Spring Equinox – Also known as “Eostre” or “Ostara” within traditions of Wicca and modern Paganism, the following is an extract from the book “Towards the Wiccan Circle” as means of an introduction to those unfamiliar with the celebration of this time within modern Wicca and Paganism:
This festival is named after the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre, also known in Old German as Ostara. Little is known about this Goddess, except that Her festival was celebrated at the Spring Equinox. The Anglo-Saxon lunar month which became April, was called Easter-monath. The equinox is a time both of fertility and new life, and of balance and harmony. Light and dark are here in balance, but the light is growing stronger. It is a time of birth, and of manifestation. Daffodils, tulips and crocuses are all in full bloom, blossom appears on trees and catkins can be found on the hazel and willow. The days grow lighter and the earth grows warmer. This is a time both of growth and of balance, and we may work on balancing ourselves and the subtle energies within us, such as the inner masculine and feminine qualities, the light and dark aspects, etc. This is the time of spring’s return, the joyful time, the seed time, when life bursts forth from the earth and the chains of winter are broken.
In her very interesting essay, “A Goddess for All Seasons” published in the anthology Hekate Her Sacred Fires the Wiccan High Priestess and writer Amelia Ounsted writes of the Goddess Hekate and the Spring Equinox that:
“The Spring Equinox is a time of equal balance between light and dark. More so even than Imbolc this is the time of new beginnings. We have meditated and contemplated throughout the dark times of the year (for anyone who has ever suffered through an English February knows how false the idea of lengthening days and spring seems at that time). At Spring Equinox, however, we can see the bright promise of the sun fulfilled with the yellow daffodils, and the crocus which bloom at this time are a most appropriate offering to Hekate, for saffron is sacred to Her. Hekate can also be honoured in Her Chthonic aspect as the dark mother who holds within her the seeds of new life and new beginnings and by whose light they have now come into fruition.
Spring Equinox also marks the time when we look at the myth of Demeter and Persephone and contemplate the mysteries of Eleusis. The Eleusinian mysteries took place in Ancient Greece from around 1500 BCE and were centred around the myth of Demeter and Persephone. This myth is often understood to be a metaphor for the cycle of the seasons; Persephone is kidnapped by Hades, Lord of the Underworld sending her Mother Demeter into such a rage and grief that she turns the earth barren until her daughter is returned to her, bringing with her the renewal of life. Hekate’s role in this myth is twofold. Firstly She – together with the sun god Helios – is the only one to hear the abduction of Persephone. Secondly She (and/or Hermes) goes into the underworld to broker a deal with Hades and guide Persephone back to her mother. Although we don’t know exactly what part Hekate played in the mysteries we do know that She, together with Hermes, was present at the entrance of the complex and it therefore seems likely that She acted as a guide to the initiate.”
(Amelia Ounsted, 2010) For more information on Hekate Her Sacred Fires see www.sacredfires.co.uk
Happy Ostara – lovely article!