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Spring Equinox (Ostara) Lore
by
Maria Kay Simms
At Spring Equinox the yearly dance of Earth and Sun reaches a point of
balance, equal day and equal night. Nature is poised to "spring forward,"
with each successive day gaining a few minutes more of sunlight until
reaching full culmination of the longest day of the year, Summer
Solstice. Spring Equinox also marks the return of the Sun to zero
degrees Aries, the beginning degree of the zodiac.
Ostara has become a favorite name for Spring Equinox in Wiccan lore.
Variations include Eostre, Oestre, Eos -- all derived from very similar
core ideas. If you think that Eostre, especially, sounds a lot like
Easter, you are right. Most sources say the Christian choice of Easter
to represent the resurrection derives from Eostre, Anglo-Saxon Goddess
of spring, rebirth, the east and dawn. The Greek version for Goddess
of spring, east, dawn and sunrise is Eos. Dawn is exactly in the east
at Spring Equinox, representing not only the beginning of the new day,
but also the yearly reawakening of Mother Earth after her winter's rest.
Another ancient mythology celebrating the springtime reawakening and
resurrection theme is that of Persephone, whose mother Demeter brought
winter to Earth in mourning for her daughter who had been abducted by
Hades. Through the intercession of Zeus, a compromise was reached so
that Persephone could return to Demeter, who then joyfully allowed the
Earth to become green again. Thereafter, Persephone descends to the
underworld to reign as Queen each year during the winter and returns
to Earth in spring.
By whatever name she is called, the Goddess of spring represents the
Maiden aspect of the threefold Goddess.
Although the dates may not be the same, the basic theme of all religious and secular
celebrations of the onset of spring follow the cue of Nature --
resurrection and renewal. In Southern California, Starcrafts' home,
the signs are subtler, though recognizable when one has lived there
through a few seasons. Here in New England, each day brings new changes
as green shoots come through the brown earth, the grass turns from brown
to green again, the trees bud and leaf, and the early flowers begin to
bloom. It is a thoroughly magical season!
Easter, the Christian celebration of resurrection, keys on Spring Equinox
and the Jewish Passover. Passover is traditionally at the New Moon
following Spring Equinox, and Easter is the first Sunday after
Passover, or the first Sunday after the first Full Moon following
Spring Equinox.
The secular customs of the season derive from ancient Pagan themes. Hot
cross buns are an ancient custom. Round sun-like rolls of northern
Europe were decorated with an equal-armed cross that was associated with
Woden. The equal-armed crosses were also inscribed on Greek cakes
celebrating Eos. The equal-armed cross within a circle is the astrological
glyph for planet Earth. A recipe for Hot Cross Buns (on this site)
appears in Joanne Asala's Celtic Folklore Cooking,
Llewellyn 1999, and this book also includes a
wealth of lore on all the Sabbats.
The popular Easter or Ostara Bunny (as you choose!) derives from the moon
hare or March hare, a lunar animal, sacred to the Goddess, and symbolic of
fertility and rejuvenation. It is said that the Goddess Ostara sometimes
took on the form of a white hare, and colored eggs were presented to her
as offerings.
The eggs of spring, in this season of the mating of animals and the
blooming of new growth in Nature, become a powerful symbol of renewal
and fertility. In ancient times eggs were decorated and given as gifts
of renewal and to bring good fortune. Many cultures have traditions of
egg decorating, some to the point of intricate, fine art now shown in
museums. In modern times, of course, egg coloring is a most popular
activity to share with children, as are the ever-popular egg hunts.
Somehow, along the way, the offering of eggs became a custom for
children, rather than a gift for the Goddess. The littlest ones believe
that the bunny brings the eggs and candy, and the rest of us happily
play along.
Decorating Eggs within Ritual
Wiccan rituals of this season see the increasing light of the Bright
Lord as a growing child and often celebrate the child within. Last year
Circle of the Cosmic Muse enjoyed coloring eggs within our ritual. A
table at each of the four quarters held cups of egg dye in the color of
the element: yellow for East/Air, red for South/Fire, blue for West/Water
and green for North/Earth. The Guardians explained the attributes of
their elements and then invited everyone to decorate a hard-cooked egg
in the color and with symbols that most represented what he or she wanted
to create or increase within. Prior to dunking the eggs in dye, crayons
were provided to draw symbols on the eggs, which would show through the
color as wax resist. The decorated eggs were charged with energy, to be
later full assimilated when the eggs are eaten.
In the photograph, you
see me with Baum, Red Priest of Circle of the Cosmic Muse and Brighid, our
circle Maiden, who for this rite was garbed as Ostara the white bunny.
She led the ritual working and then after the egg coloring was completed,
invited everyone to hunt for plastic eggs she'd hidden. Each contained
little candies and a special fairy oracle. Baum passed out seed packets
of bright yellow flowers in honor of the waxing Sun.
Breaking the Bonds of Winter
In other years, our rituals have sometimes carried out a more astrological
theme of the season by symbolically breaking the bonds of winter. Spring
Equinox corresponds to the First Quarter phase of an eight-fold cycle.
Poised at the point of equilibrium between dark and light, past and
future, winter and spring, a crisis of action is reached. It is decision
time-time to charge forward! No longer can the past be allowed to hold us
back. The time of winter and dark is over.
In ritual binding and release, Dark Lord and Crone first bind the wrists
of the four elemental Guardians, asking each of them,
What binds you?
Air responds: My mind binds me. I am scattered. I can't make up my mind. I can't seem to make myself understood.
Fire responds: I am bound by passion and ego. Lost in desire, I am impulsive, blind to reality and to anyone's concerns but my own.
Water responds: My emotions bind me. I am drowning in fear, anxiety. I feel so confused.
Earth responds: My reality binds me. I feel stuck. Nothing is ever good enough. I'm deprived of dreams, of passion.
All participants are then told to go the Guardian whose bindings most
closely speak to their individual concerns and there be bound, the better
to reflect on what must be released and left behind with the winter.
When all are bound, the High Priestess calls to each of Guardians:
What do
you need to be free?
Air - clarity, balance, direction...I must focus on change!
Fire - energy, selflessness, conviction...I must have the courage to change!
Water - compassion, understanding, love that casts out fear...I must love to change!
Earth - strength, persistence, purpose...I will change!
Everyone chants:
All will change, all will change
All She touches grows with change…
Energy builds until at its peak: Release your bonds!
And, led by the Guardians, all break the bonds and dance in freedom.
The bonds of winter are broken! New life of spring be with you. Blessed Be!
Copyright © 2003
Maria Kay Simms
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THE CRAFT
Facts about The Craft
What are Wicca and Witchcraft?
The Wiccan Rede
& the Law of Three
The Pentagram
The Elements
Air |
Fire |
Water |
Earth
The Wheel of the Year
The Timing of the Sabbats
Samhain |
Yule |
Imbolc |
Ostara
Beltane |
Litha |
Lughnasad |
Mabon
Magical Moon
Maria Kay Simms' monthly column on
lunar and astrological events to
help you plan your magickal calendar.
Recommended Reading
Moon Tides, Soul Passages,
The Witch's Circle,
A Time for Magick,
Future Signs, and
Your Magical Child
by
Maria Kay Simms
Books on Spellcraft
Books on Wicca & related subjects
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