Happy Ostara Everyone!



Happy and blessed Ostara!
     Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but there's been a huge warm spell where I live, and so it feels almost like summer already! This makes today (or depending differing traditions on when you celebrate it, the 18-22nd), the Spring Equinox, Ostara, even more wonderful. Ostara celebrates the return to life in the land, and the near equal times of night and day, looking forward to Beltane as the light keeps increasing. Ostara was named for the Norse goddess Ostara or Eostre, harbinger of spring, fertility, and playfulness.

Other Goddesses from around the world that are celebrated in the spring are:

	Aphrodite from ancient Cyprus
	Ashtoreth from ancient Israel
	Astarte from ancient Greece
	Demeter from Mycenae
	Hathor from ancient Egypt
	Ishtar from Assyria
	Kali, from India
	

     Colors of this holiday include pastels like yellow, green, pink, purple, and blue, in correspondence with he small flowers poking their heads up through the earth this time of year. Ostara's main symbols are eggs, rabbits, and flowers. It is a celebration of rebirth, joy, and hope. Sounding a bit like Easter? Well, maybe that's because Ostara came before it, and Christians incorporated much of the meaning and symbolism of the Pagan holiday into their religion. Easter even came from the other name of the virginal goddess: Eastre. Ever wondered what rabbits and eggs and such have to do with a holiday that celebrates the return of Christ? Well, other than them all fitting into one big metaphor of new life, almost nothing. You won't hear Jesus lecturing about rabbits and chickens in the middle of the desert.

For more info on the Pagan origins of Easter, click here: http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

     This seems to be a common theme, I've noticed, of mainstream holidays. On Christmas half the kids or more are way more interested in St. Nicholas/Father Christmas than on the birth of Jesus, and the same goes for Easter; most kiddies are thinking about what that big fluffy E. Bunny is going to leave them than what their pastor's going to say at church. I think the lesson of this is that no matter what, religions should work cohesively together and incorporate all the good aspects of each other. One cannot completely exclude the ideas of another. If you say that all the traditions, all the Old Ways of yesteryear are wrong, you're bound to be leaving a gaping hole in people's heart. I say let people rejoice in whatever way feels cohesive to them personally. Actually, heck, that should be the whole point of religion--do what feels right to you as is good for all other people as well.



     Some things just feel right. Spring is a time to celebrate the reawakening of the earth, and it's going to be celebrated that way no matter what religious dogma is imposed on the Season. Mother Earth has a lot to teach us, and ignoring the changing seasons as inconsequential is denying something that is and has always been inherently human. We are bound to the earth and as she fills with abundance so do our hearts.



     Some of the things done to celebrate Ostara are to take a nice long walk around the yard and see what's popping up, to plant an herb garden, to color and decorate eggs, and to do some sprucing up around the house or yard to maintain a healthy feeling of change.

     My personal favorite thing about this time of year are the hyacinths, which are absolutely my favorite flower because they just smell like Spring, potential, and hopefulness. Plus they are totally adorable.

     Another thing to do is to grab your besom and sweep off your front porch (if you have one) and sidewalk to invite good luck, wealth, and prosperity into your home (not to mention some old friends).

     I also like to watch all the birds busily building their nests (A pair of mourning doves, my favorite small birds, are nesting in a pine near my window) and hopping about looking for worms. You could make some bird treats for them if you like, like rolling a pine cone in peanut butter and wild bird seeds and hanging it up in the trees, or putting out a bird feeder or bird bath.

     Another thing to do is to make some wreaths or take those plastic Easter eggs they sell and tie them with ribbons to the branches of the trees or bushes outside. This will make your yard more colorful and maybe even inspire your neighbors.

     For the more daring sort, (and for those who have adequate space and time) you could buy some little chicks and start a chicken coop in your backyard! These will provide you with nice fresh eggs all year round and will most certainly put a smile on your face.

     Above all this is the time of year for making big plans for the future, getting active, eating nutritiously, and getting in touch with nature as the earth is waking up from it's slumber.

     For more information on Ostara this lovely website has some insight and seasonal crafts by StormWing: http://citadelofthedragons.tripod.com/ostara.html
and another by Herne: http://wicca.com/celtic/akasha/ostara.htm

Blessings,
     -Autumn