Greetings!
This is Scott and I wanted to talk about the Spring Equinox, what I call Ostara in my tradition.
The spring equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, is one of the two days in a year when the day and night are approximately equal in length. The spring equinox occurs around March 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn equinox on September 22 or 23. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words for “equal” (aequus) and “night” (nox).
The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This is because the Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees, which means on the equinoxes, the Sun crosses the equator, so in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, we are receiving roughly equal amounts of sunlight. Although this marks the beginning of the Autumn tide in the Southern Hemisphere.
The spring equinox is a time of celebration in many cultures. It is a time to welcome the return of warmer weather and longer days. Many people celebrate the spring equinox by planting seeds, going for walks in nature, or attending special events, sometimes ritual events like those I am hosting at the UU Church of the Verdugo Hills.
You will notice that I call it Ostara – The Spring Equinox, and this is because my tradition is Pagan, animistic in its approach to Nature meaning recognizing that is animated or alive, having soul and so deserving of recognition of its divinity; and softly-polytheistic, engaging the concept of Divinity as having many faces, and part of a Diamond of Divinity. Ostara is a time to call the elements, and invoke the spirit of Nature, engage the divine through the faces it presents at this time, and we’re choosing to celebrate that change with a Goddess and a God who hold the polarities of this dance of Natures blooming. You will notice in our ritual this looks like a Woman of Flowers, and a Ram-Horned God of Nature, who resonates with the Spirit of Aries, the sign we will be in as we celebrate.
Ostara, sometimes called Eoster (pronounced Yow-stir) is revered as part of complex of deity at this time. Ostara has roots in various ancient European traditions, particularly Germanic and Celtic cultures.
Here are some key aspects of Ostara:
- Themes: Balance, renewal, rebirth, fertility
- Symbols: Spring flowers (daffodils, crocuses, tulips), eggs, rabbits/hares, chicks, butterflies, the colors yellow, green, and pastel colors.
- Celebrations: Decorating eggs, planting seeds, spending time outdoors, feasts, bonfires.
Ostara shares some symbols and traditions with Easter, a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Eggs represent new life and rebirth in both celebrations, and rabbits were associated with a Germanic goddess of spring named Eostre, whose name may have influenced the name “Easter.”
Our gathering will offer a pagan themed, circle of contemplative ritual magick. Magick is spelt with a K to distinguish it from stage craft, and we do our work in a circle that creates a sacred vessel for our work, calling in the most harmonized energy for what we do.
We are ‘turning the Wheel of the Year,’ and this is say we recognize that when we do this ritual Ostara, or any of the 8-recgonized days in the modern Pagan movement, we are placing our hands on one of the spokes of the year, and with hearts and power, through our ritual magick, helping to turn that wheel. The idea is that when we are active participants in the process of turning, we come closer to Nature, and return to our sacred place, as participants in the changing tides of Nature, our home, Earth.
You will witness this ritual, and be asked, if you feel called, to hum some sounds, or engage the work with sayings such as “blessed be.” We will take a guided-visualized journey, to engage the spirit of the Goddess and God, and have our own personal communion with those energies, returning energized to bless seeds and stone, which you will take with you as resonate keepsakes, and planting later in your own spaces.
After the ritual we will have time for community, talking, and sharing tea, and some snacks. Our ritual will be after lunch, but before dinner, so offerings will be light.
I hope this finds you well, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me through the site.
Blessed Be,
Scott K Smith
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