Ostara 2012

Today, March 20th 2012, is the Spring Equinox often called Ostara (Germanic Goddess of Spring) or Eostre (Saxon version of Ostara). It is the time for celebrating fertility, new life and renewal. The Germanic tribes would celebrated this as the time when Ostara, a lunar goddess, mated with a fertility god (giving birth nine months later to the renewed god at Yule).

Interestingly it is not only the time celebrated by pagans for new life and renewal, but also celebrated by the Jews and Christians. The Jewish Passover feast is celebrated at this time in remembrance of the Angel of Death passing over the Jewish houses in Egypt that painted their doorways with the blood of lambs. Christian Easter is celebrated as the time when Jesus was crucified and rose again.

When is Easter?

The full moon following the vernal (spring) equinox - the same as the feast day of Eostre. All are stories of blood, death and renewal. Despite ardent attempts through two millenias to separate themselves from their pagan  neighbors, Judaism and Christianity follow the flow of nature just like the pagans; exception being the Celts who didn't celebrate Ostara as a holiday.

Where does the myth of the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs come from?

A popular legend tells that Eostre found a wounded bird laying on the ground. To save it she transformed it into a hare, but it retained the ability to lay eggs. In gratitude the hare would decorate its eggs and leave them as gifts for Eostre.

How do modern pagans celebrate Ostara?

As this is a time when light and dark are equal, celebrate the turning of the Wheel. Start seedlings if danger of severe storms is past and prepare soil for late spring planting. Spend a few moments enjoying the new life beginning around you. Feel the new winds blowing, hear the birds singing and see the plants budding forth with new life.

"In the spring, when night equals day,

time for Ostara to come our way.

When the Sun has reached it's height,

time for Oak and Holly to fight."

- the Wiccan Rede

Imbolc, Candlemas & Winter's End

Imbolc, also known as Bride's Day, or La Fheile Bride (law ayl-uh breej-uh) in Modern Irish, is the celebration of the end of winter. While it was celebrated at the beginning of this month, the focus of this Moon continues. Soon the herd animals so vital to the survival of the Celtic tribes will be born; animals we still depend upon today. This is the time of year for setting protection wards over hearth and home to protect the new borns from disease and welcoming blessings for the new year. During this Moon bring light into your home with candles and celebrate the turning of the Wheel with poetry. Bridgett, the Celtic Goddess celebrated during this time, is the Maiden Goddess of poetry, divination and metal work. Seek inspiration from the changes in nature for your poetry, look ahead with divination to the blessings and challenges of this year, and work to strengthen yourself physically and spiritually as you move forward in life with purpose. A little Greek mythology for this time of year:

Why winter comes and how spring is brought forth

- a story of Demeter, Persephone and Hades

Demeter is the Goddess of the Earth and Persephone her young daughter. Persephone was a maiden with golden hair and supple body, whom Hades fell in love with when he spied her bathing. He lured her into the Underworld with him and took her as his bride. As Demeter searched the world for her daughter the land became cold and the crops withered. This is how winter begins, but a nymph tells Demeter that Hades has Persephone in hopes that Demeter will return the land to spring. Persephone had eaten 6 pomegranate seeds in the Underworld and was so bound to remain with Hades (much like the warnings that to eat in Faeryland will trap you there). As Demeter wept the Earth became cold and lifeless, falling into a deep winter. Seeing that the Earth was becoming bleak like the Underworld, Hades returned Persephone to Demeter, with the promise that 6 months out of the year Persephone would return to the Underworld with him. To celebrate, an altar adorned with six white candles is decorated with fresh spring flowers and a feast of the last ale and wheat of the winter stores is shared.

Difference Between Witch & Wiccan

Many sites will tell you that there is a lot of debate about the use of these two terms. A Wiccan is the follower of the religion Wicca. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft. With such simple definitions, where does the confusion come in?

It probably comes from the fact that the Wiccan religion incorporates a lot of witchcraft practices, hence why the common tradition, Gardnerian, is also referred to as British Traditional Witchcraft.  The confusion also may result from respected teachers, such as Raymond Buckland, referring to Wiccans as witches. Were they wrong? No, but they didn't explain how they were using the terms.

A Wiccan can be a witch, but doesn't have to be. A person can practice the Wiccan religion by praying to the God and Goddess, celebrating the Sabbaths, and respecting nature. None of those things requires the use or knowledge of witchcraft. Likewise, a witch doesn't have to be a Wiccan. A witch can practice a myriad of religions, including Jewish Mysticism's the Kabbalah, Voodoo, and Catholicism's Papal Magic. Many American witches are first introduced to witchcraft through Wicca, and so are both.

Key differences between a Witch and Wiccan are as follows:

• Wiccans believe in dieties, usually a God and Goddess. Witches may or may not believe in any deity. (Witches can be atheists)
• Wiccans usually trace their roots to Gerald Gardner, who formed his own version of witchcraft and made it popular in America. Witches trace their roots through cultures, such as Sybil Leek traces her practice of Celtic witchcraft through her family.
• Wiccans usually follow the (end of the) Wiccan Rede, "An harm none, do as ye will". Witches see the world as a balance between light and dark, and may work with a variety of magick. (Cross a witch and they'll have no problem hexing you.)
• Wicca is a new religion. (Dr. Margaret Murray 1920s, Gerald Gardner 1950s.) Witchcraft has been around since there's been mankind. (Witchcraft is specifically mentioned in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.)
• Wicca focuses on light magic. Witchcraft is a balance between light and baleful (dark) magic.
• Wicca didn't exist during the Salem witch trials, and Wiccans were never hunted. Witches were hung, crushed, and burned during the Salem witch trials and previous witch hunts stretching back centuries. Witches continue to be tortured and killed today. (Many Wiccans were affected by Anti Witch Laws in America and England that weren't repealed until 1951-1952.)
• Wicca founder Gerald Gardner did have ties to Satanism, by associating with Aleister Crowley and Anton LaVey. Witchcraft's only ties to Satanism are what the Church has created. (Wiccans are not Satanists, but it's well known that Gardner, LaVey and Aleister Crowley were contemperaries and discussed their philosophies together. "An it harm none, do as ye will" was taken from Crowely's "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law".)