Ostara _ rituals, recipes, & lore for the spring equinox ( PDFDrive )

to increase. Though the cold darkness is upon us, there is a promise of brighter
days to come. In Wiccan lore, this is the time when the young solar god is born.
In some Neopagan traditions, this is when the Holly King is destined to lose the
battle to his lighter aspect the Oak King. Candles are lit, feasts are enjoyed, and
evergreen foliage is brought in the house as a reminder that, despite the
harshness of winter, light and life have endured.
At Imbolc (also spelled Imbolg), the ground is just starting to thaw, signaling
that it’s time to start preparing the fields for the approaching sowing season. We
begin to awaken from our months of introspection and start to sort out what we
have learned over that time, while also taking the first steps to make plans for
our future. Some Wiccans also bless candles at Imbolc, another symbolic way of
coaxing along the now perceptibly stronger light.
On the Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara, night and day are again equal in
length, and following this, the days will grow longer than the nights. The Spring
Equinox is a time of renewal, a time to plant seeds as the earth once again comes
to life. We decorate eggs as a symbol of hope, life, and fertility, and we perform
rituals to energize ourselves so that we can find the power and passion to live
and grow.
In agricultural societies, Beltane marked the start of the summer season.
Livestock were led out to graze in abundant pastures and trees burst into
beautiful and fragrant blossom. Rituals were performed to protect crops,
livestock, and people. Fires were lit and offerings were made in the hopes of
gaining divine protection. In Wiccan mythos, the young god impregnates the
young goddess. We all have something we want to harvest by the end of the year
—plans we are determined to realize—and Beltane is a great time to
enthusiastically get that process in full swing.
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. It’s also called Litha, or
Midsummer. Solar energies are at their apex, and the power of nature is at its
height. In Wiccan lore, it’s the time when the solar god’s power is at its greatest
(so, paradoxically, his power must now start to decrease), having impregnated
the maiden goddess, who then transforms into the earth mother. In some
Neopagan traditions, this is when the Holly King once again battles his lighter