OSTARA
This has come to be such a special time of creation and fruition in my home. It's a spiritually celebrated time, a physically enlivening time and a time of new beginnings. This year is especially fruitful in our home as we are literally in the process of trying to buy our first home! As many of you have been watching and listening to our endeavors- moving to the East Coast in January has been hard, but well worth the effort on our journey to finding our HOMESTEAD and future landscape for Fruits to the Roots. Fingers and toes crossed all! We're got a feeling it's SO CLOSE! Now with the abundance of Ostara on our side we truly feel the connection to our path bursting to life.
On this first day of Spring, I am busy inviting heart medicine, hope, home and health into our lives. And as you all know, I am a sucker for special waters... so I am busy collecting snow drops and water today for a limited release SOAP to be made and cured for release on the Summer Solstice. Follow us over on our Instagram feed to see more of our stories and product development HERE
And now... Back to Ostara and her enchanted spring filled essence
Some thoughts on the Alchemy and Rebirth of Nature
The Vernal Equinox otherwise known as the first day of spring is a perfect split of night and day. Equinox = when day and night are of equal length, Vernal = occuring to or relating to spring. On this day the sun is located exactly above the equator shining down upon us creating momentous energy and encouragement for growth and new beginnings.
Throughout time there have been many ways with which one could choose to give thanks and proclaim festivities during the beginning of spring. Some called on Ishtar (Babylonian- Assyrian), Flora (Roman), Osiris (Egyptian), Freya (Norse), and Ostara or Eostre (Germanic). The different traditions surrounding the god or goddess represented a time of rebirth, renewal, the return of vegetation and celebrating fertility. A time when Mother Earth and the Green Man would join in sacred marriage. Some of these festivities were adopted, such as the name Eostre, by Christian tradition becoming a part of the common modern understanding of Easter.
Eostre, from the writings of 8th century Bede:
"Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated "Paschal month", and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance." Eostre = Paschal, latin for Passover.Now known as the month of April.
Ostara by Johannes Gehrts
Like the pagan traditions of Eostre celebrated on and around the spring equinox, Easter also coincides with special celestial occurrence. As celebrated by Christians, Easter occurs on the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the Vernal Equinox. There are arguments about the origin story of both the hare and the egg. Both elements show up in tradition for a number of pagan festivities and the Christian celebration of Easter. For Centuries decorating eggs has been a tradition for cultures all around the world to symbolize fertility and life. And the bunny, there are many stories of spring and the importance of the hare. Some of my favorite thoughts include that the Teutonic spring goddess Eostre, kept a hare as a familiar or that she was able to take form as a hare. Interestingly, hares or rabbits are also often seen as a symbol for sacrificial death. With life comes death, and often times with death comes new life. It is sad but it seems that modern practice has forgotten what the egg and hare actually represent, letting them fade to a place only visible in the back of the mind. However, not so surprisingly, the relics of the celebration remain the same.
It is fascinating that so many beliefs and traditions are arranged according to astronomical occurrence. It's boggling and wonderful to ponder that the heavens shining down are encouraging us to connect in a deeply spiritual way. Throughout history different customs, traditions and religions seem to fall into alignment in appreciation for specific moments in astronomical time. The significance and energy from the planetary alignments seem to allow a clearer sense of self and intention in the world. One can't help but feel invigorated. With the power of hope and new life seemingly waiting at each corner of the world how could you resist feeling a sense of enlivenment!?
The stars love to tell their story, giving guide and understanding to the otherwise mundane. During this time a few thousand years ago, travelers and wanderers would often be at the height of a journey toward the holy land. This thought inspires me to take a moment today to revel in the moonlight. Yesterday marked the first full moon after the vernal equinox, True Easter, as celebrated by many hermetic traditions. This Easter moon is the most powerful full moon of the year. Occurring at a time when the world is ready to celebrate the death of winter and the beginning of spring. All of the Earth is overflowing with energy, growth, and life. Dance in it... Breath it in... Be Still in it... Become enlivened by it... let it inspire you.
Happy Spring. Be Well... Lauren
