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Ostara

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:34:51 +0100

Easter- The triumph of life over death, another story of recycled Pagan belief.

Continuing the theme of recycled or borrowed Pagan beliefs and practices, the ever turning wheel brings us to the festival of Ostara, and the Christian celebration of Easter. Although many of Christianity’s adaptations of Pagan concept have needed manipulation to fit the bill, Easter however with it’s theme of death and rebirth has been an easy adaptation, for Ostara or Eostre is just that, the birth of spring’s new life after the death of winter.

For thousands of years long before defined culture divided the races of humanity, our simple ancestors dwelling safe within the earth, told tales around their life sustaining fires of a divine Earth Mother. It was she who watched over them, guiding and providing, ever present in her seasonal aspects of Maiden in spring time, blooming into Mother with the fertile summer, bearing fruit, and then through into autumn as she changed to Crone, eventually returning with death back to the earth at winter.
Most modern Pagans are familiar with Persephone in Greek mythology:

In the Eleusinian Mysteries the myth tells how Persephone as Maiden is the Goddess of springs bounty, but one day whilst she played with her nymphs in a tranquil meadow she was seen by Hades whose desire for her was so great that he raped and abducted her into the underworld to be his bride. Demeter her devoted mother was distraught when she could not find her daughter and proceeded to search the world, enlisting the help of Hecate with her burning torches held high so that not a corner of darkness was left un searched. When Demeter learned that Zeus had conspired in the abduction she was so furious that she refused to allow the earth to blossom until her daughter was returned. Life could not continue in endless winter so Zeus ordered Hades to return Persephone, however because she had eaten a pomegranate seed he claimed she now belonged to the underworld; compromise was mediated and it was agreed she should spend winter with her husband in the underworld, and her return to her Mother each spring heralds the spring.

The analogy of the myth is the creation of the seasons; however it needs to be remembered that Greek mythology in terms of ‘deep time’ is actually very recent, dating from c. 500 BC. However archaeological evidence can prove that humanity perceived the cycle of death and rebirth, divine life-force within the earth akin to the flora of nature, from as early as 4000BC.

Evidence to substantiate these early concepts of rebirth can be seen in the material culture of the Neolithic, an excellent site is the Boyne valley, and within its16 km there are at least 40 tombs. The passage grave of Knowth^¹ is a particularly good example, as it has in recent years been extensively excavated and accurately restored to allow visitors to experience the Neolithic concept of life, death and the spirit eternal. Within the depths of the mound the construction of the cruciform camber runs east, west. The alignment of the passages is deliberate, allowing the rising sun to penetrate the 40m long eastern passage on the equinoxes of 21 March and 21 September, flooding the inner chamber with life giving life.

Newgrange, also in the Boyne valley is another grave restoration project; the exterior of the mound has been restored to former Neolithic glory with its original paved crust of white quart. Each dawn as the sun rises the tomb is bathed in sunlight reflecting against the quartz crystals, again symbolic of life born anew.

The vast passage of time brought human evolution and development of the human mind; our childlike need for witnessing the physical matured into acceptance of belief refreshed through bardic stories. This then further progressed into structured and approved acceptance of divinity, imparted through the teaching of culturally manipulated myths; which in turn progressed into a politically acceptable and expected affiliation with respective divinity as demonstrated within Roman culture. A fundamental aspect of Roman progress that is seldom appreciated by modern historians is their zest for acquiring foreign wisdom from every corner of the known world; just as they physical made the world theirs by conquest so they made knowledge appear theirs through writing, although research within ancient texts shows their ability to swallow up vast areas of borrowed wisdom in all areas of life and spirituality, then through a process of Romanization, through scholarly study and recording, reproduce it as literature and reclaim it as their own.

By the arrival of Christianity the Romans had already conquered, consumed and digested the Teutons^²; the race from whom the word Easter derives. She was their Maiden Goddess of the Moon and Spring, Ostara is her Viking name but she was Eostre in the Anglo-Saxon tradition. Her celebration was the feast of Eostar at the Vernal Equinox and the symbolism within eggs and rabbits has remains unchanged, for it is the aspect of fertility, pregnant earth bringing forth new life. It is the very same symbolism that was physically demonstrated in the Neolithic, at the Spring Equinox, with the first light of dawn. Like the Pagan Great Rite, the sun’s shaft of masculinity filled the tomb, the barren earth womb where there had only been death, with life giving light. And it is this same aspect that Christianity uses, the conquering of death by life anew, for scripture says that Jesus after three days rose from the grave, and this is their celebration of Easter.

Blessings TalogWitch

1Full details on Knowth and Newgrange and all the other tombs of the Boyne valley can be found

Neolithic Britain and Ireland’ Caroline Malone, 2001, Tempus , Stroud.

2 According to both Strabo the Roman philosopher and map maker, and Velleius the historian, the Tuetons were a Germanic people heralding from the area now known as Jutland. With the help of the Gauls they clashed with the might of Roman in northern Europe, at the end of the 2^nd century BC, and were defeated.

Brigit’s Fires (Imbolc)

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:47:26 +0100

This is a Pagan celebration that traditionally needs dark and needs firelight. In our homes it is easier to use candle light, or both if you are lucky enough to have an open fireplace.

The colours to wear and decorate the altar are red and blue.

Red for Brigit symbolizing farrier/blacksmithing, with the great fires and red hot metal. Blue for healer, with red hot metal straight from the fire, the only saving means of staunching blood flow and sterilizing wounds.

The Spring is nearing and the ancestors used to gather the gorse in piles to clear the hillsides ready for a new farming year, the bundles where dragged into great bonfires on the hill sides, then at dusk the one nearest the clan homestead was lit and the flame carry carried from one bonfire to the next.

A great feast was held with dance, song and fun.

Spring is the time of cleansing so make this your house spiritual cleansing.

You will need:

A bowl of full moon water/ rain water/ sea water; and sea salt; a large table candle, one portable candle (take care that is protected from drafts, in a lantern or hurricane glass jar and doesn’t drip wax); and a small candle/tea light for each room in your home.

Start at the top of the house, in the farthest corner, if you have an attic that is used you must include it (no need if it’s shut away and not used). Place within each room a small tea light/candle in a safe position.

Have the feast/meal prepared and on the table, (remember this is your altar also) and have a bowl of water and a bowl of salt; light you large candle (which is on the table/altar) and cast your circle around your home by just standing at your altar and pointing your wand in each direction and greeting the elements.

Saying in turn at each appropriate direction :

I look to the Eastward and salute Air, be with us, around us, encircle my home.*

I look South and salute Fire, repeat*

I look to the West and salute Water *

I look to the North and salute Earth *

Then light your portable candle from your altar candle and if on your own add the salt into the water and stir (so you only have one item in each hand- candle and bowl of salty water) or enlist a helper or two to accompany you. Now walk to the furthest room, light the tea light saying;

“Let the light of Imbolc cleanse and brighten my home; let the healing of Brigit dwell herein.” (you will say this in each room).

Then anoint the room by flicking or sprinkling water into all dark corners.

Do this in each room in turn until you are back at the table/altar, and all the house has been visited.

On completion of the task say:

“Brigit I ask a blessing for all present here today, and …..(then mention those missing etc); with the light of Imbolc we greet the coming Spring, and ask of you, make this year 2010 be a good one.”

Then all enjoy the feast.

Remember to put all the lights out when the feast is over, thank the quarters and open the circle.

Blessings TalogWitch

Loving Partner Ritual

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:14:45 +0100

Do this at noon when the sun is overhead and hot, not a cool cloudy day. You need solitary undisturbed time, a pen and paper, a fire proof dish and matches or a lighter. Wear a hat, or have a parasol if necessary.

Start

Sit and think long and hard about the qualities you’d like within your partner, then take the paper fold it in half then open it again; on the first side in the top quarter write all these positive attributes and virtues, take your time and be honest. Then in the bottom quarter write all the attributes you don’t want them to have. When you have finished turn over the paper and list your own faults and failings in the top; then below list the ways you intent to improve or compensate for these imperfections. You do not have to apologise for them but you must acknowledge them for they are part and parcel of you. When you have eventually finished make the paper into a fan and fan yourself saying:

“Maat, Mother of Truth I sit in the heat of this noonday hour,

And humbly acknowledge your mighty power,

I accept your justice here below,

For well my flaws and faults you know.

You balance all, and all is weighed,

And by our actions we are paid.”

Maat is the Goddess of Justice favoured by the Egyptians, she is the gentle pursuer of truth, by comparison to her many other fearsome counterparts who bring the just vengeance of retribution. So it is to Maat you make this supplication. As you sit quietly alone in the sun close your eyes, and meditate asking for her assistance. Imagine yourself in Egypt at midday, three millennium ago, when the world was a simpler place. You are in the Valley of the Kings, climbing up a pyramid into the eye of the sun and its intense heat to meet Maat herself. You feel humbled at the magnitude of her Sun energy and are fully appreciative of its potentiality. At the very apex you stand, reaching out your hand you post your list into the fire ball. As your list is consumed in flame, the Sun’s fiery ball becomes the smiling female face of Maat, then it is gone. Slowly you walk back down the pyramid, out of the Valley, and back into the reality of where you are sitting in the warmth.

Now take your fan and put it in the fireproof dish and set it alight. If there already is a fire for cooking nearby you could just walk across and put it into the flames. Watch your intentions turn into the very essence of Maat, her flames of judgement; as she consumes it say:

“Just and benevolent Maat my witness be,

You who govern my future, know also my hopes.

Be kind to me. As I will so mote it be.”

Now go in truth and enjoy your adventure to find partnership and true love. But remember that in requesting Divine help you have agreed to abide by Maat’s rules of balance; also remember you may be asked to be patient, in which case it’s no good responding like a spoilt child and screaming, “I want it now!”

The Witch of Talog

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:18:00 +0100

Hi,
Here in Wales we have a tradition of calling people by their role and location rather than their name, hence I acquired the title of Talogwitch, the wise woman or seer of Talog. Even in the Dark Ages and 'Burning Times' no witches in Wales were ever put to the flame for it is inherent within Celtic tradition to accept and appreciate the wisdom of independant and individual crones. The concept of a witch being evil has only existed since Papal indoctrination decided that female wisdom challenged its authority, and thus the Anglo Saxon word became devalued from meaning 'woman with her wits about her'.
Any practitioner of the Craft is as good or as bad as the person themselves, and just to reassure you, I work for the light, my calling is to heal and enlighten. My aim is to teach the almost forgotten ancient skills of the 'Old religion' and thus re-empower women, returning the feminine to its proper status. This is not a battle of the genders, nor is it a battle of religions, it is a return to inner spirituality and ecological compatability that will engender harmony and heal this ailling planet and help the struggling peoples of this world.