Wiccan spring equinox, also known as Ostara, is one of the eight Sabbats celebrated by Wiccans and Witches. It marks the arrival of spring and the balance between light and dark. **The main idea of this celebration is the celebration of the vernal equinox**. This is the time when the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in equal hours of daylight and darkness. Wiccans see this as a symbol of balance and harmony, reflecting the natural world's cycle. Ostara is associated with the goddess of fertility and rebirth, also called Ostara.
Ostara is associated with the goddess of fertility and rebirth, also called Ostara. She represents new beginnings, growth, and the awakening of nature after winter. Wiccans honor her during this time by performing rituals and spells centered around fertility, creativity, and renewal.
The White Witch
Set in 17th-century England, when Cavaliers struggle with Puritans to keep the throne safe for King Charles 1st.
The wise and gentle Froniga Haslewood, is caught between two worlds. Divided between her Puritan family at the Oxfordshire village's manor house and her relatives in the Gypsy community, she works using her skill in healing to help those in need. Her cousin Robert , a local squire, is gripped by the prospect of war. Following his boyhood hero, he leaves his family and travels away to fight for the Parliamentarian cause. While his wife Margaret and their twin children wait in the manor house for news about him. Left behind with her brother, Robert's daughter Jenny grows up under the shadow of conflict, until she encounters mysterious royalist Francis Leyland. While Froniga's gypsy cousins sometimes camp near her, and have befriended Yomen, who conceals a grand past, but is now a tinker and royalist spy. The women must choose between family loyalty and their own heart. As their lives entwine, the villagers struggle to stay true to their beliefs as war threatens to tear their community apart.
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Genres Historical FictionFictionHistoricalWitchesRomanceClassicsFantasy
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
Book details & editions Loading interface. Loading interface.About the author
Elizabeth Goudge
123 books 721 followersElizabeth Goudge was an English author of novels, short stories and children's books.
Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge was born on 24 April 1900 in Wells, Somerset, in Tower House close by the cathedral in an area known as The Liberty, Her father, the Reverend Henry Leighton Goudge, taught in the cathedral school. Her mother was Miss Ida Collenette from the Channel Isles. Elizabeth was an only child. The family moved to Ely for a Canonry as Principal of the theological college. Later, when her father was made Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford, they moved to Christ Church, Oxford.
She went to boarding school during WWI and later to Arts College, presumably at Reading College. She made a small living as teacher, and continued to live with her parents. During this time, she wrote a few plays, and was encouraged to write novels by a publisher. As her writing career took off, she began to travel to other nations. Unfortunately, she suffered from depression for much of her life. She had great empathy for people and a talent for finding the comic side of things, displayed to great effect in her writing.
Goudge's first book, The Fairies' Baby and Other Stories (1919), was a failure and it was several years before she authored Island Magic (1934), which is based on Channel Island stories, many of which she had learned from her mother, who was from Guernsey. After the death of her father, Goudge and her mother went to Devon, and eventually wound up living there in a small cottage. There, she wrote prolifically and was happy.
After the death of her mother, and at the wishes of Goudge's family who wished her to live closer to them, she found a companion who moved with her to Rose Cottage in Reading. She lived out her life there, and had many dogs in her life. Goudge loved dogs, and much preferred their company to that of humans. She continued to write until shortly before her death, when ill health, successive falls, and cataracts hindered her ability to write. She was much loved.
Goudge was awarded the Carnegie Medal for The Little White Horse (1946), the book which J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter stories, has said was her favorite as a child. The television mini-series Moonacre was based on The Little White Horse. Her Green Dolphin Country (1944) was made into a film (under its American title, Green Dolphin Street) which won the Academy Award for Special Effects in 1948.
A Diary of Prayer (1966) was one of Goudge's last works. She spent her last years in her cottage on Peppard Common, just outside Henley-on-Thames, where a blue plaque was unveiled in 2008.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
One common tradition during Ostara is the **dyeing of eggs**, which represents fertility and the potential for new life. These eggs are often painted with vibrant colors and used as offerings or decorations on the **spring equinox altar**. Some Wiccans also practice **egg divination**, where they interpret symbols or patterns on the eggs to gain insight into the future. Another important aspect of Ostara is the **celebration of the returning light**. Wiccans may light candles or bonfires, symbolizing the growing strength of the sun. This is also a time for **cleansing and purifying** rituals, to rid oneself of any negative energies accumulated during the cold months. Nature plays a significant role during the Ostara celebration. Wiccans take the opportunity to **connect with the earth and its cycles** by spending time in nature, planting seeds, and observing the signs of spring. Many believe that this connection helps to recharge their own energy and align with the natural world. Overall, Wiccan spring equinox or Ostara is a celebration of balance, fertility, and new beginnings. It is a time for Wiccans to honor the changing seasons and to embrace the renewal and growth that comes with the arrival of spring..
Reviews for "The Wiccan Spring Equinox: A Time for Cleansing and Renewal"
1. Jenny - 2 stars - I was really excited to attend the Wiccan spring equinox event, but I was left disappointed. The organizers didn't seem to have a clear plan for the event, and it felt disorganized and chaotic. The rituals that were performed lacked depth and meaning, and it felt like they were just going through the motions. Additionally, the location was overcrowded, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the experience. Overall, I expected a more authentic and meaningful celebration of the spring equinox, but this event fell short.
2. Michael - 1 star - Attending the Wiccan spring equinox event was a waste of time for me. I found it to be a self-indulgent gathering of people who were more interested in showing off their costumes and jewelry than actually practicing meaningful rituals. The event lacked structure and guidance, leaving attendees feeling confused and disconnected from the purpose of the celebration. It seemed like it was more about putting on a show rather than honoring the significance of the equinox. I left feeling unsatisfied and regretful for wasting my time and money on this event.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Wiccan spring equinox event, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The energy of the event felt forced and insincere, with attendees more focused on socializing and taking photos than truly connecting with nature and the spiritual significance of the equinox. The workshops offered were basic and lacking in substance, leaving me feeling like I didn't learn much or deepen my understanding of Wiccan beliefs and practices. Overall, it seemed like a commercialized version of Wicca, rather than an authentic celebration of the spring equinox.