Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Preparing for Ostara

Ostara is the celebration of the Vernal (or Spring) Equinox. It occurs on or about March 20th/21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also celebrated as Lady Day, Eostre, Nu Ruz (Zoarastrian/Persian), and many others. Ostara (or Eostre) also gives her name to the Christian holy day of Easter, celebrating the rebirth of Jesus Christ.

Ostara is the second Spring celebration (after Imbolc on February 1), when the Light and Dark of day and night are balanced, and new life begins. The flowers are starting to bloom, animals are starting to have babies, and the weather is tempestuous! Some days it is warm, other days still chilly, and there is still a possibility of snow!

Some Ostara correspondences I use in my practice:

Deities
Goddesses associated with fertility, agriculture, fertility or youth
Ostara herself is the most obvious
Demeter and/or Persephone
Flora
Freya

Gods associated with the wild and fertility
The Green Man
Cernunnos
Pan
Dionysus

Symbols
Eggs
Chicks
Rabbits
Lambs
Baby animals of all types
Flowers
anything that is equally light and dark

Flowers
Pretty much anything that is blooming at this time of year, which around my house usually includes some of the following:
Daffodils or Jonquils
Crocus
Peach
Hiacynths
Violets
Henbit
Speedwell
(those last three are considered weeds by many)

Incense
"Ostara"
Anything Floral
Rose
Jasmine
Nutmeg
Anything that evokes "spring"

Magic 
New beginnings
Growth
Renewal
Fertility (not just babies and plants, but ideas, new habits, and finances)

Food and Drink
Anything with eggs
Lamb
Chicken
Leafy greens
Herbs
Asparagus
Radishes
New carrots
New peas
New potatoes
Strawberries (they aren't really in season unless you live in Florida or California, but they are readily available in most grocery stores)
Mead
Wine
Spring water
Milk






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