Ostara - the Spring Equinox is the point of balance of light and dark and celebrated by many in the northern hemisphere as the 'start' of Spring. Gardeners and followers of the more Celtic traditions, will be laughing at this so called start of Spring as Spring has been taking place quietly gently under our feet and our noses for weeks. We just perhaps haven't stopped to notice.Now is the point that we suddenly notice much more blossom, bird song and brighter sunnier days - and in Japan, 'sakura' the cherry blossom celebration 'turns the nation pink'.
I love this Celtic/gardeners view as it reminds us that just like nature, change is a constant, but sometimes we can't see the small steps in our progress day by day. Progress is gentle and steady and will suddenly appear like a flourish - but much work and energy has been taking place under the soil and in the branches - whilst we were 'sleeping'.
Ostara is loaded in tradition, myth and magic. As we notice the point of balance between day light and night time, this point of balance calls us to balance our light and our shadow, masculine and feminine, outer and inner balance. We become aware of the aliveness of the natural world around us and energy building. The increasing length of the days, brings a boost in energy and feeling of wanting to Spring clean, sort out and move forward with our lives, plans and ambitions.
This year, the balance of light and dark seems all the more weighted. The horrors of the news, of war and the fearful uncertainty around us is making it hard to find the light right now. Let the magic of blossom in the trees and this festival of rebirth call you back from your darkness, as it is only with our light that we can be the change we want to see in the world.
The name Ostara is from the German goddess Eostre who was celebrated to bring renewal, re-birth and fertility. Now is the time for your ideas and plans to become fertile and birth into being. There is a story that the goddess Ostara bewitched a bird and turned it into a magical egg-laying hare to bring fertility and renewal on its boundless journey. What will hatch from the magic of the seeds/'eggs' you plant into the world right now?
The equinox falls around a magic series of moon energy too. The full moon on 18th March, begins for many the start of Spring equinox celebrations, as this full moon is the start of a new astrological year - another great point for a new start and fresh approach to challenges you may not have tackled yet this year.
What were the big plans you promised yourself in January that have been forgotten in your busy-ness? Now is the time to recall and remember the ones that really matter and make them happen.
The point of balance of light and dark is on 20th March this year and as the light increases in the days ahead we also build towards a powerful astrological event of the black new moon on 31st March.
A black moon is the the second new moon of the month - and as the first of the astrological new year this is a significant astrological event that only occurs about once every 20 years!
Noticing all this energy and weight of the world many of us feel they are carrying we have a series of magical events that build on this Spring Equinox energy in different ways. All aiming to bring that combination of calm and renewal, but with different focus and intention.
If you can't get out of join us for a face to face event, come together online
to explore the magic. Whether you explore the energy of the full moon
, new moon
or collectively celebrate the equinox
in our fundraiser for the Red Cross Ukrainian crisis appeal.
Local to Berkshire and Oxfordshire -
come join a choice of magical face to face experiences
of story telling and wonder.
Step into deep Celtic story-telling and fire-side ritual at the outdoor Magic in the Woods on Sunday 20th or spark your internal fire with shamanic drumming in partnership with Heather Parker on 25th March.
For a gentler walk into the equinox, soothe away worry with the delicate soothing sound of the singing bowls with Tracey Harris and uplifting story telling at Spring into Wonder on Friday 18th or a meditation evening to relax all of the senses at the sanctuary of Luci Trendle's studio in Burghfield on Monday 21st March.
