Ostara: Enter the Light!
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
Witches Of The Craft® 
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