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

Why I Left Wicca

I've been trained as a McFarland Dianic Wiccan High Priestess and have spent the last 12 years referring to myself as wiccan. (Though I never had "Wiccan" listed on my dog tags, instead choosing "No Religious Preference".) In fact the original title of this blog was "Advanced Wicca". The more and more I reflected on the differences between a witch and wiccan I've come to realize that I've never been much of a wiccan. While the two groups do share some common deities, there are marked differences in theology and core beliefs.

The main tenet of wicca I can't follow is the last words of the Wiccan Rede, "an' ye harm none, do as ye will". I don't believe in harming none. To truly harm none would mean there was no healing, no justice, no protection, no defense, and no bar b q's with burgers and hot dogs - as a proud bar-b-q-snob-Texan with family members who own a beef cattle ranch in Oklahoma, red meat is just part of my life. To heal you don't sweetly ask a stomach flu causing bacteria to go away while being sensitive to its feelings - ya kill it. Many times healing requires inflicting pain on the patient - removing a splinter, re-setting a bone, cleaning out a wound. Justice, protection and defense are requirements to life on this planet. If no one ever protected their loved ones or defended their home, we'd all be eaten by bears. It's human nature to feel all those things, and as a witch I acknowledge and work with nature. Being a wise witch means knowing how to harness ones thoughts, feelings and actions for constructive purposes. Harming for the sake of harming is a loss of control that is destructive. Harming for the sake of healing and growth is wisdom that is constructive.

I've heard wiccans argue that the rede is not a black and white edict, but rather means to not do "black magick". Okay, then what's "black magick"? 'Well doing a spell for selfish reasons of course!' Really? Black magick or not, I'm still putting a sleeping spell on the neighbor's dog to keep it from barking all night long unless there's a burglar or fire. 'Black magick is working your will to harm someone!' Then I'm guilty. My ex cheated on me and lost being promoted because every time he did the smallest thing wrong, he was caught. I don't call it black magick; I call it calling in a karmic debt.

I believe that spells such as curses and hexes are negative things. I also believe that negative and positive are forces which are meant to be balanced. One of my matron Goddesses is Hecate. For all the prayers to Her I find in wiccan books it's amazing that no wiccan seems to understand that She's not a light, fluffy bunny loving mother. She's a dangerous, warring, revenge-is-ok momma who doesn't accept lies or anyone harming Her babies.

I don't run around cursing every jerk who cuts me off in traffic or am angry all the time. I'm balanced. I see the good and the bad and react accordingly. One of my daily habits is to recite the 5 principles of Reiki "just for today: I will not worry, I will not anger, I will show respect to every living thing, I will do my work honestly, I will live the attitude of gratitude." These are all venerable goals for my day, but it doesn't mean I feel guilty if I'm not perfect. They're just a reminder to me that I choose my actions, I choose my reactions, and everything I do is a reflection on my integrity.

I've chosen to leave the wiccan path and stop calling myself a wiccan because my core beliefs don't coincide with those taught in wicca. I'm a witch, always have been. Plus I hate all the fluff bunnies who are pot addicted  that have carved a lasting stereotype in most people's minds about who a wiccan is and does.

If wiccan means 'wise one' and marijuana destroys brain cells, why is there the stereotype that wiccans are drug addicted hippies? Though stereotypes are generalizations that are unfair to many people, the truth is stereotypes don't materialize from thin air.