Happy Ostara

Ostara is my favorite Sabbat.  And I am certainly not the only one (even though my basic practice is rooted in Celtic beliefs with an overlay of Bast).  Like many pagans my practice is somewhat eclectic but I still honor the strong traditions that allowed the Sabbats to survive.

 Ostara has survived through the ages.  The goddess' name Eostre evolved into Easter to suit the Christian movement through the world, but the importance of a spring celebration never changes.  The symbols of spring that are sacred to Eostre, the hare and the egg are still symbols of this celebration even if most Christian celebrants to not realize their origins or meaning. 
Symbols and rituals handed down through the ages have survived to be enjoyed in modern times in our re-establishment of old beliefs.  

Enjoy and celebrate as Eostre drags spring back into our lives.
Open all the windows and smudge and sweep all the trapped negativity out into the world to disperse and disappear.   Find early spring food to enjoy, try a light wine, wine cooler, wine punch.  Or fresh citrus drinks.  Celebrate the new in your life. 
Make an altar or a wreath to honor Eostre and make it the center of your celebration.
I made this wreath a few years ago and have not felt the urge to replace it since.  It will hang in the house today and after today I will hang it on the front door to welcome the season. 

Welcome Eostre and Welcome Spring

March Full Moon, Chaste Moon

The March Moon is the Moon of innocence and new beginnings.  It heralds the arrival of spring and is the Full Moon preceding Ostara.  Celebrate the coming of spring.  Plan your herbal garden, bless the seeds of the herbs you are about to plant.  Other new beginnings should be looked for.... a new relationship, a new job, new energy, a new pet, new travel.  All are new beginnings and fit into a celebration of spring.  Pick something 'new' that you anticipate or need in your life and build your Full Moon ritual around it.  Ask the Elements for help in creating this new beginning.
Ostara is March 20.

February Full Moon, Storm Moon

 Full Moon is tonight, February 7 at 4:54pm EST

Brigid under a Full Moon

This post is partly new and partly a previous post.  I found the bath and meditation reminder and it is exactly what I need at this time, so I thought that I would share it again.

The picture of Brigid is a reminder that Imbolc was less than a week away.  Keep in mind the changes that are taking place within the earth and how they are going to impact your life very soon.

The February Full Moon is also known as the Storm Moon as used to be a time of extreme hardship.  Cold weather, big storms, short days, diminishing food supplies.  Keep this in mind if you work magick this month.  Take that same determination that was essential for survival and use it to solve a big issue in your life.  Add the strength and power of our ancestors to your work.

If you are looking for guidance in the coming month get out your Tarot cards, Runes, Pendulums, Crystals or whatever other tools you use and ask your questions about the coming months.  You do not have to be a psychic to make use of these magickal tools.  Regular use of these items can help you establish a closer and clearer relationship with your spiritual guides.  They help to clear your mind and stop all that negative chatter from fouling up your attempts to solve problems or learn new things.

This is also the time to get out your list that you wrote for the ritual of the New Moon.  Cross out the things that have resolved themselves.  Keep the list until the next New Moon ritual, but at that time, throw away the list and create a new one on a new page.

Full Moon is, of course, a time that magical people of all traditions gather to honor the Goddess, or reflect on the universal energy or offer respect to local Gods and Goddesses.
If you do not have access to a Coven,  a Grove, a Kindred, a Clan or another gathering and you feel that a community ritual would suit you best, look for the nearest Unitarian Church.  Chances are they are holding a Circle tonight.

Along with ritual, this is a good time for relieving stress, teaching your body to relax, using meditation and essential oils can calm the mind and body and make the stresses of life easier to handle. 
Try a simple cleansing/relaxing bath as part of your ritual today.   Substitute or leave out ingredients to make use of what you have at hand.  Lavender is relaxing to the mind and body and citrus is cleansing.
Mix:
one cup of powered milk
half cup of epsom salts
half cup of sea salt
8 drops of lavender essential oil
4 drops lemon essential oil
Mix and pour into running bath water

I turn off the electric lights, light a candle and do a meditation while I am soaking in the heat and wonderful feelings from this bath.

Full Moon Blessing to you

Imbolc

Imbolc is a fire festival, usually celebrated on the 1st or 2nd of February.  It is the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.  The first signs of spring can be found at this point in the Wheel; lambing season is about to start, the earliest spring flowers are starting to peek from the earth. 
I live along one of the main migratory paths for birds and many many flocks are seen daily, flying north with great speed and determination. 
Besides the turning of the Wheel, Imbolc also celebrates the powers of Brigid.  Brigid is supposed to walk the earth again during Imbolc.  You can petition her for some of her healing powers by leaving an article of clothing outside overnight.  If she touches the article, it will help you with your healing powers and knowledge.
Imbolc is our proof that the Wheel is turning and spring is on its way.

apologies for missing Esbats

I don't know if I have mentioned it here, but I am making a living training horses and after a lifetime of not being injured by horses I have managed to get hurt twice in the last year.
This time was January 2 and probably thanks to the mud and ice I ended up only bruised and sore and not blogging much for several weeks.
I just realized yesterday that I was about to miss the New Moon and did a quick ritual late last night.  If you also missed it, it was only yesterday so go ahead and do a New Moon ritual and set the tone for the next month.
The next Full Moon is in February, but in between is Imbolc.  One of my favorite days of the year, regardless of the weather it brings spring.  I will be posting information on Imbolc which is celebrated on the 1st or 2nd.