Pagan Sabbats: Oestara

The name Oestara comes from the Anglo-Saxon Goddess, Oestre. Oestara is the Goddess of the East, Dawn, and the Spring. On this day, people celebrate the return of Spring, it is a time of rebirth and regrowth.

The old Saxon name for the month of April was Éosturmónath, with a connection both to the easterly winds at this time of year, and to the German Spring goddess Austrô. Eostre (from which the word oestrogen is derived) was the Anglo-Saxon fertility Goddess of Spring and Goddess of dawn, and Her name seems to be connected with the Indian Usrâ, meaning dawn, and the Latin Aurora, Roman goddess of dawn.

Persephone

A popular story that tells of the re-awakening of the Earth and the return of Spring is that of Demeter and her daughter, Persephone.

Persephone while out one day was seen by the God of the Underworld, Hades, and taken there to be his bride. Demeter grieved so much at the loss of her daughter that she refuses to let the crops grow. She pleaded with Hades for Persephone's return.

Hades agreed, but only if Persephone could eat a pomegranate without eating any seeds. Persephone tried, but ate 6 of the seeds. So, Persephone now resides in the Underworld with Hades 6 months of the year. In the Spring, she returns to the earth, Demeter rejoices, and the earth flowers once again.

Oestara occurs the day, nearest March 21, when night and day are nearly the same length and corresponds to the center of the Sun crossing the celestial equator moving northward. Oestara marks the first day of the season of Spring in the northern hemisphere.

It is a time of new beginnings and new growth.

Some elements associated with Oestara are hares and eggs. The egg is a symbol of fertility and birth all over the world while the hare is Her sacred animal. Combined together you get the modern myth of a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them for children at Easter.

In the home, the coming of Spring means increased activity and work. Spring-cleaning. Preparing for planting season. The birth of new animals.

Rituals are focused around welcoming back the Spring and saying farewell to Winter. In agricultural societies, there is a focus as well on asking God or the Gods for a good crop and fertile animals.

Get out in Nature.

Take a walk around your neighborhood or favorite park. See which plants are sprouting, which budding, which blooming, which still are in the grips of winter. Feel the air; smell the scents of Oestara.

Clear a space for a garden, or start flowers, herbs or vegetables indoors.

In most areas it is still too early to plant outdoors due to the risk of frost.
But you can clear weeds, grass and rubbish from the spot where you plan a garden, or you can start seeds indoors. Check with your favorite garden store what flowers and vegetables might best be started now.

Pick up litter at your favorite park or beach.

Help the earth rejuvenate by getting rid of the mess. Even an hour of cleanup can make a big difference.

Perform divination spells with apples.

Apples are a Northern European pagan symbol of spring and of love.

To divine whether someone loves you by apple seeds, choose and eat an apple thinking of your loved one. Next, split the core and count the seeds chanting this rhyme: One I love, two I love, three I love I say, four I love with all my heart, five I cast away; six she loves, seven he loves, eight they both love; nine s/he comes, ten s/he tarries, eleven s/he courts, twelve s/he marries.

To divine the first letter of your spouse-to-be's name, twist an apple's stem while chanting the letters of the alphabet. The letter at which the stem breaks is his or her initial.

Both these love-divination techniques can be adapted to other uses. To adapt the former, alter the rhyme with words suiting your situation. To adapt the latter, you can simply chant yes and no while twisting till the apple stem breaks; you can also chant "yes, no, maybe" or use words more specific to your situation.

Perform magick by planting a seed to grow with your spell.

A traditional love-spell runs as follows. Just after the New Moon, plant the seed of some sturdy plant in a pot. Water thoroughly, and charge your spell by raising energy and saying over the plant: As this root grows, and this blossom blows, may my true love be inclined toward me. Or use other words of your own that fit.

You can adapt this spell to any purpose naturally achieved over time, such as the success of a business.