Ostara - March 19th
Very early this year. The Spring Equinox is Ostara. The beginning of spring. Flowers are pushing through the cold ground to show us their beautiful colors.
Ostara marks the Spring Equinox, which happens between March 19 -23. Ostara is a pagan celebration of the German goddess Eostre and the origins of the Christian celebration of Easter. As the beginning of spring Ostara is a good time to literally and figuratively plant seeds for the future. https://www.mabonhouse.co/ostara
I do begin my seedlings inside using cardboard egg cartons. I spend time redesigning my garden and Summerland area.
Spring cleaning also begins for me on Ostara. The kitchen is first before I begin cooking the feast.
Symbols of Ostara
Colors: Green, pink, blue
Foods: Eggs, honey, sprouted greens, baked goods, asparagus
Stones: Aquamarine, amethyst, rose quartz
Symbols: Rabbits, eggs, spring flowers , lambs, clover, baskets
Flowers & Plants: clover, daffodils, crocus, tulips
Deities: Isis, Estotre, Adonis
I cook a spiral ham, some type of potato (I rotate between varieties), Devilled eggs, grilled asparagus, honey cakes, and honey bread.
I usually meditate outside honoring nature and thanking Mother Earth for her bounty.
Hope everyone has a beautiful Spring.
NO politics
No bashing other's beliefs
Play nice
Spring is blooming....
Colors: Green, pink, blue
That's interesting.
In some western system of mysticism, Green and Pink are considered 'heart colours".
In some western system of mysticism, Green and Pink are considered 'heart colours".
Everything you've always wanted to know about Asparagus (plus a lot you didn't!
)
I never heard them called heart colors. I will have to do more research on that. I always thought pastel for spring because of the blue sky, pink flowers and green grass....now I have to rethink.
I have been fascinated by some of these mystic systems. Some things are very similar across most systems, but others are not.
I don't remember where i learned those 2 were considered "heart colours".
Not sure about PInk, but green is consistent with the system of 7 Chakras (which I believe was first mentioned in ancient Indian texts):
The fourth Chakra is the heart Chakra. Traditionally its colour is Green.
:
One of the things I used to find confusing is that in Western systems there are four elements-- in Astrology, Tarot, etc: Air (Swords), Fire (Rods), Earth (Pentacles) and Water (Cups). These four elements are used in Western Astrology, Tarot, Kabbalah, and other systems.
I looked for equivalents in the Chinese system and got frustrated. Why? Because they use Five elements, not four!
Just realized the colours in that diagram are a little off. The throat Chakra is actually blue, the Third Eye a sort of Indigo.
I have had a Chakra reading, but never looked into it more than that. I think I am going to have to do some delving.
The human body has energy fields around it-- which are not visible to most people although people can learn how to view them. (A few gifted individuals are naturally able to see them from birth--and occasionally develop the ability later in life).
There are two related phenomena:
1. Chakra which appear as colored energies flowing in circles at various levels of the spine. The ancient Hindus have a done a lot of work with these-- people can be trained to 'read" and interpret the information they have.
2. The other is called "Auras" or "the human aura". These layers surround the body of humans (and other living things). They also contain information by trained observers (or, again: by people not born with this ability but who have been trained in this ability.
(Almost forgot-- there's also a method that uses various frequencies of Tuning Forks as various parts of the Aura to get information!)
Most people are familiar with early Christian art, much of which looks like this:
Spiritually evolved figures are shown with these "halos". What that actually is is part of the aura-- the part around the head. The healthier the person is, the brighter the Halo. Also, the more spiritually evolved they are, the brighter the Halo.
These are common in early Christian art, but appears in other cultures as well. There is a widespread, (and false!), belief that Muslims are forbidden to make pictures of people. But in fact, like many religions, Muslims have made pictures of their holy people for centuries.
These are common in early Christian art, but appears in other cultures as well. There is a widespread, (and false!), belief that Muslims are forbidden to make pictures of people. But in fact, like many religions, Muslims have made pictures of their holy people for centuries!
Here's one that is fairly typical-- and because Mohammed (PBUH) & these converts are "spiritually evolved-- they are portrayed as having Halos!
Description of image:
Illustration showing Mohammed (on the right) preaching his final sermon to his earliest converts, on Mount Arafat near Mecca; taken from a medieval-era manuscript of the astronomical treatise The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries by the Persian scholar al-Biruni ; currently housed in the collection of the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris ( Manuscrits Arabe 1489 fol. 5v ).
This scene was popular among medieval Islamic artists, and several nearly identical versions of this drawing (such as this one [shown in detail below] and this one ) were made in the Middle Ages.
But the point here is this-- its not only early Christian art that shows the human aura!!!
Psychic ability is real-- although its gotten a bad name because there are many charlatans. (For example, the vast majorities of "Gypsy Tarot Readers" in store windows are indeed con artists, but there are many reputable psychics as well.
Many psychics use no paraphrenalia-- but some find that certain things make it easier to focus on the psychic input-- especially to help focus on genuine psychic input as opposed to ordinary thoughts.
.As you know, some use Tarot, crystal balls, etc. Some use Runes, and other things. Some use Tea leaves. Some do Astrology by "tuning in" psychicly to the energies in a chart. And some do...Chakra and/or Aura readings!
I am classified as an empath. I also use Tarot cards, and a pendulum. I recently got my Crystal Ball & am beginning to work with it.
I am classified as an empath.
Wow-- that's exciting!
I have known some empaths over the years-- I find their abilities to be fascinating.
I also use Tarot cards, and a pendulum.
I believe you had mentioned that you do Tarot.
I used to use a pendulum, but for some reason haven't been using it much lately.
I recently got my Crystal Ball & am beginning to work with it.
That sounds like fun (and could be quite useful).
Do you read cards professionally? (By that I mean do you read and charge for it? If not, I have a feeling you be a great reader!)
Sometimes I find feeling the emotions of others can be draining. For example: I attended a funeral yesterday that just about exhausted me. I was feeling my own sadness & that of those close to me. I was ready for bed when I got home.
I have several pendulums, but they don't all work the same & the one I like the most has made a disappearing act on me.
The Crystal Ball is proving to be a bit harder for me - I have to be able to clear my mind, focus and meditate, but I am having diffuclty shutting out the distractions.
I do not charge for readings. I mostly do it for family & friends, but thank you for the compliment.
Many Astrologers think of the year beginning not in January, but rather with the Spring Solstice, because its the beginning of much of life.Animals coming out of hibernation, plants start sprouting,etc.
Here are the signs of the Zodiac:
The first sign is Aries-- it comes in the Spring (around March 21st). Aries is the Ram-- the symbol is the Ram's horns. However some people also think of that symbol as representing little Green shoots starting to come up in the Spring!
My Wheel of the Year (calendar) actually starts on November 1st. Samhain is the last day of my Wiccan year.
That's interesting I didn't know that.
I don't know much about Witchcraft. I read one book on it but that was long ago.
And I've known two witches but we didn't talk about it all that much so I don't know too much about.
(OTOH I've been reading Tarot cards for many, many years, and also know quite a lot about Western Astrology).
But I don't consider myself to be a Warlock!
Most of the "witches" I know do not discuss their beliefs with others in fear of their jobs, friendships etc.
I'm not surprised. Of course there's a lot of prejudice against witches.
A while back I took a course in Developing Psychic ability. It was a wonderful course-- it meet Saturday and Sunday, once a month. The people in the class were open-minded re; spiritual concepts.(These two witches I mentioned were both in the class so people were quite accepting of their beliefs)
This was before Covid so the class was in person, and we usually went out r for lunch together. (Since Covid the teacher still teaches it but its now its on Zoom).At the end of the course participants had the option to do 3 psychic readings with strangers and to be evaluated. Those that passed got certified by the Casey Institute as psychics. ( Edgar Cayce's Association for Research & Enlightenment) .
A friend of mine from the class now does Tarot readings professionally.
I feel that a lot. So many still think witches sacrifice babies to Satan. Which is ridiculous since most practicing witches do not believe in Satan.
The class sounds awesome. I used to work with a medium to fine tune my abilities, but she got married & was less open to things. I am not sure what went wrong there, except he talked her into opening a metaphysical store & her prices went way up - so I am thinking he sees a goldmine.
There are still practicing Satanists and Occultists making life difficult for Wiccans. Wiccan practices can be mistaken for ritual magic like that of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn by the ignorant.
I know that... I thought my sister in law was going to faint when I told her yesterday at the funeral I had to go home and prepare my Ostara feast. I am sure that will make headlines in my hubby's family.
My mother in law thinks like that.
Morning Veronica..
Err do you have the symbols for Autumn by any chance?
You mob up in the Northern Hemisphere are the opposite to us down in the Southern..
Mabon Symbols
Symbols: Cornucopia (horn of plenty), pinecones, seeds
Colors: Orange, red, yellow, brown, copper, dark yellow, dark green
Foods: Corn, beans, squash, apples, pumpkins, cider, root vegetables, pomegranate, wine
Herbs: Yarrow, rosemary, sage, mugwort, rosehips,
Stones: Amber, citrine, cat’s eye, aventurine, sapphire, jasper
Flowers: Sunflowers, thistle, marigolds
Deities: Mabon, Green Man, Demeter, Persephone, Morgan, Pomona, Inanna
Animals: Owl, stag, blackbird, salmon
Mabon is the second harvest feast.
uh oh, you posted that right side up...
Morning Veronica..
Thank you for that..
Just ignore Devangy..he forgets the Southern Hemisphere holds the Northern Hemisphere up.. that's why we eat Vegemite.. it makes us stronger..🦘🦘
Have you ever eaten (actually drank-- as tea) Mugwort?
Mugwort is an herb that has fascinating properties. If you drink it before going to sleep, you usually have lots of dreams,mostly fairly vivid. (Although I believe its not considered an actual hallucinogen)
I just looked at Wikipedia-- it doesn't mention that's its used for dreams. But this site does.
(P.S: in Accupuncture, its the herb used for Moxibustion)
I have not tried Mugwort. I may have to look at trying - I mean my dreams are usually vivid & often times lucid, but I will take all the help I can.
pastel or neon please...
This reminds me I need to find some new clover and new plants. It's time to start thinking about getting the new gardens ready. I'm going to try my hand at a planted pond this year.
I'm not sure yet. It'll be what I can find at the local green houses when they open.
We had lavender in a galvanized tub last year, right below one the front porch windows.
Its still a bit too cold yet up here to start plants in the front porch, but gardens will be in almost a month early as it is.
I always start mine indoors, in Western NY we get snow in April & sometimes May.
in colorado, anything poking out of the ground before mid may is risking a freeze. then after that comes the hail...
Happens in Western NY like that.
it teases spring a half dozen times, each time ending with a freeze or blizzard that kills...
Here too. We had high 60s this past week & now it is snowing.
The last 2 days, I've been uncomfortably warm outside, without a jacket. But there's a cold front moving in, and it will be in the 30s tonight, and chilly all week. Not freezing, but certainly not warm.
This weather fluctuation has truly wreaked havoc to my sinuses, and also has led me a major disappointment - I was hoping for an early spring.
Same. I went home one evening last week with a sinus headache, and started taking even more allergy meds than I usually do.
Since all allergy meds make me drowsy I only feel comfortable taking it at night. I just wish it would stabilize and get warm.
Is that part of the area that is called "the Snow Belt"?
Yep, between Lake Erie & Lake Ontario. Lake Effect!!!!!
My early daffodils were finished but last night's rain flattened them. So the late bloomers are probably demolished also.
Our spring arrives earlier than yours, Veronica. My crocus bloomed in mid February. My forthysia looked really good this year. I've planted onions and leaf lettuce in planter boxes on my deck. Mr. Giggles got his gladiola in the ground. We discovered last year that deer won't touch them. We've given up on tulips.
Lillies are deer crack
deer have evolved into the worlds tallest rodents...
There are people up here that have their daffodils in full bloom already - mine haven't even poked their heads up. However, I did have a pink rose bloom in February.
... because you're a good witch.
Why, thank you for noticing.
no problem
I was working in my vegetable garden yesterday, and found the first bloom on my strawberry vines. I don't think I've ever seen blooms this early before.
How nice...I am hoping to get out today. The sun is shining and it makes me want get into the spring swing.
A couple of years ago I tried planting daffodil bulbs and the squirrels dug them all up.
Really? My squirrels leave the daffys alone. They like tulip bulbs, tho. Squirrels don't much like hyacinth either nor do the deer
That happened at my office one year. I planted a bunch of daffodils and hyacinths, and the damn squirrels got to almost all of them. They were kind enough to replace them with walnuts, though.
I specifically got a bridal white spirea bush/tree that deer aren't supposed to like and every year they eat the new green buds. We moved it from the side garden to the front last spring so I'm hoping it doesn't happen again this year. If it does I'm putting in motion detecting lights and sprinklers.
Very kind of them!
I got a trumpet vine one year. Deer resistant they said. Deer went after it like it was ice cream
I have phlox in my flower bed, just outside my bedroom window. The deer eat the blossoms almost as soon as they open. I thought they'd be safe right up against the house, but nope. Well, the white ones aren't safe. They don't seem to like the pink ones as well.
There are plenty of natural deterrents you could try.
Peppermint oil, coffee grounds, garlic, white vinegar, cinnamon, and rosemary to name a few. I use peppermint oil to deter many pests - spiders, squirrels, flying gnats, chipmunks etc...
For squirrels my sister uses minced garlic around the base of her potted plants - it has worked for her for a couple of years now.
I bought some deer and rabbit repellant that relies on rotten eggs, judging by the smell. It worked one summer. The following summer, I just had a smelly flower bed with deer-eaten phlox.
We have some phlox in the front garden. It's a full-time job to keep that garden weed free though.
Rabbits do not like marigolds. Deer, I am not knowledgeable because when we lived in the rural area they had free reign - plus I didn't plant much & hubby fenced in our garden. Since moving to suburbia, deer mischief is not an issue for me.
Rabbits might not like marigolds, but I sort of agree with them. They're not a flower I care for very much. I know a local lawyer has a garden of which he is very proud, and it has a border of marigolds all the way around it. I think they're there to repel rabbits and deer.
My vegetable garden is fenced in, so I don't have to worry about deer or rabbits there. I have a dog who takes care of rabbits close to the house. But the deer get the flower beds, and deer and bears go after my pear tree.
Marigolds also repel insects. My mom and dad would plant them around the edges of the veggie garden which was fenced for the deer, rabbits, ground hogs, bears....
... no comment. geez, this day has been brutal...
Deer eat so many things.
I wonder-- possibly the only plant that is truly "Deer resistant" might be.. Cactus!
When I lived in Arkansas I had a large plum thicket in my yard that produced these very nice looking fruit. I would watch it bloom, watch the fruit mature and ripen. Gosh, I would have liked to taste one of those plums but the birds had the whole thing cleared out in one day.
My daffodils are at the point where some have been open for a week, but some haven't bloomed yet. Some industrious squirrel (I think) has been moving daffodil bulbs all over my property and my neighbor's (mostly his), so daffodils come up in the strangest places. My hyacinths are doing really well. They've multiplied, are all blooming, and smell delicious.
My crocuses never came back up.
My plum tree is in full bloom. Maybe some year, I'll get some actual plums from it. In the past, they've always fallen while still very green. But the tree is pretty.
Baked goods sounds good, do you have any fresh donuts for an old hungry indian?
Let me whip up a batch.
put his donuts in a sack. don't be fooled if he asks you to stack them on his donut rack...
Now that is bad.
find out what you're good at and be the best, is my motto...
Excellent advice!
(What you're good at...and what you love. Which are usually the same thing . . . )
now that I'm retired, like kav, I consider the ridicule and mockery of the willfully ignorant voter a public service ...
Its Pearls before Swine...
Even if anyone doesn't know the actual meaning of that phrase I would its use.
Why?
1. Because it is very colourful-- a way to make conversations on social media sites more interesting.
2. Using it may impress people with how smart you are-- even if you (like me) have no idea what it means!
Just as the pumps ain't working cause the vandals took the handles (2:02)....
the Donuts ain't no more 'cause... the cops all ate them!
(Note to Buzz: video is Bob Dylan, " Official HD video for 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' by Bob Dylan")
"Unimportant but interesting": IIRC the partially bald bearded man just inside the frame on the left-- who walks off at the end-- is Allan Ginsberg.
Stereotyping all cops as being vociferous eaters of Donuts may be unfair-- but in fact its mostly true!
(Donuts and Coffee actually)
I knew the line "The vandals took the handles" was from Subterranean Homesick Blues. I can still in my mind's eye see Bob holding and discarding those big cards with the words, with Allen Ginsberg lurking in the background.
That video is a classic!
I can still in my mind's eye see Bob holding and discarding those big cards with the words, with Allen Ginsberg lurking in the background.
I thought that alley looked familiar. In fact I had a long discussion with jfxgillis on Newsvine about where it was filmed, etc.
Anyway I was wrong it wasn't filmed in the U.S. -- I finally googled it. It was near the Savoy Hotel in London.
I wonder, then, if it was filmed while Bob was in England to perform his concert featured in the movie Don't Look Back. Have you watched that movie? It should be free on YouTube, because I caan watch the whole thing free here on bilibili.
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We shoot rabbits here..😁
They are pushing we have an Easter Bilby now instead of vermin rabbits
Bilbies are kind of cute..not my photo.
When I was a kid our Oklahoma ranch was overrun by coyotes until the government instituted an "Irradiation Program" on them. Then we were overrun by great big giant jack rabbits. So, the government instituted an "Irradiation Program" with a bounty on bunnies. Now there is hardly any wildlife left...
I haven't seen a Jackrabbit in years. Coyotes do still abide.
You just don't see them so much anymore. Or, many birds...
Meet The Easter Coyote...
Morning jbb...we have jack rabbits here as well but rarely see them now..
We are just over run by the ordinary bugs..they even brought in myxo and the calicivirus but bugs over came them all..
They are still very partial to bullets though...
A temporary overabundance of any particular species can result from the removal of that species' main predators. Insect populations are greatly effected by the birds and other insects and even the small mammals that feed upon them. One bird can eat thousands of small insects in a day...
That is a matter of opinion. That looks like a nightmare cross between a rabbit and a rat.
Like I said elsewhere, my dog takes care of the rabbits. No need for violence on my part.
And in Australia, I believe the bird population has been greatly affected by housecats.
I understood they once had a problem with feral cats, and I think those get shot in oz too, but I don't really know.
Apparently that's true in many places worldwide. In fact the bird population of the planet is decreasing
-- due mainly to feral cats!
More like insecticides killed insects birds feed on and herbicides killed plants the insects feed on and on and on it goes...
We have alot of problems with feral animals..
Cats, rabbits, deer, foxes, wild boar, camels, water buffalo, horses, wild dogs..the list goes on and on..
My brother shoots any feral animals on sight out in the bush...
I forgot about oz feral dogs, and only assumed about the feral cats because of the rat shooting videos from oz. I grew up shooting rats and prairie dogs, but I don't like shooting anything above that rung on the evolutionary ladder, at least for 4 legged creatures...
Braised wild rabbit is very good, my favorite includes mushrooms and gnocchi.
Speaking of Easter Eggs and early Christians-- rumor has it that a group of early Christians were invited to the annual Easter Egg hunt on the lawn of the White House!
But the proverbial "Mainstream media" is doing its best to cover up the story!!!
(Why am I not surprised???)
I can sympathize with you.
Because here in the states we have a similar nuisance-- we have a lot of feral politicians!
Grandma what big Ears you have!
In China this could be similar to Ostara:
One of the things I love about China is eating the special foods that are served during festivals and special times. During the Spring Equinox it is time to eat Spring Rolls:
It seems in many cultures (well, at least the more ancient ones) there is a great awareness of the changes of seasons and the accompanying energy-- so many groups have a holiday (with various practices) at that time.
I've been meaning to post about this one for a while but was busy-- so I'm a little late.
It's called Nowruz. IIRC it was originally celebrated only by the Zoroastrian religion-- an ancient Persian (Iranian) religion that predated many modern religions.
Over time it has been adapted by many groups other than the Zoroastrians (for many its more of a seasonal thing rather than a strictly religious thing).
It's called Nowruz. IIRC it was originally celebrated only by the Zoroastrian religion-- an ancient Persian (Iranian) religion that predated many modern religions.
Here's more (from Wikipedia ):
Yes, but did the Zoroastrians argue about politics during Nowruz like everyone does during Spring Equinox here?
I had heard of Zoroastrianism-- but had thought the religion died out, and that there are no more Zoroastrians. But then I met a women who was one-- in fact both of her parents live in India-- and both are Zoroastrian priests!
(The Zoroastrians were horribly persecuted, brutally tortured, killed in Iran-- so many (all?) left, most went to India. Zoroastrians in India are called "Parsis". )
I have an Indian friend (an immigrant from India) who said that India is the country most tolerant of various religious groups. In fact he said India may be the only country where there has never been any anti-Semitism.
I don't know. I only know that one woman I mentioned. She considers herself very "spiritual;" not religious (yes-- she's one of those!)
And in addition is too intelligent to waste her life getting into endless into petty arguments about politics.
She reads tarot and has a fairly decent knowledge of Astrology as well as some "alternative healing" methods.
You may have heard of their main prophet: Zarathrustra.
Their god is called: "Ahura Mazda". (There's some teachings about the "triumph of light over darkness"-- (good over evil).
And that about all I know about this very ancient religion!
(I mentioned it here because they are yet another group for which the coming of Spring is a major event & well celebrated).
Yes, when there was an attack on a Chabad House a number of years ago it was Pakistanis who did it.
I think Ahura was the character name of an original Star Trek actor, and I bought my ex wife a Mazda as a wedding present.
Untrue. It is not the origin of the Christian celebration of Easter. Christ's resurrection was the origin. As for the name, what it's named after in the English speaking world is unclear. As for most of the rest of the world, it isn't called Easter so saying Ostara was the origin hardly makes sense.
There are records of Christ's resurrection being celebrated in the 2nd century, with indications that it was already an established tradition before that. My guess that it was celebrated almost immediately, especially since the earliest Jewish Christians would not fail to connect Christ's sacrifice with the Passover.
In actuality, it is Pagans who are trying to co-opt Easter by claiming Ostara was its origin.
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I think that's true. I think indigenous peoples throughout the world were more in touch with nature than we are. So for example when Spring came and there was a rebirth of plant life (and hibernating animals "awoke") many societies had a holiday to make the change and celebrate it.
I think many cultures created holidays on their own-- and in other cases used ideas & practices they learned from previous cultures.
Off topic comments cleaned up, with threads locked at the author's request. And I have apologized to Veronica for my part in it. Mea culpa.
LOL...
just follow me, nothing bad will happen, it'll be so much fun...
Leading people down the dark path - shame on you.
forever 17.
just because...
shameless bump...
or is that hump?