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Post by Kata Samoes on Mar 20, 2011 22:29:00 GMT -5
"For today is the first day of beginnings. May we be blessed, and continue our lives with health. Oh lords, goddess(es) and spirits, I bless. It is through us, the Self, and positive relations we come to new beginnings." Part of my prayer for the holiday. What do you plan to do (or did) for the equinox, if anything? www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/ostara.htm------------------------------------------------------ March 21 -- Ostara -- Spring or The Vernal Equinox Also known as: Lady Day or Alban Eiler (Druidic) As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals. The next full moon (a time of increased births) is called the Ostara and is sacred to Eostre the Saxon Lunar Goddess of fertility (from whence we get the word estrogen, whose two symbols were the egg and the rabbit. The Christian religion adopted these emblems for Easter which is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. The theme of the conception of the Goddess was adapted as the Feast of the Annunciation, occurring on the alternative fixed calendar date of March 25 Old Lady Day, the earlier date of the equinox. Lady Day may also refer to other goddesses (such as Venus and Aphrodite), many of whom have festivals celebrated at this time. Traditional Foods:Leafy green vegetables, Dairy foods, Nuts such as Pumpkin, Sunflower and Pine. Flower Dishes and Sprouts. Herbs and Flowers:Daffodil, Jonquils, Woodruff, Violet, Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris, Narcissus and all spring flowers. Incense:Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type. Sacred Gemstone:Jasper Special Activities:Planting seeds or starting a Magickal Herb Garden. Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on the Magick of nature and our Great Mother and her bounty.
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Post by KG on Mar 21, 2011 23:41:25 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the information Kata. We owe a lot of our culture to our Celtic and other Pagan ancestors. The first day of spring is a great cause for celebration. It is simply amazing outside. A few days ago I thought I'd been plunged into Dr. Susse land because the fields are purple with wildflowers, and the homes on either side of my house have pink cherry trees blooming. The weather's been beautiful, and Spring is one of my favorite seasons. I also like summer and fall, so the fun is just beginning.
I highly dislike winter, and always have. I try to learn to appreciate it, but IDK... it's just depressing between Christmas and March. I have a major personality shift in spring, and another in Fall, that one's OK too, just more serious and ambitious. After Christmas though I always feel just awful till spring. I was afraid my usual pattern wouldn't happen this year, and I'd just stay gloomy all year long, but I felt spring working on me today.
I have felt kind of celebratory today, despite a touch of residual agoriphopia. We went out to eat, and ran a few errands, filed our taxes and other necessary spring activities. I am feeling a bit better. I normally feel very good about spring, but this year got off to a very rocky start. Still I feel spring, and I am celebrating by writing an article on Celtic Mythology. That itself has perked me up quite a bit.
I suppose on Easter I will do Easter Baskets as usual for the Family. I make them every year. Some would say my daughters are too old for easter baskets, but I still like them and I'm 50. LOL
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Post by Del on Mar 28, 2011 9:05:25 GMT -5
Thank you for this reminder, Kata.
I got sick on the 21st (started coming down with a head cold), and have since managed to come back to some sense of equilibrium (with my sinus infection).
Sarcasm aside, just readin this post creates a sense of urgency to become more engaged in my Celtic heritage (or Scottish ancestry to be more precise). I've den begun looking into my Isreali ancestry by exploring the Kabbalah. A renewal for a part of my being, I suppose.
Spring is also my favorite season; I enjoy summer and fall as well. I honor winter because it's the time for rest. Everything pretty much dies in winter ( although some things do come to life), but during that season I don't want to do anything but stay in and hibernate.
I hope the Yu Yuan Gardens here have begun blooming into beauty. I'll go pay a visit next week on my day off and check in to tell you about it. It's one of the very few places that isn't heavily affected by the pollution.
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Post by Kata Samoes on Mar 28, 2011 9:22:15 GMT -5
I love Spring too..except for the snow in the past couple years. *grumbles*
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Post by KG on Apr 5, 2011 13:32:54 GMT -5
I know what you mean, but even snow has a sense of wonder in spring. I remember one year when I was a kid, it was early May, and the flowers were in full bloom, but we had a snow and ice storm. I guess it was bad for the plants but it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw.
The flowers were completely coated in clear ice. It made them sparkle, and the white snow made the colors stand out. We had our school class trip during this weather, and there were fields of tulips at the house and gardens we were touring. Those red tulips sticking up through the snow and cased in sparkling ice were simply amazing. Even the golden rod... which I've always felt was not that great, was beautiful covered in ice.
I just think spring is so cool... no matter what. But I know sometimes ugly weather can mar that experience. Not all snow is beautiful, but that spring snow was amazing.
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