Ostara

 

Spring begins today!

Return Of Persephone

It is Beltane once again in the northern hemisphere, time for fertility rituals and celebrations of the return of the growing season. In Pagan life, this is the time of year that belongs to the Goddess; late Autumn and Winter are the seasons of the God. On Halloween, Persephone disappears into the Underworld and to her consort, Hades, and on Beltane, she returns to the surface. Her mother, Demeter, graces the earth with plants and crops for another growing season. Fertility was celebrated at this time, and entire villages ran their herds through ceremonial fires, called bale fires, for fertility and luck. Dancing around the Maypole, during which every dancer "weaves" ribbons around a maypole while dancing, is also a very old custom. It has always been a time for parties and joy. Have a wonderful Beltane!

Mabon Blessings

 

Today is the Autumnal Equinox, known in Pagan circles as Mabon. It is referenced as the "second harvest", Lammas being the first, and Samhain, or Halloween, being the third and final. As an equinox, it is a solar holiday, while Lammas is lunar. This makes it a Sabbat, which, to those who observe the Sabbats, means that rituals are practiced that are all about balance, personal balance, collective balance, and global balance. It is what we all work toward.

Mabon is the Thanksgiving of our European ancestors. Rather than focusing on trade, which was done at carnival, we spend time with family. After the holiday, this is still a very busy time of year. Everything must be harvested by the third harvest. 

Have a wonderful Mabon, all. Blessed Be!

Light Of The Earth

Happy Alban Eiler, everyone! Alban Eiler means "light of the earth", and today is the first day of spring! Sacred to the Goddess Ostara, the vernal equinox is the original Easter. The ancients wanted to make sure fields were plowed, or ready to be plowed, and eggs were decorated,  symbolic of fertility. Easter egg hunts were held in celebration, and rabbits are also associated with this Sabbat, as fertility symbols. Even those among us whose pursuits are not agricultural should still prepare in whichever ways are appropriate for the upcoming seasons of planting and harvesting. I hope everyone is ready for a fun and productive growing season. Blessed Be!

In Case You Missed Church This Sunday

Have a wonderful Mabon, everyone, Blessed Be!

Hymn Before Earth Awakens

The dream conceived

The promise true;

Inside the seed

Is life anew.