Happy Ostara/Equinox!

natural dye eggs

OSTARA

Ostara is one of the 8 Sabbats, comprising the “Wheel of the Year” and dividing the pagan seasons.  Ostara is the German maiden Goddess of Spring. Ostara also comes from the name of the Triple Goddess, Eostre, maiden-mother-crone.  She is also Persephone at the time of year when she reunites with Demeter, marking her 6 month return from the underworld that Demeter negotiated with Hades.  (more lore)

Setting Up Your Ostara Altar

Ostara by expressingyourtruth featuring an abstract painting

EQUINOX

“The name equinox means “equal night” in Latin. It’s theoretically the day of the year when all points on the earth’s surface experience the same lengths of daylight and darkness – 12 hours of each. ” source

gemstones for Ostara by expressingyourtruth featuring easter home decor

ECLIPSE CYCLE

We are between two eclipses this month, with the next one in three days, being a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at 3 degrees of Libra.

March Eclipses

March Lunations by expressingyourtruth featuring a christmas tree topper

The Sun also enters ARIES today! (further breaking up the stellium we had in Pisces)

planetwatcher.com

Equinox Solar Light Codes, Jane

Special Card ~ Autumnal Equinox

Since it’s the Equinox (hooray!!) I thought it would be a good idea to pull an extra card this week….. The Magician Reversed!

The Magician (R) – Your conscious mind is your sense of self – your individuality and you are capable of intense focus here. Make clear statements of intent – always in the present, looking into both the exterior and the interior worlds to assess the “facts” of daily living. Your conscious mind initiates, gives orders and stimulates a responses – it brings spirit into matter and vice versa. Truth always comes through goodness. Stop hesitating and confront your problems – stop limiting yourself. When you are not applying yourself in the right way, holding yourself back or fearing failure – you can not achieve anything. Be receptive to guidance, change your attitude and trust that your “true” hearts desire is always beneficial to others.Come to know yourself – then BE yourself. When you lack will power and can not seem to cope with the obstacles, you become too busy trying to find the easy way out and this makes you vulnerable to undercurrents and possible deceit, you will not be aware when someone is not telling the whole story. The proper flow of energy becomes blocked and your purpose becomes confused – which leads you to doing nothing. The power is still there – you simply can not use it productively. Depression, mental disquiet and fear create problems – energy or spirit enters and you do not know how to direct it into outer reality. Ground the energy or it will become trapped in your body, forcing itself on your awareness as anxiety and you will experience “burn-out”. Channel your experiences in a productive direction – learn to understand, structure and direct your experiences towards the service of the community. Look deeper into your situation – go deep within yourself and use the divine power that is available to you. http://www.crystal-reflections.com/magician_r

Mabon ~ Autumnal Equinox 2015

http://reikigodslove.blogspot.com/2015/09/creating-mabon-or-equinox-altar.html

The holiday of the Autumnal Equinox, Harvest Home, Mabon, the Feast of the Ingathering, Meán Fómhair or Alban Elfed (in Neo-Druid traditions), is a Pagan ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the God during the coming winter months (Wikipedia).

Mabon or Autumnal Equinox

Sept. 23, 2015, beginning at sundown on the 22nd

TOOLS AND RITUAL COMPONENTS:

• Incense: Combine benzoin, myrrh, honeysuckle bark, cinnamon and vanilla
• Ritual Soap: Marigold for concentration and purification
• Annointing Oil: Syrrh and vanilla for awareness
• Ritual Cup: Sage combined with white rose water
• Altar Decorations: Acorns, gourds, thistle, late blooming flowers, fresh ferns on the floor, bloodstone and malachite
• Clothing: Wear the colors of fall
• Cakes: apple pie with vanilla, cinnamon and ginger

from: A Victorian Grimoire

Colors of the Season:
The leaves have begun to change, so reflect the colors of autumn in your altar decorations. Use yellows, oranges, reds and browns. Cover your altar with cloths that symbolize the harvest season, or go a step further and put brightly colored fallen leaves upon your work surface. Use candles in deep, rich colors — reds, golds, or other autumn shades are perfect this time of year.

Symbols of the Harvest:
Mabon is the time of the second harvest, and the dying of the fields. Use corn, sheaves of wheat, squash and root vegetables on your altar. Add some tools of agriculture if you have them – scythes, sickles, and baskets.

A Time of Balance:
Remember, the equinoxes are the two nights of the year when the amount of light and darkness are equal. Decorate your altar to symbolize the aspect of the season. Try a small set of scales, a yin-yang symbol, a white candle paired up with a black one — all are things which represent the concept of balance.

Other Symbols of Mabon:
Wine, vines and grapes Apples, cider, and apple juice Pomegranates Ears of corn Pumpkins Gods’ Eyes Corn dolls Mid-autumn vegetables, like squashes and gourds”

Source: http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/mabontheautumnequinox/p/MabonAltarDecs.htm

http://whereonthenetisjane.blogspot.com

Autumnal Equinox Altars:

Simple Mabon Cider:

http://goddessfindingsjewelsforthespirit.blogspot.com/2012/09/mabon-cider.html