Ostara | Euphoric Cauldron

FM Grid Libra

e find ourselves in a place of perfect opportunity with the upcoming April FullMoon. A large portion of the world is housebound and facing the foretold challenge of social turbulence and material scarcity. Little did we know it would take the form of a virus and toilet paper shortages. Since March’s Full Moon we experienced the joyous celebration of the Spring Equinox Ostara Sabbat where sowed blessed seed for the coming season.

Libra’s motto is “I balance & weigh” with the purpose to take the Measure of our Souls. The archetype is the Judge. Keywords are conscience, cooperation, equality, diplomacy, intelligence, balance, perfectionist and adaptable.

Libra teaches us arriving at mindful, deliberate and well-thought-out decisions taking into account all angles will bring about a successful future. It is a strange time and feels a bit surreal, sort of like the dust settling after a long storm. Our planet has been bombarded with the actions of humans and as humans, we are bombarded by the energies of others. In this we must take care to not let other’s feelings, emotions, anxieties and panic affect ourselves and our actions. It is also the perfect time to tune into ourselves with crystal clarity whilst a large majority of people are at home and the world grows quiet. We can see the effects in the climate with animals around the world returning to old spawning/mating grounds, seismologists have noted fewer rumblings almost immediately, less air pollution=improved air quality, less noise pollution above ground and in the oceans. This list goes on, proving that the world would do well from a break from human activity bombardment for a month each year.

The combination of Sun in Aries and Moon in Libra sends our inner flame outward in the pursuit of understanding spiritual truths impacting our thoughts and behaviors. Albert Einstein correctly surmised, “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” It is the walk of the Spiritual Warrior that is called upon now to change our world through changing our thinking, which in turn changes our actions. Adapting to thrive beyond survival in challenging times and directing our inner flame with honed precision requires honesty, integrity, reflection and intentional purpose that gives power to our walk.

During this Libran Full Moon the influence of aspected Mars in conjunction with Saturn, Uranian impulsivity and Mercury in close sextile to the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction will push us to look closely at our deepest soul and heart level intentions currently manifesting itself in our lives, spell workings and spiritual practices. It is time to scry by Aries fire and recognize these truths. The Libran thoughts connected with Venus heart centered understanding will feel different from others as thoughts that arise from our soul, heart and mind being aligned will be accompanied with a solid knowing. These thought feelings will be known by the warmth felt throughout your body from top to bottom, your senses will be heightened and you will have a sense of its rightness and purity as in the ringing of a struck piece of crystal.
The areas where we have resistance, fear or avoidance will also point to future areas that need to be addressed during the dark of the moon, so make note of these as well.

This Full Moon will require the oftentimes difficult aspect of putting oneself first and forefront. There is often a lot of resistance to this within ourselves as we are frequently led to believe putting ourselves first is a selfish act. Self-care is not a selfish act, but one of required maintenance to grow as a person and be healthy for ourselves and others. We are part of a larger whole, which is only as healthy as its parts. The most healthy act a person can do is the caretaking of self and meeting your own needs in order to manifest a healthy unit. This Libra esbat will give us the energy needed to take back the power that flows through our veins handed down through our ancestral roots and lifetimes past. Let the truth of your inner self, your magic and your life’s purpose rise to the top and forefront of your awareness so that you can walk in your power.

During this time we are in a unique position to affect lasting change and weave magic into the world unlike ever before. We are calling on the power of witches, pagans, shamans, healers and spiritualists to join forces and weave magic in the fabric of our everyday reality while bringing forth balance and harmony.

Starting on April 8th at sundown, each person will enact their own rite and light a candle (preferably a 7 day if you have it). The wave of energy will be sent around our planet for a full 24 hours and continue as long as our candles burn. Please join in the power ritual by going to Euphoric Naturals & Apothecary Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/819088128585761/

For those joining us, please post a picture of your candle lighting on our https://www.facebook.com/EuphoricNaturals/ page as well as on Instagram #Homesteadcoven.

As you cast your circles and create sacred space, remember…….we are all in this together. May you be thricely blessed in the coming times. Blessed Be!

Ostaracollage

stara, also known as Alban Eiler, Eostre, Summer Finding and Vernal Equinox, is a fertility festival celebrated on the spring equinox, which falls sometime between March 20th and March 22nd. On the spring and fall equinoxes, day and night are of equal lengths. Ostara begins with sunrise to celebrate the light overcoming the darkness and the heralding of spring, burgeoning growth and potent prosperity.

The feminine aspect of the Spring Maiden and the masculine aspect of the Horned God are called upon so that we may align with the necessary balance required for gentle growth getting ready to burst forth at Beltane. The external focus of the Ostara season is coaxing new life forth. We recognize that the length of our days have been growing ever so slightly since Yule (even though it does not feel like it at times) and this light is sending signals to the animals, our brains and plants around us to start mating and growing. The balancing act comes in reading the signs correctly. In the witch’s garden hellebore, witch hazel, snowdrops, early crocus and daphne are all blooming, however, if temporary warmth is coupled with too many full sunny days, some plants unable to withstand freeze start popping up and then buds are killed by the frost. If we misread the signs and become too eager to start our gardens, the plants in the end become listless and weak. Just as God and Goddess are learning what it is to grow the masculine and feminine energies necessary for the hieros gamos at Bel; spiritually cycles of woman and man play out similarly as we too learn to be priests and priestess in our own lives and embody the sacred energies.

At this time in the PNW, most of the snow is gone and we welcome yellow forsythia brightening the hedge as well as early daffodils and little purple-blue lungwort. These early risers along with fragrant purple hyacinth, daphne and witch hazel are placed around our homes and spring altars along with pastel-colored eggs, chocolate bunnies, rose quartz, jasper, birch, potted shamrocks, early pussy willow and seeds for blessing. While there are many stories about bunnies once being a bird and transformed to lay an egg on Ostara, there are more practical reasons for the symbology. Bunnies are associated with the goddess due to their gentle nature and nocturnal habits. They tend to be prolific in numbers and make more of an appearance during the day, chasing each other before breeding. Egg laying picks up around February, we tend to see a huge upswing in production around this time, which is welcome after so few eggs in the winter. The allegorical theme arises from the Goddess bringing forth the birthed World Tree egg of life and mystery to be laid bare before the Sun God so the fiery spark of heat and light quickens the seed within.

At this time, we come together to pay homage to the Spring Goddess and Horned God. We align ourselves with the vulnerable tendrils of equinox season, seeking balance before taking our next steps. Additionally, we give an offering of gratitude for the returning light seen in the joyous bright colors and intensely scented blooms. We call for the blessing of our seeds, so that they may be strong, healthy and abundant. New beginnings are cast through the seeds of our Grain Goddesses with plenty of water to nurture us until Beltane.

We dye eggs a brilliant red to represent the life-giving blood of the goddess. Each egg contains a message to guide the potential we have within. The shells are then used to plant wheat and nasturtiums or cast into the garden.

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;

Sow an act, and you reap a habit;

Sow a habit, and you reap a character;

Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

– Charles Reade

What have you planted for the coming year?