young and in love, and I can just see them frolicking through the world, and turning things green wherever they go. A sweet story I read—and one I think is more true than other rather ramshackle stories I was looking up—about Oestra and the bunny goes as following:
The goddess was walking through the woods one day when she found a wounded dove. While trying to heal it the magic went a bit off and turned the bird into a rabbit though not fully, for it kept laying eggs! So grateful was the rabbit that it left her the eggs at her door. She was touched by his kindness and rather than keep them for herself colored them bright colors and hid them for others to find that they might enjoy it. Ever since then we have painted eggs for others to find and eat (or eat the treats inside at any rate) .
Colors for this fun sabbat are usually pastels, light greens, pinks, purples, whites, and yellows. Stones used are aquamarine, rose quarts, and moonstone. Alters are usually set up to contain flowers (whether store bought, picked from a field, or fake) , and eggs, birds, or rabbits.
I looked high and low for types of food you’re supposed to eat for this sabbat and it turns out that there isn’t much! Seeds, light greens (such as sprouts) , eggs, and dairy products. No meat (unless you count eggs) is required. Things to do are dyeing eggs, having an egg hunt and races, enjoying and looking for nature around, prosperity spells (we can all use some right now huh?) , starting an herb garden, and renewing your thoughts in a more positive light.
A wonderful ritual that you can do yourself or with your coven, family, or friends, is perfect for renewing yourself. It was made by Patti Wigington, and many blessings to her for this very thoughtful ritual. All you need is a black sheet (as in a bed sheet) and a candle, salt, incense (think floral) , and water. Put the sheet over yourself (if alone) or others (if in a coven or family) , and pass each element over the person (you can make up any words you wish) before telling them (or yourself) to slowly rise and take off the sheet. In doing so you will discard with it all the gloom, sadness, anger, bitterness, or failed results with you. It is time for you to be reborn and enter into the light of spring and love.
Remind the person to take their time, really feel that you’re leaving your old self or fears in the dark cold months of previous times, and entering a world of new chances and hopes.
It is simple, cost efficient, and very effective. I haven’t done this ritual yet myself; but I intend to this coming Ostara. Another ‘thing to do’ that is fun is blessing seeds and then growing them. Seeds are easy and fun to grow, cheap, and hey, you’ll get food from them—if not pretty smelling flowers! I hope you will all remember to have fun and look at the beauty that is entering your life.
The god and goddess are never far from our sides; they show us every day that they are with us. Enjoy the simple pleasures of spring, eat well, and take comfort in the fact that a brighter day is coming. Ostara is a wonderful holiday to celebrate and I hope I have helped to bring some optimism to you all. Blessed Be!
The Story of Ostara
The Story of Ostara
Author: Serenity Starbright Dilsworth (Owl)
Note: In 1996, I wrote this little story for my three-year grand daughter and of course, I used her for the little girl in the story. It is written for small children so that they may better understand why we have bunnies, eggs and lilies during Ostara.
Long, long ago, before you were born …and before your mother was born … and even before your mother’s, mother’s mother was born … the world was a frozen land … snow and ice was everywhere and Spring was late. She was very, very late and the cold breath of Father Winter swept over the lands keeping them covered with ice and snow.
Little Juliet was trudging through the snow searching for fallen branches to take home to her mother and father to use as kindling in the fireplace. The cold wind made her cheeks and nose a bright red and she shivered inside of her cloak.
“Brrrrrrr!” she said aloud. “It is so cold!” Her breath was visible in the air as she spoke and she pulled her woolen cloak more tightly about her. Juliet walked slowly through the tiny forest looking for the tips of small branches poking up through the snow. Her tiny little footprints followed her progress.
Juliet bent over to pick up a small branch from beneath a large old oak tree and started to put it in her bundle, whispering a thank you to the tree for providing the branches she needed when she saw a small, nearly frozen bird partially buried in the snow.
“Oh! Oh!” she cried as she dropped her bundle. She gently picked up the bird and held it inside her cloak to warm it. She could just barely feel it’s little heart beating and she wept as she realized its wings and feet were nearly frozen off.
“Oh my Lady Eostar! Why have you forsaken us all!? Come and see what you have done for surely this bird will die because you are so late.” Juliet cried aloud to the wintry skies.
Lady Eostar, the Goddess of Spring, heard Juliet’s cry and she ran quickly across the heavens to find Little Juliet. She looked down from a cloud into the tiny forest and saw Little Juliet down among the trees. The wind was very fierce and even from so far away, the Goddess could see that she was clutching something tightly to her chest and sobbing loudly.
Quickly the Goddess donned her finest red robe and as Lady Eostar, the Goddess of Spring walked down from the heavens towards Little Juliet, the sky began to turn blue and when she reached the land, the snow and ice began to melt and the grass began to grow. The sun was soon shining brightly and wherever Lady Eostar, the Goddess of Spring, feet touched the ground, tall white lilies sprang up and opened their pristine trumpets.
As the Goddess approached Little Juliet, she said very softly, “Please don’t cry Little Juliet, I am sorry I am so late. I truly did not mean to have done such a thing.”
Little Juliet made a small curtsy (for she was a well-brought up little girl) and then she burst into tears.
“Oh my Lady … you are too late!” she wept as she opened her cloak and held forth the body of the little frozen bird. The poor little bird had already died.”
Lady Eostar, the Goddess of Spring felt very, very sad.
“Do not cry, Little Juliet, I promise I will never be so late again. Let me see what we can do to make things right once more.
Lady Eostar, the Goddess of Spring, touched the poor little bird and it’s wings fell from its frozen body and a blanket of soft white fur spread over it. Little Juliet watched in amazement as the little bird grew very long ears and strong back legs and a fuzzy little tail. Soon it began to wriggle in Juliet’s hands.
Juliet’s smile outshone the sun in her joy, and a little white bunny jumped down to the ground, it left a pastel colored egg in her hands. Lady Eostar, laughed merrily and told Juliet … “There is my promise to you to never be so late again for whenever the rabbit comes to visit and leaves you a colored egg, you shall know that Spring is just around the corner and that I will soon be there.”
The beautiful Goddess kissed Little Juliet and waved farewell as she walked back up into the bright blue sky and disappeared behind a small white cloud.
And that is the real reason why we have bunnies and colored eggs at Easter.
By: Lily Gardner
In Ancient Greece, the day before the Vernal (Spring) Equinox was dedicated to the Goddess Athena. In Rome this was the fifth day after the Ides of March—the start of the five-day festival for the God Mars and the principal festival of the Goddess Minerva. The first day was her birthday and the following four days were devoted to circus games.
Minerva was the Goddess of crafts and trade guilds. She was originally the Etruscan Goddess Menrva and identified with the Greek Goddess Athena. In Rome, Minerva had a temple on the Aventine Hill and another in the Forum of Nerva. Her festivals were held on March 19, June 19 and September 13.
Monday is named after the moon. The Latin term for Monday is Dies Lunae (“moon’s day”); in the Old English language, this day was Monandaeg; in Greek, it was Hermera Selenes. All of these different names and languages translate to the same thing: the “day of the moon.”
Working with the different phases of the moon is an important skill that takes a bit of time for Witches to learn. So why not cut to the chase and experiment with the day of the week that is dedicated to the moon in all of its magickal energies and aspects?
Magickally, Monday encourages the lunar energies of inspiration, illusion, prophetic dreams, emotions, psychic abilities, travel, women’s mysteries, and fertility.
Source
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan
Roman lunar Goddess, Diana was also patroness of the hunt and guardian of the forest. Call on Diana to protect animals, children and woodland.
“Goddess of the Unt, Lady of the Bow,
I ask you now the way to show,
I pray you bless me fro this hour.
With your strength, with your power.
Through times of sorrow and times of strife.
Help me make the most of life!”
Source
The unconscious mind
The feminine principle
Receiving, negative polarity (as opposed to the Sun – projective, positive polarity)
Water (and sometimes Air) Element
High Priestess Tarot Card
Ajna (3rd Eye) Chakra
aka Luna or Diana
Willow & Magnolia Trees
Waxing Moon
Moon Sign: Leo
Moon enters Virgo 9:41 pm
Moon phase: Second Quarter
Incense: Clary sage
Color: Ivory
Llewellyn’s 2019 Magical Almanac
Charlie Rainbow Wolf
Think for a moment on all of the witchery, magick and enchantments that you have discovered. Don’t be afraid to adjust spells to suit your own specific needs. Any gentle, illusory, and dreamy charms and spells can be enhanced when you work on the day of the week that is dedicated to the moon. Mondays are a fantastic day to boost your psychic abilities and to tune in to your intuition and empathy. It also gives you the opportunity to work with a different lunar phase each and every Monday, which means in one month you could work four different types of moon magicks on Mondays. How’s that for adding to your repertoire? You are going to have mad skills in no time at all.
So light up those lunar scented candles and add a little mystique to your outfit by wearing an enchanting lunar color. Wear your sparkling silver jewelry and maybe add a pair of dangling silver earrings or a pendant shaped like a crescent moon. Create lunar potions and philters; make a dream catcher and give it as a gift to someone you love. Burn some sandalwood or jasmine-scented incense today to inspire the glamour and magick of the moon. Slice up a favorite variety of fruit that is in season for a snack or share it with your love and enjoy his or her lunar and romantic qualities. Brew up a cup of chamomile tea, enchant it with a little moon magick, and relax and get a good night’s sleep.
Most importantly, get outside tonight and watch the moon for a while. What phase is she in? What color was the moon as she rose? Why not start a journal and write down at what location the moon rises and sets for a few seasons? This is a great way to teach you to tune in and to become more aware of the moon and the influence that she pulls into our lives. Try calling on Selene for her magickal assistance, and call Thoth for wisdom and strength. Get to know the Norse Mani and the Latvian Meness. These gods of the moon have plenty to teach, and if you allow their influence to cycle through your life, you’ll receive many blessings. Be imaginative, and create your own personal lunar magick and witchery. Go on….the moonlight becomes you
Source
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan
Monday is named after the moon. The Latin term for Monday is Dies Lunae (“moon’s day”); in the Old English language, this day was Monandaeg; in Greek, it was Hermera Selenes. All of these different names and languages translate to the same thing: the “day of the moon.”
Working with the different phases of the moon is an important skill that takes a bit of time for Witches to learn. So why not cut to the chase and experiment with the day of the week that is dedicated to the moon in all of its magickal energies and aspects?
Magickally, Monday encourages the lunar energies of inspiration, illusion, prophetic phetic dreams, emotions, psychic abilities, travel, women’s mysteries, and fertility.
Source
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan
Perfume: White Poppy, White Rose, Wallflower
Incense: Myrtle
Wood: Willow
Color: Silver, Grey-white
Influences: Agriculture, Domestic, Longlife, Medicine, Travels, Visions, Theft (new moon)
Reference:
A Book of Pagan Rituals
Herman Slater
Monday – Is associated with the Moon
Colours – White, Silver, Grey and Pearl.
Monday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Psychic Pursuits, Psychology, Dreams, Astral Travel, Imagination, Women’s Mysteries, Reincarnation, Short Trips, Women, Children, Public, Domestic Concerns, Emotions, Fluids, Magick, Spirituality, Nursing, Full moon magic, Purity, Protection, Truth, Meditation, Peace, Sincerity, Justice, Warding off Doubts and Fears, Anything to do with Water and Bodies of Water, Antiques, Trip Planning, Household Activities, Initiation, Astrology, New-Age Pursuits, Archetypes, Totem Animals, Shape-shifting and Religious Experiences.
The number of days in the week has not always been 7 in all societies. The early Egyptians had a 10 day week, as did briefly the French Revolutionary Government two hundred years ago. An ancient calendar once used in Lithuania employed a 9 day week, whilst the Mayans of Central America used a complicated system including ‘weeks’ of 13 numbered days and ‘weeks’ of 20 named days. As recently as 1930, the Soviet Union toyed with the idea of a 5 day week.
The point about this is that a week – unlike a year (one complete revolution of the Earth around the Sun), or a day (one complete rotation of the Earth on its axis) – has no scientific basis; there is no astronomical event pertaining to a week, much less a week of 7 days.
However the number 7 did hold a sacred significance for many societies in which ritual was of great importance. The lunar month was approximately 28 days long (easily divisible into four quarters or phases of the moon, each of 7 days), and in the sky there were 7 traditionally identified planets. Both of these factors contributed at different times to the adoption and proliferation of the 7 day week as we shall see. Later on the 7 day creation myth of the burgeoning Christian religion cemented the length of the week in most Western civilisations,
It seems that ancient Babylon was possibly the first civilisation to divide the year in this way, and it seems it was the length of the lunar month which was most important to this society. The phases of the lunar cycle – New Moon, waxing half Moon, Full Moon, and waning Half Moon – were obvious visual signs which could be interpreted in a religious or astrological way. Certain activities and festivals became set by the phases of the Moon, and hence by the days of a 7 day week.
This was later adopted by the Greek and Roman Empires, and then the Christian religion. As Christian European nations developed empires throughout the world, so the 7 day week became the established norm.
Sheelah’s Day in Ireland, for Sheelah-Na-Gig, Goddess of Fertility, Sexuality, Birth. Other names are: Astarte, Baubo, Inanna, Demeter, Oshun, Erzulie, Gaia, Ceres, Rhiannon, Carmen, Venus, Ashtoreth, Tonantzin, Ishtar, Freya, and Aida Wedo (also June 4).
Luna, Selene, Diana, Re, Gealach, Ida, Artemis, the Witches, Yemaya, Erzulie Tuesday Soorejnaree, Pinga1la, Anna, Aine, Danu, Yngona.
Source
The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein
In ancient times, the Pagan fertility-goddess known as Sheela-na-gig was honored annually on this date in Ireland. With the advent of Christianity, the identity of the goddess was altered from heathen deity with oversized genitalia to the consort or mother of Saint Patrick.
On this day in the year 1877, psychic and “absent healer” Edgar Cayce (also known as the Sleeping Prophet) was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He was renowned for his psychic visions and miraculous ability to accurately diagnose illnesses and prescribe remedies while in a self-induced trance. He prophesied the Second Coming of Christ in the year 1998, followed by cataclysmic changes of the planet. Edgar Cayce died on January 3, 1945.
The Wicca Book of Days
Gerina Dunwich
Ogham Letter: Fearne (F)
Symbolic Meaning: Release, Shield and Foundation, Determination, Discrimination and Inner Confidence, Healing, Protecting, Peaceful, Passionate Royalty
Ruling Planet: Mars
Ruling Elements: Fire & Water
The fourth moon in the calendar is ruled by the Alder tree. The Alder makes up a part of the birch family and is commonly found growing near wetlands, rivers and streams. It’s roots are able to improve the pH of the surrounding soil giving life back to poor soil conditions.
The cutting down of an Alder Tree was once a punishable act and it was believed if you felled one, the fairy that dwells within its branches would burn your house in revenge.
The tree has many magnical influences and was thought to help people to face up to things that may have been avoiding. It was also believed that it could take you the fairy realm. Alder can be used with spells to help with business and academia.
The bark from the Alder Tree was used to treat inflammation and the heated leaves were said to help with chronic skin conditions.
Alder Tree Zodiac
Those born under the Alder sign are straight to the point, they etch paths in the land for others to follow. They will always chase their dreams and work hard to reach their passions. They believe strongly in themselves and have a self confidence that others love to be around. They are energetic and do not tolerate time wasting. Alder signs can get on with almost anyone and are fun to be around, people often feel motivated to get up and do things when they are around.
Alder signs are compatible with Hawthorn, Oak and Birch.
Monday is the sacred day of the moon, personified as the goddesses Selene, Luna, and Mani. The moon is ruler of flow, affecting the changeable and impressionable aspects of people. If a full moon falls on a Monday, then the powers of the moon are at their most potent.
Deity: Mani
Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Planet: Moon
Tree: Willow
Herb: Chickweed
Stone: Agate
Animal: Crab
Element: Water
Color: Green
Rune: Lagu (L)
The Celtic Tree Month of Fearn (Alder) (March 18 – April 14)
The Runic Half Month Beore (March 14 – March 29)
Goddess of the Month for March – Moura (February 20 – March 19)
Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick
The wheel has turned to our Goddess
Our lovely Maiden Goddess
Goddess Ostara
Who will return to us
Return to us
On Spring’s morning dawn
Return to us
When new life begins
Return to us
As the earth is reborn
Return to us
Wearing Her floral crown
and Her celestial gown
Return to us
The sun in the sky
with Her whispering sigh
The blossoming trees
that hold the birds of She
The beautiful butterflies
that fly thru Her sky
The blooming flowers
that spring from Her showers
Her soft green grass
that our bare feet will pass
As Ostara returns to us
Returns to us
On Spring’s morning dawn
Returns to us
When new life begins
Returns to us
As the earth is reborn
Returns to us
Wearing Her floral crown
and Her celestial gown
Ostara who will return to us
Return to us as this wheel turns on
Turns on past Spring’s morning dawn
–Savannah Skye, Author
Published on Pagan Library
Witches Of The Craft® 
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