Ostara

I just love all things Easter. From the eggs to the bunnies, it's all wonderful to me. I also love that Easter has two sides, a sad side and a happy side. That's life!

This year I've been thinking about the hares. Some  pagans believe that when we die we become hares and leap about in the summerlands enjoying freedom everlasting. Isn't that a lovely idea.  I like to think of that. Hares have long been known as mystical creatures and there are many legends about concerning hares. One of them suggests that a hare brought beautifully coloured eggs to the Goddess Ostara encouraging new life and abundance.

It would be nice to think that there is a link between the mystical hares and the Easter bunny, but there is no substance in this.

Ostara is the Teutonic Goddess of fertility and Springtime, who is sometimes called Eostre. The words East and Easter are both named after Ostara because of their reference to the sun rising in the East and the return of Springtime in the Celtic calendar. She is celebrated at the Spring Equinox as the bringer of increased light and the balance between daytime and night-time hours. Here in England we are putting our clocks forward tonight to reflect the increase in light. Call upon Ostara to increase your fruitfulness. fertility or to embark on new ventures.

What sort of things do you find yourself doing at this time of year? Planting seeds? changing the curtains? My mother always used to change the curtains from deep red velvet to Springtime yellow cotton with linings at this time of year. All these little things help to lift the spirits and create a new way of thinking, taking us away from the darkness of winter.

To help you feel more energized, try changing your wardrobe: putting away those darker colours and bringing out the sunny ones, yellow and blue and white. If you live anywhere near me though, in England, it might be wise to keep some jumpers handy because winter has a way of coming back, doesn't it.

Thinking of new projects to start? How about decorating a room? It's surprising how much better you feel when you change the colour in a dull room or put on a new lick of paint.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           If you are Christian, then this is the most important time of the year. It's saddening to realise how little many people know about the Easter story as it relates to Christianity in this ever more secular world. The story of Jesus, crucified on the cross, but rising again three days later, is uplifting and the source of our faith as Christians. I have a foot in both camps. How about you?