Wicca is a modern pagan religious movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is focused on the worship of nature and the celebration of the cycles of the seasons. One important event in the Wiccan calendar is the spring equinox, also known as Ostara. During this time, Wiccans celebrate the balance between light and darkness, as the days and nights become equal in length. The spring equinox marks the beginning of spring and the rejuvenation of nature. In Wiccan belief, the celestial equator plays a significant role during the spring equinox.
Some pagan authors say Ostara derives from ancient Celtic and Saxon spring holidays, later Christianized into the Easter holiday. Others argue this and other neopagan holidays are modern creations. Either way, many religions celebrate holidays during this time of year, including the Hindu Holi, Jewish Purim, Sikh Hola Mohalla and Christian Easter.
Some examples of intentions include Today I will be patient, Today I intend to forgive others and myself, Today I intend to organize my work, Today I will speak kindly to myself, and Today I intend to be productive. Some popular magic tricks performed during this period are serpent magic and folklore, egg magic and folklore, magical spring flowers, rabbit magic mad march hares and magical gardening.
In Wiccan belief, the celestial equator plays a significant role during the spring equinox. The celestial equator is an imaginary line in the sky that is directly above the Earth's equator. It divides the celestial sphere into the northern and southern celestial hemispheres.
Happy Ostara! Wiccans Celebrate the Spring Equinox
While many have been enthusiastically looking forward to today as the Spring or Vernal Equinox (the first day of the spring season where the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward), how we mark it differs according to our individual traditions and religious beliefs.
While the Spring Equinox ushers in the Easter period for the Christians, when the rebirth of Jesus Christ is celebrated and Baha’is and Persians celebrate Nowruz, the Wiccans and Pagans on the other hand get busy celebrating the Ostara.
One celebration, different names…
The word Ostara is just one of the names applied to the celebration of the spring equinox on March 21. It is said to have its origin from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring.
According to Germanic myth, Eostre is a goddess associated with flowers and springtime, and her name gives us the word “Easter,” as well as the name of Ostara itself.
For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, Ostara was the new crop season, a time to celebrate planting. Typically, the Celtic peoples did not celebrate Ostara as a holiday, although they were in tune with the changing of the seasons.
There are many different ways in which the Wiccans and Pagans celebrate the period. While the mode of celebration differs by location and tradition, typically, it is observed as a time to mark the coming of Spring and the fertility of the land. The festivity is always marked with a series of activities that closely follow each other. It usually starts with the decoration of homes with a number of easy craft projects to get the family in the mood of the celebration, as well as keep the kids entertained.
Some of the Ostara crafts include making a miniature Ostara greenhouse, a spring weather station, or a spring snake wreath. They also include egg crafting such as making naturally colored Ostara eggs, tie-dyed Ostara eggs or magic crystal Ostara eggs. Some more popular Ostara crafting include making Ostara trees for altars, and decorating seed packet greeting cards to send to loved ones.
The once-a-year season is then marked with some sacred ritual activities.
Most of them involve meditating and chanting age-long mantras before a well-decorated Ostara altar that has been designed with vibrant colors and objects to capture the essence of the Spring season. You can check out this photo gallery to see what different Ostara altars looks like. Some of these rituals include the rebirthing ritual (which is better off performed in a group), the Labyrinth meditation, the Earth meditation, and the lesser banishing ritual of the chocolate rabbit that is primary fashioned for kids.
People then take out time to entertain themselves with some spring magic display. Some popular magic tricks performed during this period are serpent magic and folklore, egg magic and folklore, magical spring flowers, rabbit magic & mad march hares and magical gardening.
The celebration is never complete without food and feasting. Foods dominantly consumed during the festivity are those that honor the coming of spring. Some of these include eggs, early spring greens, shoots and sprouts, and of course, the all-important Marshmallow Peep.
All in all, just as it is with every other festivity, Ostara is a joyous period that brings family together to have fun and strengthen the ties that bound them together.
Resources
- PaganWiccan.About.com
The word Ostara comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, and she represents spring, rebirth, and renewal. Many symbols of Ostara include rabbits and hares. In medieval Europe, the March hare was seen as a fertility symbol. During March, the hare begins its mating season. It was believed that females of this species could get pregnant with a second litter while pregnant with the first. This explains why they were used as a symbol of fertility.
During the spring equinox, the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in equal periods of daylight and darkness around the world. This alignment is seen as a time of harmony and renewal in Wiccan spirituality. Wiccans often perform rituals and ceremonies during the spring equinox to honor the energy of this time. They may create altars decorated with symbols of rebirth, such as eggs and flowers. They may also engage in activities such as planting seeds or participating in outdoor gatherings to connect with the energy of nature. Overall, the Wiccan spring equinox is a time of celebration and connection with the natural world. The celestial equator serves as a symbolic representation of the balance between light and darkness, emphasizing the importance of harmony and renewal in Wiccan belief..
Reviews for "The Spring Equinox as a Time for Setting Intentions in Wiccan Magic"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to reading "Wiccan Spring Celestial Equator" as I am a fan of mystical and witchcraft themes. However, I found the book to be quite confusing and overly complicated. The author seemed to assume that the reader already had prior knowledge of Wiccan practices, and I found myself constantly googling terms and concepts just to understand what was going on. Additionally, the plot was convoluted and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mike - 1/5 - "Wiccan Spring Celestial Equator" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was overly poetic and flowery, which made it difficult to follow the story. It felt like the author was trying too hard to create beautiful prose, sacrificing clarity and coherence in the process. Furthermore, the characters were one-dimensional and lacked development. I couldn't connect with any of them and didn't care about their fates. The plot was predictable and lacked any surprises or twists. Overall, this book was a miss for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating and well-executed Wiccan-themed story.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - As someone who has a genuine interest in Wiccan practices, I was excited to dive into "Wiccan Spring Celestial Equator." However, I found the book to be highly stereotypical and cliché in its portrayal of Wiccan beliefs and rituals. It felt like the author relied heavily on popular tropes and did not bring anything new or authentic to the table. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, and the romance subplot felt forced and lacked chemistry. While the writing itself was decent, the overall execution of the story left much to be desired. If you're looking for an accurate representation of Wiccan practices, this book is not it.
4. David - 1/5 - "Wiccan Spring Celestial Equator" was a tedious read from start to finish. The pacing was slow, and the plot lacked any sense of direction. It felt like the story meandered aimlessly without any clear goal or conflict. The characters were forgettable, and their motivations were unclear. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to engage with the story. Overall, this book failed to hold my interest, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating and well-paced read.