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Date: Spring Equinox--on or about September 21

Lore: This is the day of the Spring Equinox, the first real day of Spring. The Goddess is now fertile and able to be a mother, while the God is reaching toward His prime. He and the Goddess make love for the first time. She is impregnated at this time. Renewal is everywhere and Nature is beginning to burst with life again as the Earth is fully reawakened from Winter's sleep.

Special Time: This is a time to celebrate the expansion that is taking place all around. It is a time to renew ourselves and cleanse ourselves further and keep ourselves pure, and to actually begin something. At Imbolc, plans were supposedly made for the future; this is the time to begin them, to put them into motion. It is a time for giving thanks for the return of Spring.

Activities: Ostara is celebrated by doing prosperity rituals, and by putting the plans made at Imbolc into motion. Many people like to collect wild flowers and ponder what they mean. We take notice of the world's new gifts blooming everywhere. Some like to wear very bright clothes on this day, with lots of flowers in their hair and around their houses, and lots of accessories and decorations. Many take this time to actually plant seeds in their gardens, while others only plant figurative seeds that will come to bloom later. Some like to decorate and eat eggs.

The Ostara season:

Ostara Herbs

All spring flowers, broom, cinquefoil, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, lavender, lily, peony, rose, sage, violet, willow

Ostara Incense
Ostara Colours
Ostara Decorations
Ostara Foods
Ostara Sacred Gemstones
Spellwork appropriate for Ostara

Make Hot Cross Buns to honour the union of the Earth and Sun for spring. Slash the 'X' with your bolline and bless the bread.

Have a traditional breakfast of buns, ham, and eggs. Save the eggshells and after breakfast, throw the crushed eggshells into the garden and say:

For fairy for flowers, for herbs in the bowers,
The shells pass fertility with springtime showers.

Colour hard-boiled eggs and add the symbols for the Fertility God, the Goddess, the Sun God, unity, fire, water, agriculture, prosperity and growth, strength and wisdom, spring, love and affection, and protection.

Consecrate the eggs by saying:

In the name of the Goddess of spring (name),
And the ever-returning God of the sun, (name),
By the powers of the four elements - earth, air, fire, and water,
I do consecrate these eggs of Ostara.

Point your athame at the eggs, make the sign of the pentagram, and see the energy flow through the blade into the eggs, and say:

New life within as new life shall enter the soil.
Let those who see this life find it and consume it,
for all life feeds on life.

The eggs may be hidden and the Ostara Egg Hunt commences.

On Ostara Eve, light a purple or violet candle and burn patchouli incense. Carry them both through the house, saying:

Farewell to wintry spirits and friends;
On morrow we greet the spirits of spring;
Our blessings to thee as your way you wend;
And merry we'll meet next winter again.

Blow out the candle and say:

Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!

Place an earthenware or wooden bowl containing soil or a large seed of some kind on the altar.

Lily of the valley, tansy, lavender, marjoram, thyme, tarragon, lovage, lilac, violets, lemon balm, dogwood, honeysuckle, oakmoss, orrisroot, sunflower seeds, rose hips, oak, elder, willow, crocus, daffodil, jonquil, tulip, broom (Scotch or Iris), meadowsweet, acorn, trefoil (purple clover), vervain.

At this time, witches cast spells for careers, relationships, and love. It's a time for planting new ideas. Seek harmony and balance in the incredible energy of the season, and project good health, good fortune, and confidence in achieving goals.

Seeds that were gathered at Mabon or that you have purchased in packets can be blessed and started indoors at Ostara. This ritual should be conducted in the dark, as we are asking the Mother to bring the seed's light from the darkness of the warming earth.

Seeds
Flower pots
Soil
A green marker
Popsicle sticks (optional)
Four candles, one for each of the four quarters
Priapic Wand (an oak wand with an acorn or pine cone tip)

Place your supplies on the altar. Cast a circle by walking anticlockwise, with index finger pointing down, saying:

Creation flows from the arms of our Mother Goddess.
Creation flows from the strength and light of our God.
Creation is the mission of the human spirit.
From my lips the oath was sworn, from my hand the circle is born.
The earth, the air, the fire, the water return, return, return.
And the gifts of the land return. Behold the circle is cast.

(Lighting candle at West) Elements of the West; rich earth, comforting soil, bless this ritual with your gifts.

(Lighting candle at South) Elements of the South; sweet breath, carrier of gentle spring rain, bless this ritual with your gifts.

(Lighting candle at East) Elements of the East; pure water, transformation energy, bless this ritual with your gifts.

(Lighting candle at North) Elements of the North; caressing sun, warming creation, bless this ritual with your gifts.

Now is the dark half of the year passing
Now do the days grow light, and the Earth grows warm
I summon the spirit of these seeds
Which have slept in darkness
Awaken, stir, and swell
As you are planted in the Earth
To grow and bring forth new fruit.
Blessed be!

As each seed is blessed, visualise that particular plant in full bloom or full fruit. At this point, you may charge the seeds with blessings you hope to "sow" in the year ahead -- things like wisdom, prosperity, understanding, or certain magickal skills.

Next, draw the Birkana rune (a B with points instead of curves), the rune of new beginnings, on the popsicle sticks or on the flower pots. Add soil. Plant the seeds and water.

COLOUR	HERB	TYPE OF MAGICK	RUNE
Green	Colts-foot, bracken, for a pale green: spinach leaves	growth, prosperity	Fehu
Yellow green	Carrot tops, for a green-gold: yellow delicious apple peels	fertility, new beginning	Berkana
Yellow	Tumeric, for a light yellow: orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seeds or ground cumin	sun, energy, vitality	Sowulo
Orange	Yellow onion skins	sun, energy, vitality	Sowulo
Rust	Onion skin	strength	Uruz
Red	Madder root for a pale red: fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries	sacred eggs	Sowulo
Pink	Madder root	love, affection	Gebo
Blue	Blueberries	protection	Thurisaz, Algiz
Bright blue	Red cabbage leaves	Spirit, Sky Father	Tyr, Mannaz, Ansuz
Beige to brown	strong brewed coffee, for a reddish brown: limes, deep brown: pecan or walnut shells	Earth, Mother Goddess	Berkana, Laguz

1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered.

3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the colour you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)

5. Remove the substance you used to colour the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl. If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.

Use small leaves from fresh or dried herbs like flat parsley, rue, thyme or fern. Press the leaves against the egg and wrap securely with a section of old nylon stocking. Do this before putting in the dye bath. After dyeing, rinse these eggs in clear water before unwrapping. The area under the leaves will have little or no dye if done properly.

Glue dried, pressed flowers, sequins, crepe paper, or similar flat decorations to the eggs. Use your imagination.

On Good Friday, it is the custom in Britain to eat round, fruit-filled buns with a cross decoration on top. The combination of cross and round bun recalls the pre-christian Celtic Cross, which represented the union of male and female. The phallic cross within the yonic circle would be appropriate for this time of fertility (Spring). Hot cross buns are descendants of the cakes offered by the Greeks to goddesses Artemis and Hecate. These cakes were round symbolising the Full Moon, and were decorated with horns that formed a cross-shape and represented the four quarters of the lunar cycle.

Hot-cross buns are eaten throughout the spring season, but in ancient Babylon the Chaldeans used to offer them to the queen of heaven (Ishtar) on the day now known as Good Friday. The ancient Greeks made similar wheat cakes marked with a cross or "horns", called a "bous", in honour of Apollo, Diana, Hecate and the moon (the latter also being Diana's symbol).

The cross represents the four seasons, or the four phases of the moon, and are on the sacrificial bread of the lunar goddesses of many cultures. They are found from Egypt to the Aztecs of Mexico. A circle with a cross (the female symbol) was often set up on top of a pillar (representing the male)-the whole representing union or fertility. It is also interesting that the biological symbol for female remains a circle with a cross beneath (the symbol for Venus).

2 packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 cup warm milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup softened butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 1/2 to 7 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1/2 cup dried currents
1/2 cup raisins

Have the water and milk at 110-115 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add the warm milk sugar, butter, vanilla, salt, nutmeg, and 3 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating the mixture well after each addition. Stir in the dried fruit and enough flour to make a soft dough.

Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl and turn over to grease the top. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (about 1 hour).

Punch the dough down and shape into 30 balls. Place on greased baking sheets. Using a sharp knife, cut a cross (or X) on the top of each roll.

Cover again and let rise until doubled (about 30 minutes). Beat the water and egg yolk together and brush over the rolls. Bake at 375-degrees F. for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Drizzle icing over the top of each roll following the lines of the cut cross.

ICING: Combine 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 4 teaspoons milk or cream, a dash of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir until smooth. Adjust sugar and milk to make a mixture which flows easily.

3/4 cup warm water
3 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. skim milk powder
1/4 cup sugar
3/8 tsp. salt
1 egg + 1 egg white
3 cups flour
1 Tbsp. yeast

Put ingredients in bread maker and start on dough program. When 5 minutes of kneading are left, add 3/4 cup currants and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Leave in machine till double.

Punch down on floured surface, cover, and let rest 10 minutes. Shape into 12 balls and place in a greased 9 x 12 inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double, about 35-40 minutes.

Mix 1 egg yolk and 2 Tbsp. water. Brush on balls. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack.

Our forbearers practiced their religion without many tools, if any at all. And the ones they had were hidden from the Church officials, sometimes in the most obvious places, by being used as household items.

Cailleach, Celtic Crone Goddess

"Bha da shleagha chaola chatha
air an taobh eile dh'an chaillich
Bha 'h-aodann dubh-ghorm air dreach a 'ghuail
'S a deud cnabadach cnamh-ruadh.

Bha aon suil ghlumach 'na ceann
Bu luaithe na rionnag gheamhraidh;
Craobh mhineach chas air a ceann
Mar choill inich de 'n t-seana chrithinn.

(There were two slender spears of battle
upon the other side of the carlin
her face was blue-black, of the lustre of coal,
And her bone tufted tooth was like rusted bone.

In her head was one deep pool-like eye
Swifter than a star in winter
Upon her head gnarled brushwood
like the clawed old wood of the aspen root).
(from Campbell: The Yellow Muilearteach, in Popular Tales of the West Highlands Vol 3.)

The Neolithic goddess Cailleach, known variously as the "blue hag", the "Bear goddess" and "Boar goddess", "owl faced", and "ancient woman", has survived through the ages. Coming from the continent, Her worship spread to the British Isles early after the recession of the glaciers. The proto-Celtic peoples honoured Cailleach and blended Her varying aspects, creating images invoking both love and terror. The various names that Cailleach has been worshipped in lend a clue to Her wide spread worship: Boi, Bui, Cally Berry, Caillech Bherri, Cailliach, Cailliaech, Carline, Digde, Dige, Dirra, Dirri, Duineach, Hag of Beara, Mala Liath, Mag-Moullach, Scotia, and Nicnevin.

Cailleach in modern Gaelic means 'old wife', but interestingly, it originally meant a 'veiled one' (from caille, a veil). In all her various Goddess forms, Cailleach is seen as a Crone Goddess who embodies winter. She is sometimes depicted as an old hag with the teeth of a wild bear and boar's tusks or else is depicted as a one-eyed giantess who leaps from peak to peak, wielding Her magical white rod and blasting the vegetation with frost. Cailleach's white rod, or slachdan, made of birch, bramble, willow or broom, is a Druidic rod which gives Her power over the weather and the elements. Cailleach is also a goddess who governs dreams and inner realities. She is the goddess of the sacred hill, the Sidhe, and the place where we enter into the hidden realm of the Fey and spirit beings. Sacred stones, the bones of the earth, are Her special haunts. Cailleach is connected to the 'bean sidhe' or banshee (which means 'supernatural woman') who are the wild women of the Fey.

Cailleach is also the guardian spirit of a number of animals. She is associated with the ancient tradition of herding reindeer. This means that the reindeer (and all deer) are Her cattle; She herds and milks them and often gives them protection from hunters. Swine, wild goats, wild cattle, and wolves are also Her creatures. Cailleach is also a fishing goddess, as well as the guardian of wells and streams.

In Scotland, Cailleach is considered to be the daughter of Grainne, or the Winter Sun. She is affectionately known as 'Grandmother of the Clanns' and 'the Ancestress of the Caledonii Tribe'. The legends of the Caledonii tribe speak of the "Bringer of the Ice Mountains", the great blue Old Woman of the highlands. Called Cailleach, Cailleach Bheur, Scotia, Carline or Mag-Moullach by the people, She was the Beloved Mountain Giantess who protected the early tribe from harm and nurtured them in Her sacred mountains. Cailleach Bheur is reborn each Samhain and goes about smiting the earth to blight growth and call down the snow. On Beltane Eve , She throws Her staff under a holly tree or a gorse bush (both are Her plants) and then turns into a grey stone, thus ending winter. In other myths this happens on Imbolc Eve, but rather than turning into a stone, She is instead reborn a young woman.

In Ireland Cailleach is known in Her singular form as Cailleach Beara or "Hag of Beara, - or else worshipped as part of a trio of Goddesses with Her sisters Cailleach Bolus and Cailleach Corca Duibhne. In the Irish Triad, she is considered one of the three great ages: 'The age of the yew tree, the age of the eagle, the age of the Hag of Beara'. Cailleach Beara inhabits the Beara peninsula on the Cork-Kerry border on the north side of Bantry Bay, Scotland. She is said to have "let loose the rivers, shaped the hills, and waved Her hammer over the growing grass." In Ireland as in Scotland, She has power over the three months of winter, and is said to turn to stone every spring and to be reborn every October 31 (Samhain). In the legend of the coming of the Tuatha De Danann we are told that Cailleach Beara is the opposite face of the Goddess Bride (also known as Bride, Bridgit, Bridget, Brig, Brigentis, Brighid, Brigidu, Briginda, or Brigit).

In western Ireland, especially in the area of the Cliffs of Mohor, Cailleach is worshipped as a deity called Bronach or Brenach (Ugliness). In northern Ireland, Cailleach is called Cally Berry.

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