OSTARA SEPT 20-23RD * SPRING EQUINOX

Ostara was actually last month (Sept 20-23rd here in NZ) and the blog post I was supposed to write for it just didn’t happen in the incredibly busy month that we’ve had. I reckon its never too late to celebrate though, and you will now have these ideas for when it comes around again next year so I decided to write this – better late than never. The ideas and info I’m about to share are based on the book Witch by Lisa Lister (my favourite book of all time) because her rituals are the ones that most resonate with me.

If you aren’t familar with Ostara, it is the celebration of the Spring Equinox (where day and night are equal) and is named after the goddess Eostre/Eastre/Ostara. Not much was actually known about her except that her festival was celebrated at the Spring Equinox (which eventually became Easter), that she was the goddess of fertility and that she was connected with hares and eggs.

Equinox’s are a time of both fertility and of new life, of balance and harmony, and of birth and manifestation. Light and dark are in balance at this time, but the light is growing stronger every day.

EGG MAGICK
As I said earlier, this ritual is thanks to Lisa Lister, so if you want her fuller version make sure you buy her book Witch. I’ll just share with you my shorter version that I do with my family.

• Carefully choose your symbol of fertility and rebirth – i.e. go grab an egg.
• Write, sing, or whisper your wishes and intentions into it.
• Draw two interlocking triangles to form a six-pointed star on your egg. This symbolises ‘as above and so below’ and that whatever you can create in your imagination, you can manifest on the physical plane.
• Now bury the egg in Papatuanuku/Mother Earth, and ask her to hold, nurture, and help you to bring your wishes into being.
• And so it is. 

OSTARA HONEY CAKES
Because who doesn’t like cake with wine in them (thanks Lisa Lister)!
Sorry kids, this recipe isn’t one for you.

INGREDIENTS
½ cup Riesling wine
1 egg
2/3 cup white flour
1 cup honey
2 tbsp sugar
1/8 tsp cinamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Pinch salt

DIRECTIONS
Beat the egg together with the wine in a bowl.

In another bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cinamon and salt.

Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir until blended into a smooth batter.

Let it sit for 30 minutes (maybe have a glass of wine while your waiting)?

In another small bowl mix the honey and nutmeg.

In a skillet, heat up about 1cm of coconut oil. Drop 1 tbsp of batter into the oil and fry until golden brown.

Drain off the oil an dip the cake into the honey mixture.

Enjoy your magickal cakes (cakes is plural because one is never enough)!