Ostara
Vernal or Spring Equinox, the Rites of Spring, Lady Day, Alban Eiber
and Bacchanalia
March 20
Vernal or Spring Equinox, the Rites of Spring, Lady Day, Alban Eiber
and Bacchanalia.The Spring Equinox occurs between March 19th and
21st. Ostara marks the day when night and day are equal and
balanced. The Sun God's strength increases. The Maiden celebrates
her fertility. Ostara, her symbol the egg and her animal the rabbit,
is the Norse Goddess of fertility, and it is Ostara that is honored
this day. Life begins anew at this time. This is a time to plant the
seeds of our flower, herb and vegetable gardens.

And the Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the spirit of Love felt everywhere
And each wild flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
The snowdrop and then the violet
Arose from the ground with the warm rain wet
And their breath was mixed with sweet odour sent
From the turf, like the voice and the instrument.
- Percy Bysshe Shelley
Symbols: eggs, New Moon, rabbits or a hare and butterflies
Foods: Eggs, honey, bread,seeds, sprouts and green leafy vegetables
Drinks: Eggnog, wines,dandelion,lindon teas,hyssop
Flowers And Herbs: all spring flowers. irish moss,crocus flowers,
daffodils, Easter lilies, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, roses,
strawberry, tansy and violets. Acorn, Celandine, Cinquefoil,
Dandelion, Dogwood, Honeysuckle, Iris, Jasmine, Rose, Tansy, Violet
Incense: Floral of any type. jasmine, African violet, rose, sage,
strawberry, violet flowers, orange peel, rose petals, lotus,
magnolia, ginger . Ostara incense recipe
Oils: Magnolia,ginger,lotus. Ostara oil recipe
Colors: all pastels, yellow, pink, green, blue
Stones: Rose quartz, aquamarine, amethyst, jasper and moonstone.
Animal: Hares, rabbits, snakes,unicorn,pegasus
Goddesses: Virgin Goddesses, Moon Goddesses, Goddesses of Love,
Androgynous Deities, some Fertility Goddesses. Some Ostara Goddesses
are: Aphrodite (Greek), Eostre (Teutonic), Ma-Ku (Chinese), Lady of
the Lake (Welsh-Cornish), Minerva (Roman), Isis (Egyptian), Rheda
(Anglo-Saxon), Coatlicue (Aztec).
Gods: Gods of Love, Moon Gods, Gods of Song & Dance, some Fertility
Gods. Some Ostara Gods are: Adonis (Greek), Lord of the Greenwood
(English), Ovis (Roman Etruscan), Dylan (Welsh), Odin (Norse),
Osiris (Egyptian), Attis (Persian), Mithras (Greco Persian).
Altar decorations: Colored eggs, seeds, earth, flowers and herbs
appropriate
Traditions Planting seeds, working on magickal or herbal gardens,
herbal work, taking walks through gardens, parks, woodlands,
decorating and coloring eggs.

http://www.geocities.com/lavenderwater37/holidays/ostara.htm
The Sabbats: Ostara
Ostara (pronounced "O-STAR-ah") is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats
and is celebrated on the Spring Equinox, most often March 21st, but
varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd. The variance, as with all
Solar festivals, is due to the differences between the actual
astronomical event and our calendar, so be sure to check the
calendar each year.
Other names this Sabbat is also called by are the Vernal Equinox or
the Spring Equinox, Oestara, Eostre's Day, Rite of Eostre, Equinozio
della Primavera (Aridian Strega), Alban Eiber (Caledonii Tradition
or the Druids), Bacchanalia, Festival of the Trees, and Lady Day.
Christians celebrate their holiday - Easter - near this same time
and it is based on basically the same principles as ours in the Old
Religion. Easter is actually determined in a very Pagan manner... it
is always the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the
Spring Equinox.
This Sabbat is a time to celebrate the arrival of Spring, when light
and darkness are in balance but the light is growing stronger. The
forces of masculine energy and feminine energy are also in balance
and this day paves the way for the coming lushness of Summer. Ostara
is a time for the celebration of fertility and balance, a time when
all elements within and without us are brought into harmony. A time
of new life and rebirth, as well as the end of Winter.
Symbols of Ostara
Symbols used to represent Ostara include the egg (for fertility and
eproduction) and the hare (for rebirth and resurrection), the New
Moon, butterflies and cocoons. Symbolically, many Pagans choose to
represent Ostara by the planting of seeds, potted plants, ringing
bells, lighting new fires at sunrise, either in the fireplace (if
the weather us still cold enough), in the cauldron, or light a
balefire (if outdoors). I always give myself a gift of a newly
potted plant or take a seed and plant it within my cast Circle.
Ritually, a fire may be lit in the cauldron during (not before) the
rite itself. You may want to decorate your altar with a colorful
bouquet of Spring wildflowers. Other traditional activities include
working on magickal gardens and practicing all forms of herbal work -
-- magickal, artistic, medicinal, culinary, and cosmetic.
Activities for Ostara
Here is a traditional Vernal Equinox pastime according to Scott
Cunningham: go to a field and randomly collect wildflowers. Thank
the flowers for their sacrifice before picking them and it is also
best to leave an offering to the plant and/or the Earth for taking
the flowers, such as some milk and honey, a small crystal or even a
coin. Or, buy some from a florist, taking one or two of those that
appeal to you. Then bring them home and divine their magickal
meanings by the use of books, your own intuition, a pendulum or by
other means. The flowers you've chosen reveal your inner thoughts
and emotions. A particular suggestion from Scott Cunningham that I
really enjoy each year is to do the following... at this time in the
turn of the Wheel of the Year, when all things are green and renewed
life is all around us, it is a very good idea to plan a walk (or a
ride) through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green
places. This is not simply for exercise, and you should be on no
other mission. It isn't even just an appreciation of Nature. You
should make your walk celebratory, a ritual for Nature itself. Other
Pagan activities may include the planting of your herb and/or
vegetable garden.
Another very popular Ostara activity is decorating and coloring or
dying hard-boiled eggs - or other eggs such as wooden or paper mache
(I call them "Ostara Eggs"), and drawing Pagan and magickal symbols
on the colored eggs. You could then choose to either keep the eggs,
bury them in the Earth or cast them into a fire as offerings to the
Goddess - the choice is yours. If I use hard- boiled eggs, I usually
bury them in the Earth when the ritual is over, but - alternately -
here is my personal choice... I usually make my eggs from the paper
mache ones (the cost factor comes into play here, they are a LOT
cheaper than the wooden ones, but the wooden ones are much
smoother). I buy them at the local craft store (such as Hobby
Lobby). These eggs can be reused next year and you can even add new
ones to the old, if you like. The first thing I do is paint them
each a different color - whatever shade strikes me - whether it be
dull, bright, pastel, or primary. Then I use gold and silver paint
pens to draw Pagan designs and magickal symbols all over them. You
may opt to use other color combinations. It is entirely up to your
personal choice. I have one egg that is totally covered with
interconnected triangles (Triple Goddess), a couple with pentagrams
and God and Goddess symbols, some with words written in Theban
script, etc. Just let your imagination take you there - it's a lot
of fun!
Deities
Appropriate Deities for Ostara include all Youthful and Virile Gods
and Goddesses, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, Love Goddesses, Moon Gods
and Goddesses, and all Fertility Deities. Some Ostara Deities to
mention by name here include Persephone, Blodeuwedd, Eostre,
Aphrodite, Athena, Cybele, Gaia, Hera, Isis, Ishtar, Minerva,Venus,
Robin of the Woods, the Green Man, Cernunnos, Lord of the Greenwood,
The Dagda, Attis, The Great Horned God, Mithras, Odin, Thoth,
Osiris, and Pan.
Magick
Key actions to keep in mind during this time in the Wheel of the
Year include openings and new beginnings. Spellwork for improving
communication and group interaction are recommended, as well as
fertility and abundance. Ostara is a good time to start putting
those plans and preparations you made at Imbolc into action. Start
working towards physically manifesting your plans now. The most
common colors associated with Ostara are lemon yellow, pale green
and pale pink. However, also appropriate colors include grass green,
all pastels, Robin's egg blue, violet, and white. Stones to use
during the Ostara celebration include aquamarine, rose quartz, and
moonstone. Animals associated with Ostara are rabbits and snakes.
Mythical beasts associated with Ostara include unicorns, merpeople,
and pegasus. Plants and herbs associated with Ostara are crocus
flowers, daffodils, jasmine, Irish moss, snowdrops, and ginger. For
Ostara incense, you could make a blend from any of the following
scents or simply choose one... jasmine, frankincense, myrrh,
dragon's blood, cinnamon, nutmeg, aloes wood, benzoin, musk, African
violet, sage, strawberry, lotus, violet flowers, orange peel, or
rose petals.
Food
Foods in tune with this day (linking your meals with the seasons is
a fine way of attuning with Nature) include eggs, egg salad, hard-
boiled eggs, honey cakes, first fruits of the season, fish, cakes,
biscuits, cheeses, honey and ham. You may also include foods made of
seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, as well as pine
nuts. Sprouts are equally appropriate, as are leafy, green
vegetables. Flower dishes such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation
cupcakes also find their place here. (Find a book of flower cooking
or simply make spice cupcakes. Ice with pink frosting and place a
fresh carnation petal on each cupcake. Stuff nasturtium blossoms
with a mixture made of cream cheese, chopped nuts, chives and
watercress.) Appropriate Ostara meat dishes often contain fish or
ham.
© StormWing
http://www.thepaganweb.com/ostara.html
As the early church tried to convert the Pagans, it adapted the Old
Religion's traditions into Christianity in order to facilitate
attaining its goal.
Easter Bunnies, Eggs, Flowers and Chicks
Ostara is also called Eostre and much of our Easter traditions are
based on those of this Pagan Fire Festival. When the early
Christians set out to convert the Pagans, they discovered conversion
was easier if they adopted Pagan customs and traditions. Easter is
tied into Ostara because it is celebrated on the first Sunday after
the first full moon after the vernal or spring equinox.
Rabbits* are symbols of fertility. According to Stephanie and Philip
Carr-Gomm, rabbit also signifies intuition, rebirth, promise,
fulfillment, and balance. It is the Goddess' creature and represents
the Moon, night and dawn. It is also associated with abundance,
rebirth and release.
Eggs symbolize fertility. In the mid 1900s, children would get
rabbits and chicks as gifts
for Easter. The cock,** in Celtic tradition, has connections to the
Underworld. The bird drove off the evil night spirits and ghosts by
crowing at dawn.
Each flower has special meanings. March's flowers are the jonquil
and violet. Jonquils symbolize affection is being returned. White
violets symbolize candor and violet, modesty. April's flowers are
daisies and sweet peas. Daisies are symbolic of innocence and sweet
peas, thinking of the person.
Traditional Easter Dinner
The traditional meats for this holiday are ham and lamb. Lamb
symbolizes innocence and Jesus Christ. The Last Supper was the Seder
celebration and featured lamb. During the original Passover, Moses
had said that all of the young males not of Jewish heritage would
die, the final curse of God on Pharaoh, which would pave the way for
the Exodus.
The Jews put lamb's blood on their doors so the spirit of death
would pass over their homes and their boys would be safe.
The meat of the pig is cured and keeps well over the winter.
Boars*are wild members of the pig family. To the Druids, boar
symbolizes leadership, direction, the warrior spirit. Boar
represents the Goddess and inspires creativity. Boar gives energy
and courage. Sow* represents nourishment, generosity, fertility,
abundance and discovery and is also associated with the Goddess.
Ham and other preserved meats were eaten at Ostara to celebrate the
arrival of the growing season and the fact that fresh meat would
soon be available.
Eating greens, asparagus and other early vegetables are of both
Jewish and Pagan traditions. Root vegetables and cabbage store well.
Some vegetables such as cabbage and cucumbers are pickled and/or
fermented to preserve for the winter. Soon, the people will plant
seeds for fresh vegetables and celebrate the first harvest on
Lughnasa, August 2nd.
http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/article.cfm/pagan_roots_of_easter_c
ustoms
This minor Sabbat greets spring's arrival. The wheels of the cycle
of nature and of life turn. Nature is reborn, offering the promise
of abundant future harvests.
Ostara, the day of the vernal equinox when daylight and night are
equal, is the Fire Festival welcoming spring, the season of sowing
seeds, leaves returning to perennial plants, animals creating new
generations and rebirth.
Flowers, herbs and crystals of the season decorate altars. Each one
has its special powers and symbolism. Celebrants sing and dance.
There is meditation with people concentrating about their desires
for the coming year. These are affirmed.
The Flowers of Spring
The flowers of this season, with the exception of tulips, which are
vivid red and other deep or brilliant colors and irises and violets,
which can be shades of vibrant purple, are white, yellow and pastel
hued. Their powers have a place in working with magick to help
attain positive goals.
The Easter lily is not listed because it isn't a plant that normally
blooms in the spring. Florists use artificial means to make it come
into flower during this holiday.
Bluebell: Gratitude, constancy, humility
Crocus: Youthful gladness
Daffodil: Regard, desire, affection, luck
Dogwood: Eternal life, regeneration
Forsythia: Anticipation
Hyacinth: Love, happiness, protection
Iris: Message, cherished friendship, valor, faith, hope, wisdom
Jonquil: Love me, returned affection, sympathy, desire
Lilac: Purple: First love; White: Youthful, Innocence. Both drive
away evil
Narcissus: Self love
Olive: Protection, peace, fruitfulness, purification
Tulip: Fame, declaration of love, perfect love, luck love
Violet, Purple: Faithfulness, love, luck, protection, peace,
healing, wishes. Yellow and white: Happiness
Herbs of the Season
Gorse: In Wales, its hedges are used to protect homes from faeries
because they cannot go through them. In magick, it is employed in
money spells because it attracts gold and in spellwork meant for
protection against evil.
Woodruff: This herb attracts money and prosperity. It brings victory
to warriors and athletes. This plant also guards people against harm.
Ostara Crystals
Crystals are often employed in magickal practice. They can be worn
or carried as amulets to protect and as talismans to attract what is
desired. Before they are worked with, they need to be cleansed and
charged.
Agates: Banded: Protection, de-stressor, restores energy. Black:
Victory, courage, protection. Black and White: Guards against
danger. Blue Lace: De-stressor, peace, happiness. Brown or Tawny:
Victory in battle, success. Green: Enhances health of the eyes.
Moss: Restores energy, healing, attracts happiness, new friends and
riches, worn to insure a longs life. Red: Attracts peace and
calmness.
Powers of the mind, money, peace, luck, healing, gambling, eyesight
Aventurine:
Peace, protection, healing, eloquence, courage
Carnelian:
Crystal Quartz: Psychicism, healing, power, protection. This crystal
can substitute for all others in spell work
Jade: Healing, love, wisdom, longevity, prosperity, protection,
gardening, money
Lapis Lazuli: Joy, love, healing, psychicism, protection, courage,
fidelity
Rose Quartz: Love, fidelity, happiness, peace
http://paganismwicca.suite101.com/article.cfm/ostara_flowers_herbs_cr
ystals
Many historians believe that the name Easter was derived from the
name of an ancient goddess of fertility: Eostre (also known as
Ostara). Eostre not only symbolized fertility but also the passage
of time. She became a main icon during celebrations of the vernal
equinox. To this day, the word Easter reflects fertility and
rebirth, highlighting the association with the ancient goddess.

Easter's Date and the Vernal Equinox
Along with the name, Easter's date and the pagan celebration of the
vernal equinox are also connected. Unlike other religious holidays
with fixed dates, Easter is a floating holiday. To determine the
date of Easter, the early Christian church designated the day to be
the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurred on or after
the vernal equinox.

The Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs
The bunny became one of the central symbols of Easter due to ancient
lore that held rabbits and hares as symbols of fertility. In fact,
the Easter bunny is a hare, not a rabbit. In addition to its
association with fertility, the hare represents the moon in pagan
tradition. Consequently, the date of Easter revolves around the
first full moon following the vernal equinox.

One ancient story notes that the Easter bunny was once a magnificent
bird that saved the life of the goddess Eostre. Either during the
process of saving her or at Eostre's doing, the bird transformed
into a hare. Since the hare was still a bird at heart, it maintained
its ability to lay eggs. Thus, the Easter Bunny and its eggs became
symbols of the Easter celebration.

However, the connection between the Easter egg and the vernal
equinox continues. In ancient Rome, Greece, Persia and Egypt, eggs
were a symbol of new life. As a result, the eggs were dyed and eaten
during spring festivals that celebrated rebirth.

Spring Equinox Symbols and Other Celebrations
Like Easter, other springtime celebrations have roots in the pagan
symbols for the spring equinox. Before its association with the
liberation of the ancient Hebrews from Egypt, the Jewish Passover
dinner was a spring fertility festival. While the unleavened bread
symbolized the agricultural past of the people, the lamb represented
the culture's ancient pastoral history.

Similarly, the modern day Wicca religion is loosely based on pagan
Celtic beliefs. Wiccans consider both equinoxes (spring and fall)
and both solstices (winter and summer) as the minor of the eight
seasonal days of celebration. For the vernal equinox, Wiccans
celebrate the season of fertility. Many times they will use bonfires
as part of their fertility rituals.

Astrological Aspects of the Vernal Equinox
Just as celebrations related to the vernal equinox revolve around
fertility and new life, so too does its astrological symbolism. The
vernal equinox marks the beginning of the astrological year as the
sun enters the sign of Aries. Astrology embraces spring equinox
symbols and beliefs by deeming it birth of the new year.


At this Sabbat, we celebrate and welcome the return of Persephone
from the underworld. Her mother Demeter celebrates her return by
allowing fertility and fecundtity to remue on the Earth once more.

Fertility rites are common at this time of the year, as this is the
Earth's most fertile and abundant time. Traditionally, those who
wish to become pregnant climb to the top of a hill and kindle a fire
from nine sacred woods and leap over the blaze to invoke Demeters
help in bearing fruit in their labours.

Many pagans decorate eggs to represent fertility, and lay them on
their altars as an offering to the Goddess. Rabbits are also
symbolic of fertility and may be incorporated in spells, or their
images used in altar decorations
http://mysite.verizon.net/resuqqoa/id1.html
Around March 20/21, we celebrate Ostara, the Spring Equinox, which
heralds the beginning of spring and the of the agricultural year On
this day darkness and light are in balance. From this day onward,
day will dominate the night and the Earth will explode with life.
Ostara is a celebration of this renewal and rebirth of nature and
warming of the Earth. As mirrors of the world around us, this is an
ideal time to put plans into action for growth in our own lives, to
actively encourage change.
Ostara is named after Eostra or Ostara, who is the Anglo-Saxon
goddess of spring to whom offerings of cakes and colored eggs were
made at the Vernal Equinox. Rabbits were sacred to her, especially
white rabbits, and she was believed to take the form of a rabbit.
It is time for the Earth to "spring" into action and for us to
initiate and celebrate new beginnings. One of the most universal
symbols of this Sabbat is the planting of seeds and the sprouting of
new life from the womb of the Earth Mother. The Vernal or Spring
Equinox marks the beginning of the "light" half of the year, when
day gradually becomes longer than night. From now until Autumn, the
power of the Goddess dominates our festivities bringing light,
warmth and fertility to the earth. The courtship of the God and
Goddess commences with this Sabbat and this is an appropriate time
to focus on the balance of male and female energies within
ourselves.
In the Pagan Wheel of the Year, this is the time when the great
Mother Goddess, again a virgin at Candlemas, welcomes the young Sun
God unto her and conceives a child of this divine union. The child
will be born nine months later, at Yule, the Winter Solstice.
The word "Easter" is derived from the word "Eostre" and the symbols
used to celebrate Easter have pre-Christian origins. The Easter
bunny reminds us of the hare, the animal most sacred to the Goddess
Diana and the eggs that the hare brings symbolize new beginnings,
rebirth, continuity and growth. Have you ever wondered why Easter
changes dates and months from year to year? Interestingly it is
always the first Sunday following the first full moon after the
Spring Equinox!
A tradition that did not exactly move over into the popular
celebration of Easter was having sex in freshly plowed fields. This
tradition came from the pagan farmers who would finish plowing and
planting their fields. Once the crops were all planted, the farmer
and his wife would make love in the field, the idea being that the
fertility of their sexual act would help the plants grow into a
bountiful crop. Another variant of this is leaping in the fields.
Instead of having sex in the freshly plowed fields, the farmer and
his family would go out into the field and leap as high as they
could into the air, the idea being that the crops would grow as high
as their leaps into the air. This is an example of sympathetic
magick, where the crops are supposed to imitate the actions of the
farmer's family.

For pagans, this is a day of preparation. Reconsecrating magikal
tools, balancing their energies for new work. Blessing seeds for the
spring planting, or starting your garden by cleaning the area and
tilling the soil. It's a good time for the lady to acquire a new
broom and for the gentleman to craft a new staff.

It's also a time for introspection. Meditation and evaluation of the
current events and attitudes in your life. Examine where you might
be unbalanced and where you might need to let go of the past and
prepare for a fertile future. If you've been working extra hard
during the winter months, then now you should turn some attention to
home and hearth. If you've secluded yourself from the world other
than school and work, then now turn some attention to family and
friends.

Ostara Correspondences:
Other Names: Ostre, Alban Eiler, Mean Earraigh, Pasch, Caisg, Pess
Date: Spring Equinox (March 20-22 in Northern Hemisphere) or when
the Sun is 1 degree Aries.
Symbolism: The beginning of spring, new life and rebirth, the God
and Goddess in Their youth, balance, fertility
Goddesses: all love, virgin, and fertility Goddesses; Anna Perenna
(Roman), Aphrodite (Greek), Astarte (Canaanite), Athena (Greek),
Cybele (Greco-Roman), Blodeuwedd, Eostre (Teutonic), Flidais
(Irish), Gaia (Greek), Hera, Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian), Isis
(Egyptian), Libera (Roman), Minerva (Roman), The Muses (Greek),
Persephone (Greek), Renpet (Egyptian), Venus (Roman)
Gods: all love, song & dance, and fertility Gods; Adonis (Greek),
Attis (Greco-Roman), Cernunnos (Celtic), The Great Horned God
(European), Liber (Roman), Mars (Roman), Mithras (Persian), Odin
(Norse), Osiris (Egyptian), Thoth, Pan (Greek), the Green Man
Symbols: Eggs, rabbits

Foods: Hard-boiled eggs, honey cakes, fresh fruits, milk punch,
leafy green vegetables, dairy foods, apples, nuts, flower dishes,
sprouts

Plants & herbs: Acorn, celandine, cinquefoil, crocus, daffodil,
dogwood, Easter lily, gorse, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, jonquils,
narcissus, olive, peony, rose, tansy, violets, woodruff and all
spring flowers

Incense and oils: African violet, jasmine, rose, strawberry, lotus,
magnolia, ginger and any flower

Colors: Light green, lemon yellow, and pale pink
Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, red jasper

Animals and mythical beasts: Rabbits, snakes, unicorns
Decorations: Daffodils, tulips, violet, iris, narcissus, any spring
flowers, eggs, butterflies, cocoons

Spell/ritual work: Garden/plant blessings, balance, growth,
communication

Planetary ruler: Mars
Activities:
Spring cleaning (new beginnings)
sunrise observances (to celebrate the growing light of the sun)
sowing and planting done ceremonially
ashes from the Ostara eve bonfire mixed with the planting seed as a
fertility charm
eating of cake and cider in the planting fields
burying a piece of the cake then pouring a cider libation to show
the earth what it is expected to produce
Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on
the Magick of nature
moon cakes which are round cakes marked on top by a cross dividing
it into quarters or "farls" symbolizing the quarters of the moon and
the four elements - they are the original hot cross buns
Have a traditional breakfast of buns, ham, and eggs.
On Ostara Eve, light a purple or violet candle and burn patchouli
incense. Carry them both through the house, and say:
Farewell to wintry spirits and friends; On morrow we greet the
spirits of spring. Our blessings to thee as your way we wend; And
merry we'll meet next winter again. Blow out the candle and say:
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
At this time, witches cast spells for careers, relationships, and
love. It's a time for planting new ideas. Seek harmony and balance
in the incredible energy of the season, and project good health,
good fortune, and confidence in achieving goals.
· Light a fire
· Ringbells
· Buy a new besom or staff
http://www.bewitchingways.com/wicca/year/ostara.htm
Eostre, a Germanic Goddess, is associated with both spring and
sunrise. Tradition has it that Eostre, saved a bird whose wings were
frozen from the harsh winter by turning it into a magickal, egg
laying hare. Eostre was a maiden whose aspects of renewal and
rebirth brought about the reappearance of bright spring flowers,
baby chickens fresh from the shell, baby bunnies from their winter
dens and the reoccurrence of the plow in the field. In some European
traditions flowers grew from her footprints.
Pagans lit new fires at dawn to cure ills, renew life and protect
the new crops. In some cultures this sacred day included the ringing
of bells, singing of songs, and decorating of hard boiled eggs. Eggs
were a symbol of both the sun god (the golden yolk) and fertility
(the white shell symbolizing the White Goddess) and were used both
as talismans and eaten in ritual. The eggs of wild birds were
gathered and these eggs are recreated today with the dyes used in
Easter celebrations. The weaving of Easter baskets harks back to the
weaving of birds' nests, a necessity prior to egg laying and the
continuation of the life cycle.
Equinox is an ideal time to clean your home and welcome the new
season. More than physical cleaning, it is a time to remove negative
energies and problems that have built up over the winter months. A
common belief is that all cleaning/scrubbing should be done in a
clockwise motion to fill the home with energy for growth.
http://web.grinnell.edu/groups/pagan/pagan-home-ostara1.html

The REAL Columbus History
The true story of an American holiday that needs to go

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just who were those 'Indians'
that discovered Columbus?
Who are the Tainos? The U.S. Government says they are extinct, but they are not. Most likely you know them as Latinos, a Spanish speaking person of Latin American (the Spanish speaking part of the Americas, south of the U.S.) descent. Not all, but
many modern day Tainos are unaware of their lineage. To understand how that could happen you must know the story from the beginning.
Approximately 1,500 years ago, the Arawak people of South America began migrating northward along the many scattered islands located between South and North America, an area we now refer to as the Caribbean. For a thousand years their population grew
and the people lived in harmony. The people covered all the islands of the Caribbean, the major ones as they are now known: Cuba, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola as well as all the smaller ones: the Bahamas, Bimini, Jamaica etc. Certain groups of island people identified themselves as Lokono, Lucayan, Carib, Ciboney, Arawak, but most islands were primarily inhabited by people who called themselves Taino, which stood for "the good people" in their language. The different groups intermarried extensively to
strengthen ties amongst themselves.
Theirs was a beautiful culture. They were aware of a Divine presence whom they called Yocahu, and to worship and give thanks was a major part of their lives. They had a social order that provided the leaders and guidelines by which they all lived. They hunted, fished, cultivated crops and ate the abundant fruits provided by nature. They were clever and ingenious and had everything they needed to survive. They had beautiful ceremonies that were held at various times, birth, death, marriage, harvest, naming and coming of age to name a few. They had special reverence for the Earth Mother (Atabey) and had respect for all living things knowing that all living things are connected. There was little need for clothing due to the tropic heat, but upon reaching puberty both males and females would wear a small woven loincloth. Puberty was also the time at which they were considered old enough to be married. The population estimates for the Taino people at the height of their culture are as high as 8,000,000. That was in 1492....
In 1492, the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, was loaned 3 small, old ships from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain for a questionable voyage across the sea in which he hoped to reach Hindustan (not 'India'). Although Marco Polo had sailed around the world 300 years earlier, and the Norsemen 500 years earlier, there were few sailors willing to sail into the unknown, so the King and Queen released some prisoners early to accompany Columbus on the voyage. On October 12, 1492 after two months at sea Columbus and crew finally spotted land. Upon reaching the land, Columbus fell to his knees, thanked God for a safe voyage and planted a flag in the ground, claiming the land for Spain - as the Tainos who had lived there for 1,000 years watched from behind trees and bushes.
The Taino had never before seen white men, clothed people, people with beards or ships like that ~ they thought these people must be from heaven. So the Taino came out to greet them, as was their custom, and bring the travelers, who surely must be tired and hungry, food, drink and gifts. Such strong swimmers were the Taino that some of them swam right out to the boats some 3 miles offshore.
The very first night Columbus wrote in his journal, that these islands were very heavily populated by a handsome, strong, well-built and peaceful people who had only simple weapons and that with as few as 50 of his men, and their weapons he could take over.
Much is said about Columbus' desire to convert the "savages" to Christianity, but very little is said about his quest for gold, although Columbus mentions gold in his journal 70 times in his first 2 weeks in the islands. The very first day, Columbus "took" several Native boys aboard his ship to show him where the gold was.
Columbus spent the next two months looking for gold. Just when he was about to return to Spain, on Christmas Eve his ship the Santa Maria ran aground and sank. The Taino people helped him to retrieve every salvageable item. A problem arose in that now all the sailors who had accompanied Columbus could not fit on the two remaining (and smaller) ships. So a fort was built using the salvaged wood from the Santa Maria and 39 men were left behind at a fort Columbus called La Navidad. Shortly thereafter, Columbus set sail for Spain, taking some of the birds, food and plants and abducting some of the Taino people so he could show them to the King and Queen. (It is interesting to note how Columbus 'displayed' the Taino people to the King and Queen as if they were not people, but objects. This state of mind still exists today where Indian people are 'displayed' as mascots and sports team names)
Columbus was received in a manner never before seen and his stories of the "New World" were listened to with awe. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella immediately gave Columbus 17 large ships, livestock & supplies to return to their newly acquired
lands and colonize them. This time there was no shortage of men willing to sign up for the ocean voyage, 1,200 men eagerly signed up for the voyage and the chance to get rich quick on the gold to be found in the 'New' World. (Did you know that the Ozark Mountain range in Missouri and Arkansas is the oldest mountain range in the entire world? This is not, and never was, the 'New' World. It was only 'new' to europeans who were and are not Indigenous to this land)
Upon arrival at La Navidad in the second voyage, Columbus found the fort burned to the ground and all 39 of the men he had left behind had been killed. It seems the sailors left behind had "misbehaved" as our history books tell it, but their "misbehaving" was in the form of rape of the local women and children and theft of anything they saw that they wanted. (What did you expect from criminals??)
One of the local leaders, or Kasikes as they were called, named Caonabo had met with the other leaders and all but one agreed that men who were gods would never have behaved in the manner the Spanish had, and they decided the Spaniards had to go, and
so they eliminated the Spaniards and the threat they posed to their people.
Columbus vowed to find Caonabo and retaliate. From that point on, life as the Taino knew it ended. Columbus forced all of them over the age of 14 to work in the gold mines searching for gold for the Spaniards. Those who refused were killed. Those who did not make their quota of gold had their hands cut off and were left to bleed to death. Taino women were given to Spaniards to do with whatever they wished. The fields, unattended, failed to yield enough food for the Taino, and the Spaniards whose supplies had run out. All were hungry. Many Taino starved to death, others were worked to death. They were beaten, tortured, raped, enslaved & murdered. Columbus found Caonabo, they tricked him in order to capture him, he was put on a ship that was sent to Spain and was never heard from again.
When the time came for Columbus to return to Spain, he did not have nearly enough gold to pay for his expedition, so he had his men round up 1,000 of the very biggest and strongest Taino. They found they could only fit 500 of them in the stinking holds of the
ships, so Columbus took those 500 aboard to be sold at the slave market in Seville to raise money to repay the King and Queen, and he gave the other 500 Taino to Spanish colonists. Over 250 of the Taino died en route to Spain, and their bodies were tossed
overboard. (Getting the objects feel again?)
When Columbus returned for the third time, not much had changed, there was still little gold. The colonists brutally forced the Taino to look for it, the food shortages were so severe that the Spaniards fed Taino babies to their dogs and the mood among the Taino was one of complete and utter helplessness and desperation. Some took their own lives to escape the brutalities and indignities. The colonists, failing to get rich quick as they had hoped, threatened to revolt against Columbus. Word got back to the King and Queen of the situation and Columbus was sent back to Spain in chains to stand trial for his "mismanagement" of the islands. He was stripped of his titles and all claims to the lands he had "discovered" (to those who had lived in the islands and were actually the ones who had discovered them, he would always be known as an 'invader').
He lived to make a 4th voyage to the islands. The people there, once proud and strong, were reduced from an estimated 8 million to 60 thousand in 10 years' time. Those that remained ran up high in the densely forrested hills and mountains and hid.
But, they survived. Many later married Spaniards, others married the African slaves that Columbus' ships later brought in. They were sent to replace the decimated Taino work force. You can see the existence of all three races in the faces of many modern day Caribbean peoples - but they all fall under the category of "Latino". If you look at maps, many areas still retain their original indigenous names. If you listen to the language, you will still hear many indigenous words used. And although the Caribbean has been explored and exploited again and again by the many greedy adventurers who have passed through, many of the customs practiced by the Taino are still in use and a big part of the culture throughout the Caribbean today.
What is the logic behind the government giving a man credit for 'discovering' lands that were already densely populated, and honoring that same man whose actions had the devastating consequenses of rape, torture, slavery and death to millions of people, with one of our 8 federal holidays (i.e. holy day)? Or, is there any logic there at all?
And, why are the Taino people, who do still exist in spite of what you may be told, denied legal federal 'recognition'? (See my 'Pet Peeeeves' section for what I think about this so-called 'federal recognition')
And, why are American Indian people, who have given so much, and had nearly everything taken from them for the formation of this country, still not honored with a federal holiday of their own?
Please do more than think about this... do something about this..... let's all work together to end the insult and injustice to the people who have truly paid the highest possible price for the land in which so many call 'home' today. By no stretch of the imagination does a crook, liar, thief and genocidal murderer deserve to have a national holiday celebrated in his honor! Christopher Columbus did not 'discover' anything but a beautiful, gentle people he could exploit, steal from and ultimately destroy.
Yet, never forget, the Taino people are STILL HERE. They did survive, as did so many Indigenous Nations who suffered through the American Holocaust. We are all 'STILL Here'. Yes, we are indeed, still here....

This column was originally written by Evelyn Dye-Garcia, whose husband is
a Taino of the Taino people. I have only added a few sentences here and
there either to correct or further elaborate on a good point. Evelyn did not
care about getting credit for her words, but it is proper to do so. Pilamaye
(thank you) Evelyn. May the Taino people find justice. - John Two-Hawks

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http://www.nativecircle.com/mlmRealColumbus.html

THE THANKSGIVING MYTH,LIES ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE Nov 22, '07 6:51 AM
for everyone

Mistakes, Lies & Misconceptions
about American Indian people

The Thanksgiving Myth

 

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Let me begin by stating that thousands of years before
the 'official'
Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by Governor Winthrop of the
Massachussetts Bay Colony in 1637, North American Indigenous
people across the continent had celebrated seasons of Thanksgiving.
'Thanksgiving' is a very ancient concept to American Indian nations.
The big problem with the American Thanksgiving holiday is its false
association with American Indian people. The infamous 'Indians and
pilgrims' myth. It is good to celebrate Thanksgiving, to be
thankful
for your blessings. It is not good to distort history, to falsely
portray
the origin of this holiday and lie about the truth of its actual
inception.
Here are some accurate historical facts about the true origin of
this
American holiday that may interest
you.........................................
'Thanksgiving' did not begin as a great loving relationship between
the
pilgrims and the Wampanoag, Pequot and Narragansett people. In
fact,
in October of 1621 when the 'pilgrim' survivors of their first
winter in
Turtle Island sat down to share the first unofficial 'Thanksgiving'
meal,
the Indians who were there were not even invited! There was no
turkey,
squash, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie. A few days before this
alleged
feast took place, a company of 'pilgrims' led by Miles Standish
actively
sought the head of a local Indian leader, and an 11 foot high wall
was
erected around the entire Plymouth settlement for the very purpose
of
keeping Indians out! Officially, the holiday we know
as 'Thanksgiving'
actually came into existence in the year 1637. Governor Winthrop of
the
Massachussetts Bay Colony proclaimed this first official day of
Thanksgiving
and feasting to celebrate the return of the colony's men who had
arrived
safely from what is now Mystic, Connecticut. They had gone there to
participate in the massacre of over 700 Pequot men, women and
children,
and Mr. Winthrop decided to dedicate an official day of thanksgiving
complete with a feast to 'give thanks' for their great 'victory'....

As hard as it may be to conceive, this is the actual origin of our
current
Thanksgiving Day holiday. Many American Indian people these days do
not observe this holiday, for obvious reasons. I see nothing wrong
with
gathering with family to give thanks to our Creator for our
blessings and
sharing a meal. I do, however, hope that Americans as a whole will
one
day acknowledge the true origin of this holiday, and remember the
pain,
loss, and agony of the Indigenous people who suffered at the hands
of
the so-called 'pilgrims'. It is my hope that children's plays
about 'the
first Thanksgiving', complete with Indians and pilgrims chumming at
the dinner table, will someday be a thing of the past. Why
perpetuate
a lie? Let us face the truths of the past, and give thanks that we
are
learning to love one another for the rich human diversity we share.

(Written by John Two-Hawks)
http://www.nativecircle.com/mlmThanksgivingmyth.html

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a witch.
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a witch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts, or do things my own way, they call me a witch.
Being a witch entails raising my children to be strong people
Who have a solid sense of personal and social responsibility,
Who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in
And, who love and respect themselves for the beautiful beings they are.
Being a witch means that I am free to be the wonderful creature I am,
With all my own intricacies, contradictions, quirks and beauty.
Being a witch means I won't compromise what's in my heart.
It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.
When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak up against it, I am defined as a witch.
The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone else's maid or when I act a little selfish.
I am proud to be a witch! It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.
I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.
By Goddess, I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!
So, try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.
And if that makes me a witch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it. I love this, I can call myself a witch now and not feel bad about it!

 

BLACK WOLF SHADOW,DOWN THE PATH
From the Darkness,there calls a voice of reason. Theirs is the Way of the Old Ones, the Ancient Ones.
Join my GroupS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Native_Witch/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Order_of_the_Snake_Hell_Gate/
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Laire/

 

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