“Fire has always played an important part at Samhain. It was very important to the Celts as it was to all early people. In the old days people lit bonfires to ward away evil spirits and in some places they used to jump over the fire to bring good luck. Samhain was a fire festival to the Celts and in Ireland, originally all fires were put out save the sacred one which was kindled by the old rubbing sticks method, branches were then taken to light all fires in the land. Pagans today include a fire outside if possible for our celebrations, or indoors a candle in a cauldron is used to signify this. Bingley in West Yorkshire used to have a reminder of Celtic customs at its October Fair, Parkin pigs were sold. The boar is a symbol of the Sun in Celtic myth and so the symbol originally honoured it at the time of going into the light. Apples are traditional at this time and if you cut an apple crosswise you will see the centre displays a 5 pointed star or pentagram, the symbol used by many pagans as a sign of their beliefs.”

– Samhain – Cauldron Corner

 

“The eve of the New Year or Oidhche Shamhna was a gap in time. Thus, the spirits from the Otherworld could enter into our world. Rituals on Oidhche Shamhna include providing hospitality to the dead ancestors. They welcomed the dead with food and drink and left the windows and doors of their homes open for the dead to enter. But all spirits from the Otherworld were not good; there were evil spirits too. To keep evil spirits away from their home, they carved images of spirit-guardians onto turnips and placed them at the doors of their homes. As part of the festivities young people wore strange costumes and moved around the village, pretending to be dead spirits visiting from the Otherworld. The Celts believed that on the eve of New Year not only did the boundary between this world and the Otherworld dissolve, but the structure of society dissolved too. Boys and girls would dress up as members of the opposite sex and play pranks on the elders.”

– Celtic New Year

 

“To many ancient people, the waning of the light signaled death. For example, in Welsh mythology, this is the day of the year when the God of Darkness, Goronwy, defeats the God of Light, Llew, and takes his place as King of the world. To this day in Japan, the equinox is celebrated by visits to the graves of family members, at which time offerings of flowers and food are made and incense is burned. The three days preceding and following the equinox are called “higan,” or the “Other side of the River of Death.”

– September Folklore

Thoroughly clean, dust, tidy up, refreshen, improve, and add appropriate seasonal decorations to your home altar. This should normally be clean and tidy, however an extra cleaning before the Samhain celebration is a way to express your reverence, create a visible reminder of your thoughts and devotional practices, and to offer hospitality to the nature spirits, ancestors, and Shining Ones. If you don’t have a home altar, read some books and webpages about setting one up in your home or garden, and then establish one this holiday season.

 

This is a time for remembering the Ancestors, honoring deceased members of your family, and remembering the cherished dead. Gather together a few pictures of your ancestors and place them on or near your home altar. Set out some offerings of food, drink or valuables to honor the dead. Visit and clean the gravesites of those who have passed away. Say some prayers for the souls of those who have passed into the Otherworld. Talk with your ancestors and bring them up to date about what has happened since they died on the earthly plane.

“Twas the Night Before Samhain”

Twas the night before Samhain and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, except for my spouse.
The incense, it burned in our cauldron so black,
For Witchcraft and Magick we’d a wonderful knack.

The circle was drawn with the athame of power,
The guardians were called to each quarter tower.
The Lord and Lady attended our rite,
In wonder and glory and power and might.

The dearly departed came as our guest,
To live once again, after their rest.
We bid them goodbye with a tear in our eye,
Such a lovely presence of loved ones so nigh.

The candles danced in the flickering light,
With the Great Rite we bid them all a good night.
The guardians, thanked, have all sped away,
The Lord and Lady, thanked for the day.

The night before Samhain, Gods bless this house,
A circle of wonder ’round me and my spouse.

by Marjenna Gittings, 1992

Samhain Ritual to Honor the Forgotten Dead

 

As Samhain rolls around and the veil grows thin each year, many people in the Pagan community take the opportunity to hold rituals honoring the dead. This may take the form of setting up an altar to honor the ancestors, or to hold a vigil for those who have crossed over in the past year. In general, we’re pretty good about remembering those who have touched us, whether they were family of the blood or of the spirit.

However, there’s one group that is typically overlooked at this time of year. It’s the people who passed through the veil with no one to mourn them, no one to remember their names, no loved ones left behind to sing their names with honor.

Think of the people out there, not just in your community, but around the country who are buried with no headstone, because there was no one to pay for a marker. Consider the old woman in a nursing home or care center, who died with no children or nieces and nephews to bid her farewell in the final moments. What about the homeless veteran who used to panhandle on your city’s streets, who one day just stopped showing up at the corner, and is now buried in an unmarked plot with dozens of others just like him?

How about the children who are lost, for whatever reasons, in our world, and die alone, whether by violence or neglect or illness? What about those who were once remembered, but now their gravestones lie untended and ignored?

These are the people that this ritual honors. These are the ones whose spirits we honor, even when we do not know their names. This ritual can be performed by a solitary practitioner or a group.

Keep in mind that while you can perform this rite as a standalone ritual, it also works well being incorporated in at the end of your other Samhain rituals.

You will need a collection of candles in colors and sizes of your choice – each will represent a group of forgotten people. If there’s someone specific you know of, who died alone, choose a candle to represent that person as well. For this sample ritual, we’ll use a candle for men, one for women, and another for children, but you can group people in any way that works for you.

If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now. Even if your tradition doesn’t require it, it’s a good idea to have designated sacred space of some sort for this ritual, because you’re going to be inviting the dead to stand outside and watch you.

You can do a simple delineation of the circle with string, birdseed, salt, or other markers. Another alternative is to simply create sacred space around the participants.

Decorate your altar as you normally would for Samhain, and include the collection of unlit candles in a prominent position. Safety tip: put the smaller ones at the front, and the taller ones behind them, so there’s less chance of you setting your own sleeve on fire as you light them.

Particularly if you’re doing this during the Samhain season, there’s a lot of activity crossing back and forth over the veil, so it’s a good idea to take a moment to meditate and get grounded before you begin. When you’re ready to start, say:

Now is the season of Samhain. It is the season of our ancestors, of our glorious dead, of those who have fallen and crossed over the veil from this world to the next. This is a time for us to honor them and pay tribute.

Tonight, in the darkness, under this starry sky, we remember those who were forgotten. Tonight we memorialize you, the unknown, the unloved, the unwanted of our world. Whoever you may have been in life, tonight, now, in death, you are ours as you watch from the other side, at least for a little while.

Light the first candle, representing the group of your choice. Again, for purposes of this ritual, we’ll assign this candle to the women:

Women who were lost to us, how did you pass? Were you old and alone, crossing over with no one but your own ghosts to keep you company? Were you young and healthy, taken from us unexpectedly, your crossing as much a surprise to you as to anyone else? Does your body lie in a cold office somewhere, waiting to be claimed? Or do you lie under the stars tonight, in a field or a forest where you’ll never be seen? Forgotten women, your spirits are with us tonight, watching us from outside the circle. We remember you, and want you to know you are honored. You are remembered.

Light the second candle, for the second group you are honoring:

Men who were lost to us, how did you pass? Did you die in a strange place, far from your family and friends, lost to everyone but your own demons? Were you in the prime of your life, or creeping along against the ravages of old age, watching as disease and neglect took their toll upon you? Are you buried in an unmarked plot in a potter’s field somewhere, or do you lie under these glorious stars tonight? Forgotten men, your spirits are with us tonight, watching us from outside the circle. We remember you, and want you to know you are honored. You are remembered.

Light the next candle, for additional groups you may be honoring:

Sweet children, crossed over from this world to the next. Your lives were far too short, for whatever reason, and you left us before you grew. On the other side, perhaps there is a mother to hold you when you need to feel loved, a father to comfort you when you are afraid, a big brother or sister to guide you on your journey. Wherever you may lie, and whether you were big or very, very small, your spirits are with us tonight, watching us from outside the circle. We remember you, and want you to know you are honored. You are remembered.

All of you, women, men, children… you may have crossed over unnoticed when you left this world, but for now, you are remembered. You are unforgotten. You are honored by us this night of Samhain, and if it helps you along your journey, then so may it be. Know that this night, you are with us in memory and spirit. Know that you are no longer the lost and unreachable dead.

Take a moment to meditate on what you have just said. See if you can feel the presence of the lost ones as you stand at your altar. You may notice a distinct shift in the energy you’re feeling, and that’s normal. It’s also why this next part of the ritual is very important: you’ve invited them to watch you, and now you need to send them on their way.

Spirits, guests from the place beyond, it is time. We have honored you and celebrated your names, though we may not have known you in life. Now is the time for you to move on. Go back to the places from which you came, to the places in which you belong as one of our beloved dead. Go back, knowing that this night, you were honored and remembered. Go back across the veil, and remain in that world. You will not be forgotten again, and we will honor you with our memories. Farewell, rest easy, and may the coming parts of your journey be worthy of you.

Take a few minutes to get yourself centered. End the ritual in whichever way you normally do, breaking down the sacred space. Extinguish the candles, and offer a quick final blessing of farewell to each group as the smoke drifts away into the night.

Source:

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert

Article found on & owned by About.com

Preparing for Your Celebrations

 

Many of us like to set up an altar and scent the air with incense or oils when we talk to our Goddess or God, in the same way we might set our table and put on a pot of coffee when we invite a friend over to visit. These things set the mood and help make the time we spend together extra special. But just as a true friend will gladly come over to talk without being served refreshments, so will the Divine be there for you, without all the ritual settings.

Celebrating the Sabbats can get complicated with special foods, activities and decorations involved. For some, eliminating these things is like trying to hold a Yule celebration without a tree or gifts. Keeping old traditions are what these events are really all about … right? Well … traditions certainly DO make the events special, but our ancestors observed the Sabbats to help them stay in tune with the changing seasons and to celebrate the blessings those changes brought. This is where our focus should be!

A great way to honor the Divine is to share the season’s harvest. That could be fresh flowers and herbs or berries and produce, whatever gifts our Earthly Mother is providing us. Our activities should also center on the changing seasons. Walking in the woods to collect May flowers or gathering wood for a fire on a cold October night are activities that can connect us with Nature. These things help us celebrate the season and give us a chance to thank the Divine for the many blessings each season bring us.

We should connect with our God or Goddess in a way that feels right to us. Many find that connection through Nature, but others find it through a craft or form of art. Writing, painting, photography, woodworking or singing and dancing are a just a few activities that allow us to express our spiritual connection with the Divine and share it with others.

Music and dance have long been used in magical and religious ceremonies. Many believe these activities can raise power, alter consciousness and help them unite with the God and Goddess.

In his book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, Scott Cunningham writes, “Music is simply a re-creation of the sounds of nature. Wind through the trees, the roar of the ocean hurling itself against jagged cliffs, pattering rain, crackling of a lightning produced fire, the cry of birds and roars of animals are some of the ‘instruments’ that constitute the music of nature.”

There are an unlimited number of ways to incorporate sound into your activities. As with everything else, the best music, tools or activities for your rituals will depend on what feels right to you. If something helps you connect with the spirit of the Divine, then don’t worry if it’s not what others are doing or if it’s not in the book you just read.

In Wicca, how you choose to practice your religion is between you and your God or Goddess. As long as you abide by the Wiccan Rede, your celebrations and rituals will honor the Divine.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

“An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will”

Wiccan & Pagan Holidays: An Easy Beginner’s Guide to Celebrating Sabbats and Esbats (Living Wicca Today Book 1)

Zoe Kardia

“A year of beauty. A year of plenty.
A year of planting. A year of harvest.
A year of forests. A year of healing.
A year of vision. A year of passion.
A year of rebirth.

This year may we renew the earth.
This year may we renew the earth.

Let it begin with each step we take.
And let it begin with each change we make.
And let it begin with each chain we break.
And let it begin every time we awake.”.

–Starhawk, Reclaiming Samhain

“Between the heavens and the earth
The way now opens to bring forth
The Hosts of those who went on before;
Hail!  We see them now come through the Open Door.

Now the veils of worlds are thin;
To move out you must move in.
Let the Balefires now be made,
Mine the spark within them laid..

Move beyond the fiery screen,
Between the seen and the unseen;
Shed your anger and your fear,
Live anew in a new year!”
–   Lore of the Door  

Celebrating the God & Goddess at Samhain

In some Wiccan traditions, by Samhain, the Goddess has entered her incarnation of Crone. She is the Old One, the earth mother, the wise one we turn to when we need advice. She teaches us that sometimes we must let go in order to move on. The God, at Samhain, is the Horned One, the stag of great antlers, the god of the wild hunt. He is the animal that dies so that we may eat, and the grains and corn that once lived in the field before our harvest.

We can honor these late-fall aspects of both the Goddess and the God in one ritual.

Begin by casting a circle, if your tradition requires it. Prior to starting the ceremony, place three sheaves of corn or wheat around the ritual space. You’ll also need a statue or other image of the God and of the Goddess at the center of your altar. Around the statues, place five candles — red and black to represent the dark aspect of the Goddess, green and brown to symbolize the wild God, and white for the hearth and home.

Place a plate of dark bread, enough for each person present, near the center of the altar, along with a cup of wine or cider.

Circle the altar. The youngest person present will act as the Handmaiden, and the oldest as the High Priest (HP) or High Priestess (HPs). If you’re performing this rite as a solitary, simply take on both parts. The HPs lights the red and black candles, and says:

A pair of candles is lit
in honor of the Goddess.
She is Maiden and Mother throughout the year
and tonight we honor her as Crone.
Next, the HPs lights the brown and green candles, saying:
A pair of candles is lit
in honor of the God.
He is wild and fertile and animal
and tonight we honor him as the Horned God.

The Handmaiden takes the bread and walks the circle with the plate, allowing each person to tear off a chunk. As they do so, she says: May the blessings of the Goddess be upon you. The cup of wine or cider is passed around, and each person takes a sip. As they do, the Handmaiden should say: May the blessings of the God be upon you.
The Handmaiden then lights the fifth candle, for the hearth, saying:

This candle is lit
in honor of hearth and home.
The mother and father, the Goddess and God,
watch over us tonight as we honor them.
The HPs then takes over, saying:
We light these five candles
for the powerful Goddess
and her mighty horned consort, the God,
and for the safety of home and hearth.
On this, the night of Samhain,
when the Goddess is a wise Crone,
and the God is a wild stag,
we honor them both.

The Handmaiden says:

This is a time between the worlds,
a time of life and a time of death.
This is a night unlike any other night.
Ancient ones, we ask your blessing.
Goddess, great Crone, mother of all life,
we thank you for your wisdom.
Horned God, master of the wild hunt, keeper of the forest,
we thank you for all that you provide.

At this time, the rest of the group may also say thanks. If you wish to make an offering to the God and Goddess, now is the time to place it upon the altar.

Once all offerings have been made, and thanks given, take a moment to meditate on the new beginnings of Samhain. Consider the gifts that the gods have given you over the past year, and think about how you might show them your gratitude in the coming twelve months. As the old year dies, make room in the new year for new things in your life. You may not know yet what’s coming, but you can certainly imagine, dream and hope. Tonight, this night between the worlds, is the perfect time to imagine what things may come.

End the ritual in the way called for by your tradition.

Tips:
⦁ Decorate your ⦁ altar with symbols of the God — antlers, acorns, pine cones, phallic symbols — and representations of the Goddess, such as red flowers, cups, pomegranates, etc.
⦁ If your tradition honors a specific pair of male and female deities, feel free to substitute their names in this ritual wherever it says God or Goddess.
Source:

Patti Wigington,Paganism/Wicca Expert

Article found on & owned by About.com

 

Samhain Solitary Simple Wiccan ritual

 

Introduction

This is a guideline on how to conduct your Samhain ritual. It is designed for a solitary practitioner. The primary purpose of the Samhain ritual is to honour our ancestors whose lives brought us about. You should familiarise yourself with the ritual before performing it.

Items used:

God and Goddess candles. Any colours that feel right to you can be used.

A white candle for the altar.

Incense — sandalwood or patchouli is a good choice

Salt. Table salt is fine.

Bowl of water

Bread or cake

Wine or fruit juice

Paper and Pencil

Candle snuff

A fireproof bowl or area to burn some paper

Matches or a lighter

A copy of the ‘Witches rune’

A space to perform the ritual, this can be as small as a meter square.

Preparation:

You might choose to have a ritual cleansing bath beforehand.

Set up the items needed for the ritual on an altar in the east of the ritual area, also anything symbolising time of year. e.g. pumpkin. The alter can just be a placemat placed on the floor in the east of your circle.

Instructions:

The ritual should be self explanatory with the start of lines indicating whether an action is taking place or whether something needs to be spoken. When raising the circle, use visualisations. e.g. when calling earth picture a mountain, when purifying the space picture blue light.

The Ritual:

Action: Enter the ritual area.

Say: “Hail Samhain, start of the Celtic year, day of the dead. Time of honouring our ancestors who brought us into this world. At this turn of the wheel the veil between us and the spirit realm is thinnest, easing communications between the world of the living and the world of the dead.”

Action: Light the white altar candle. Light the Goddess candle and say “Mother Goddess, be here with me”.

Action: Light the God candle and say “Father God, be here with me”.

Action: Mix some salt and water in a bowl

Action: While occasionally saying “I purify this area with the power of earth and water”, walk clockwise around the ritual area, and sprinkle the salt and water mix on the floor. Then sprinkle some inside of the area ritual area.

Action: Light the incense with the white altar candle and walk clockwise around the outside of the ritual area with it while saying “I purify this ritual area with the element of air”. Then return the incense to the altar.

Action: Light a candle from white altar candle and walk clockwise around the outside of the ritual area with it while saying “I purify this ritual area with the element of fire”.

Say: In the East of circle, face outwards to the East and say “Hail, Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, Powers of Air! I invoke you and call you, to witness this rite and to guard this circle. ”

Say: In the South of circle, face outwards to the South and say “Hail, Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, Powers of fire! I invoke you and call you, to witness this rite and to guard this circle. ”

Say: In the West of the circle, face outwards to the West and say “Hail, Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, Powers of Water! I invoke you and call you, to witness this rite and to guard this circle.”

Say: In the North of the circle, face outwards to the West and say “Hail, Guardians of the Watchtower of the North, Power of Earth! I invoke you and call you, to witness this rite and to guard this circle. ”

Action: Recite the witches rune

Action: Thank your ancestors for bringing you into this world and giving you life. Honour them for they braved the world and brought about you, hope to inherit their best qualities and learn from them, both their achievements and their mistakes. We can honour them by living our lives as best we can. Be happy for them while on their afterlife journey and we shall wish them the best. If you want to write this message or any other message down to send them, put it on a piece of paper, fold it, light it and put it in the fire proof dish to burn it away, relight it if it doesnot all burn away.”

Say: “May my ancestors receive my respects. May they rest in piece.

Note: We will now start bringing down the circle

Say: “Fair-well God and Fair-well Goddess, I thank you for attending my ritual, Hail and Fair well”.

Action: Extinguish God and Goddess candles with candle snuff

Priest: To all spirits raised in this ritual, we bid farewell to thee. Merry met, merry part and merry meet again. All unused raised energies are released”

Say: “This ritual has come to an end, the circle is open, but unbroken. Blessed Be.”

Action: Drink wine and eat bread to ground yourself, giving some to the earth and saying “Blessed be”

 

Source:

Pagan Calendar

 

 

Digging Deeper into Divination for Samhain – Scrying/Crystal Gazing

 

Halloween, the most sacred of the eight witches’ Sabbats, has long been regarded as the ideal time for engaging in all manner of psychic work. It is a mysterious night when witches throughout the world clairvoyantly peer into the past, the present and the future.

The traditional Halloween divination method favored by those who belong to the Craft is that of scrying (or gazing) into crystal balls, magick mirrors, and the flames of candles, cauldron fires, or outdoor bonfires. The term “scrying,” derived from the Old English word “descry,” means “to perceive from a distance; to discover by the eye.” The divinatory use of crystals is said to date back to circa 1,000 b.c. Undeniably, it is one of the oldest forms of divination that continue to be practiced in modern times.

The proper method of scrying a crystal ball is as follows: Before consulting the crystal, allow yourself to enter into a meditative state. Focus your mind on a particular question or issue, and then gaze into the surface of the crystal ball. (You will most likely find that the best results are achieved when your scrying is performed in a darkened room with the bright light of a full moon, the gentle glow of a candle’s flame, or some other light source that reflects off the crystal’s surface.) In time, a vision should form. It may be an entire scenario or simply one or more symbols that will require interpretation on your part.

It is common for many crystal gazers to experience the formation of “clouds” within or around the crystal ball. The colors of the clouds and the directions in which they move are said to be highly significant. Traditionally, clouds that move to the right are considered to be a sign that a benign guiding spirit is present; clouds that move to the left indicate that the spirit is unwilling or unable to offer guidance at the present time. Clouds that move in an upward direction indicate an affirmative answer to the scryer’s question, while a negative reply is shown by clouds that move in a downward direction.

 

Color Meanings of Clouds

White clouds are believed to be favorable omens.

Black ones are viewed as being unlucky.

Red clouds, depending upon the scryer’s personal interpretation, can either indicate a fiery, passionate love affair or serve as a warning of impending danger.

Green clouds, a color associated with money, generally indicate an increase in riches, unless the clouds are seen moving in a downward (negative) direction.

Yellow clouds are said to indicate betrayal.

Blue clouds are signs of peace and tranquility.

Violet clouds indicate spiritual strength, psychic growth, and enlightenment.

Sometimes a crystal ball’s clouds regardless of their color—will gradually or suddenly yield to a clear vision of a future, present, or past event.

The art of crystal gazing (which is technically known as “crystallomancy”) is one that requires a good deal of concentration and practice, and a novice scryer should not become discouraged if he or she does not achieve immediate results. As with any art, some people require more time to master the crystal ball, while others seem to be born with a natural flair for it.

Many crystal gazers ritually “recharge” their crystal balls once every month by placing them either on an outdoor altar or on a windowsill where they can absorb the rays of the full moon. Most keep their crystal balls covered by a black silk handkerchief when not in use, and don’t allow anyone to handle the crystal ball, for they believe that this action disturbs or diminishes its occult vibrations, requiring it to be reconsecrated and recharged with the gazer’s own psychic energy.

In addition to gazing into crystal balls, many witches utilize the steady flame of a candle, a water-filled cauldron, or what are known as magick mirrors as a focus for their Halloween scrying rituals.

 

Witch’s Halloween: A Complete Guide to the Magick, Incantations, Recipes, Spells, and Lore

Gerina Dunwich

 

History of Ostara – The Spring Equinox

 

Many Holidays, Many Names:

The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and September 21/22 in the Southern Hemisphere. The Venerable Bede said the origin of the word is actually from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring. Of course, it’s also the same time as the Christian Easter celebration, and in the Jewish faith, Passover takes place as well. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season.

Typically, the Celtic peoples did not celebrate Ostara as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.

A New Day Begins:

A dynasty of Persian kings known as the Achaemenians celebrated the spring equinox with the festival of No Ruz — which means “new day.” It is a celebration of hope and renewal still observed today in many Persian countries, and has its roots in Zoroastrianism. In Iran, a festival called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri takes place right before No Ruz begins, and people purify their homes and leap over fires to welcome the 13-day celebration of No Ruz.

Mad as a Hare:

Spring equinox is a time for fertility and sowing seeds, and so nature’s fertility goes a little crazy. In medieval societies in Europe, the March hare was viewed as a major fertility symbol — this is a species of rabbit that is nocturnal most of the year, but in March when mating season begins, there are bunnies everywhere all day long. The female of the species is superfecund and can conceive a second litter while still pregnant with a first.

As if that wasn’t enough, the males tend to get frustrated when rebuffed by their mates, and bounce around erratically when discouraged.

The Legends of Mithras:

The story of the Roman god, Mithras, is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. Born at the winter solstice and resurrected in the spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death. In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife entered the creature’s body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras’ cloak became the night sky. Where the bull’s blood fell flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail.

Spring Celebrations Around the World:

In ancient Rome, the followers of Cybele believed that their goddess had a consort who was born via a virgin birth. His name was Attis, and he died and was resurrected each year during the time of the vernal equinox on the Julian Calendar. Around the same time, the Germanic tribes honored a lunar goddess known as Ostara, who mated with a fertility god around this time of year, and then gave birth nine months later – at Yule.

The indigenous Mayan people in Central American have celebrated a spring equinox festival for ten centuries. As the sun sets on the day of the equinox on the great ceremonial pyramid, El Castillo, Mexico, its “western face…is bathed in the late afternoon sunlight. The lengthening shadows appear to run from the top of the pyramid’s northern staircase to the bottom, giving the illusion of a diamond-backed snake in descent.” This has been called “The Return of the Sun Serpent” since ancient times.

According to the Venerable Bede, Eostre was the Saxon version of the Germanic goddess Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox — almost the identical calculation as for the Christian Easter in the west. There is very little documented evidence to prove this, but one popular legend is that Eostre found a bird, wounded, on the ground late in winter. To save its life, she transformed it into a hare. But “the transformation was not a complete one. The bird took the appearance of a hare but retained the ability to lay eggs…the hare would decorate these eggs and leave them as gifts to Eostre.”

Modern Celebrations

This is a good time of year to start your seedlings. If you grow an herb garden, start getting the soil ready for late spring plantings. Celebrate the balance of light and dark as the sun begins to tip the scales, and the return of new growth is near.

Many modern Pagans celebrate Ostara as a time of renewal and rebirth. Take some time to celebrate the new life that surrounds you in nature — walk in park, lay in the grass, hike through a forest. As you do so, observe all the new things beginning around you — plants, flowers, insects, birds. Meditate upon the ever-moving Wheel of the Year, and celebrate the change of seasons.

 

Source:
Author: Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert

Website: About.com