Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox, Ostara, Eostre, Easter, Vernal Equinox

By Tara Sutphen

 Spring Equinox is March 20, 2023 and marks the mid-point of the Waxing Year, the nights and days are balanced once again; the time when Kore, (Persephone) was believed to have returned from the Underworld where she had ruled throughout the Winter. The spark of light, born at Winter Solstice has reached maturity, and from here onwards, the days progressively grow longer than the nights. 

Western culture proclaims this the first day of Spring. Older traditions called the Spring Equinox, Ostara; the time of the festivals of the Grecian Goddess, Eostre, and the Germanic Ostara, both fertility Goddesses of Dawn. These influenced the naming of the modern-day Easter Holiday. New greenery bursts forth from sleeping seeds in the countryside, as metaphorically, pagans also plant their own seeds for future goals, future projects and growth at this time. Decorated eggs, being symbols of fertility are symbolic of Ostara. 

In days gone, Europeans gave gifts of decorated eggs to new brides, in the hope that they would bear many children. Similarly, bowls filled with eggs were given to farm workers by the farmer’s wife, to ensure a rich harvest. Most all cultures see the egg as a symbol of Life; the actual home of the Soul. In Russia, decorated eggs are still given as gifts to loved ones and buried in graves to ensure rebirth. The women gathered the eggs only from hens which were around a rooster and decorated them, allowing no one to watch them work as they transferred the goodness of the household to the designs on the eggs, thus keeping evil away. Dyes were mixed to secret family recipes and special blessings placed on each egg.


Colors of Ostara Eggs:

White:

Purity

Yellow:

Wisdom, a successful Harvest, or Spirituality

Green:

Spring, rebirth, wealth, youth, growth, happiness

Blue:

Good health, clear skies

Orange:

Power endurance, ambition, courage

Red:

Happiness, hope, passion, nobility, bravery, enthusiasm, love

Brown:

Enrichment, good harvest, happiness

Purple:

Faith, trust, power

Pink:

Success, friendship, love

Black:

Remembrance

Lore:

The custom of eating Hot Cross Buns also has pagan origins. The Saxons ate buns that were marked with a cross in honor of Eostre; Ancient Greeks consumed these types of buns in their celebrations of Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, and the Egyptians ate a similar cake in their worship of the Goddess Isis.

There are conflicting ideas as to what the cross symbol represents. One suggestion is that it is a Christianisation of horn symbols that were stamped on cakes to represent an ox, which used to be sacrificed at the time of the Spring Equinox. Another theory relates to 

Moon worship; the bun representing the full Moon, and the cross, its four quarters. Christianity gave new meanings to the symbolism of the buns, saying the cross represented the Crucifixion Cross. Thus, superstitions arose crediting these buns as being charms against evil, so after Good Friday, people would save one or two of them to hang in their homes as amulets. During the festival season and indeed, for a long time afterwards, fishermen would carry these Easter buns in their boats, for protection.

The Spring Equinox defines the season where Spring reaches it’s peak, with the powers of light increasing. The God of Light, (Llew), now gains victory over his twin, the God of Darkness. Llew was reborn at the Winter Solstice and is now old and strong enough to vanquish his rival twin and mate with his Mother Goddess. The great Mother Goddess, who returned to her Virgin aspect at Imbolc, welcomes the young Sun God’s attentions and conceives a child. The child will be born nine months from now, at the next Winter Solstice, when the cycle closes, only to begin anew.

The Easter Bunny is another symbol which has obvious links to fertility, rebirth, and the abundance of life which is evident in Spring.

Eostre was a playful Goddess whose reign over the earth began in Spring when the Sun King journeyed across the sky in his chariot, bringing the end of Winter. Eostre came down to Earth then, appearing as a beautiful maiden with a basket of bright colorful eggs. Eostre’s magical companion was a rabbit who accompanied her as she brought new life to dying plants and flowers by hiding the eggs in the fields.

Traditional Foods:

Dairy foods

Leafy Green Vegetables

Nuts such as Pumpkin

Sunflower

Pine

Hot Cross Buns

Flower Dishes

Sprouts

Herbs and Flowers

Jonquils

daffodils

Woodruff

Violet

Gorse

Olive

Peony

Iris,

Narcissus

spring flowers.Incense

Jasmine

Rose

Strawberry

FloralsSacred Gemstone

Jasper

Recipes:

Hot Cross Buns

1/4 cup apple juice, beer or rum

1 cup raisins, dried currants, or dried cranberries

1 1/4 cups milk

3 large eggs, 1 separated

6 tablespoons soft butter

2 teaspoons instant yeast

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 3/4 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon baking powder

4 1/2 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

Glaze:

1 large egg white

1 tablespoon milk

Frosting:

1 cup & 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

4 teaspoons milk

oven 375*

20 mins

Beer Bread

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups flour

4 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup beer or apple juice

1 tablespoon butter

2 1/2 tablespoon honey

1 egg

9×5 Bread Pan

Dry Ingredients

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast

Beer or Apple juice and other ingredients

warm the beer/ingredients on the stove.

Add egg last – cover & let raise 30 mins.

Kneed on flour surface, cover & let raise another 20 mins

Grease pan: place in pan, cover & let “another” 20 mins

Oven 375*

30-35 mins

Lavender Goat Cheese Figs

6-10 figs

2 tablespoons cream cheese

1/4 cup goat cheese

1/4 teaspoon dried lavender

1/2 tablespoons honey

cut figs in half, spoon in cheese/lavender mixture

Vegetable Tart

1 Puff Pastry

Spread out and brush pastry with olive oil

Lightly cook in oven

Cook vegetables of choice and garlic for the tart

Add them onto the oven baked pastry 

Add your cheeses – parmesan and mozzarella

Lightly cook in oven and brown

Cut and serve

Irish Soup

Sautee’

1 onion

2 leeks

garlic

Add

3 carrots

3 potatoes

2 containers vegetable broth or chicken broth

Cook on stove top or crockpot until carrots and potatoes are soft

salt

pepper

Add grated cheddar cheese to each bowl

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ps. Happy Fall Equinox to the Southern Hemisphere –

Full Worm Moon

Full Worm Moon 

By Tara Sutphen

The Full Worm Moon (Native American) 16* Virgo will culminate on March 7, 2023 4:42AM PT / 7:42AM ET (Farmers Almanac).

The Worm Moon is letting us believe in ourselves once again. Letting the inner limelight unfold so we step into taking care of ourselves and knowing what our next steps should entail. Mating calls are beginning to resonate deeper yet in you; and you’re ready to find satisfaction in friendships and relationships. What has been lying dormant is reawakening. 

At times you think you’re satisfied, but career goals, social skills, and healthy tips and tricks have all been a recurring theme and you’ve needed a boost to realign. 

It’s as though Mother Earth has a voice and she’s been whispering for you to awaken cheerfully, to make the most of your life and to really live. The earth will cradle us everyday if we let her. We have to work smart not hard. We must move our bodies to make progress; action speaks louder than dreams or words. 

Money is make believe, start believing you have it in your personal sphere. In your meditations and visualizations, it is not pie in the sky, rearrange your viewpoint to see gold at your feet. And as you call prosperity into your life, cooperate with yourself. Giving is as good as receiving, practice patience, and be authentic. 

Journal Questions:

Write a paragraph on where you can improve…How can you shine 

Do you doubt yourself.

Do you trip up and say things like: life is getting in the way.

Have you been paying enough attention to your health.

Have you been paying enough attention to your confidence and self-worth.

Do you take time to be good at everything you do.

How do you proceed with your ability to create

  • Love
  • Career
  • Job
  • Health
  • Relationships
  • Friendships
  • Happiness
  • Exercise

 How do you proceed with your short term goals 

  • Spiritually
  • Emotionally
  • Intellectually
  • Materially
  • Physically

What is affecting you and how do you fix it

 ——How do you take care of your mental health. How do you take care of your physical health. You came to earth to handle it. What is the motivation, the desire and the basics to get your soul motivation back on track.

—-“Life is a song – sing it. Life is a game – play it. Life is a challenge – meet it. Life is a dream – realize it. Life is a sacrifice – offer it. Life is love – enjoy.” —Sai Baba

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Candlemas & Imbolc

Candlemas Blessings

By Tara Sutphen

Imbolc – Candlemas is one of the Sabbats, it is an ancient festival generally celebrated on January 31, February 1, or February 2. It is also known as Candlemas, Brighid (“breed/bride”), and Oimelc (“EE-mulk”) which means ewe’s milk. It is the time of year halfway between December 21, the winter Solstice (Yule) and March 21, the spring Equinox (Ostara). Imbolc is in the middle of winter, but is the optimism of spring.The Egyptians and the Romans also celebrated this time, as it was the earth goddess giving birth to the Sun God. The time to ready seeds for the planting of food. A time of planning weddings, love, and romance. Days are getting longer and hope is renewed. The celebration is to light candles. Night of white candles turns the darkness into light.

Restful Mind

Meditation

Hot soup

Hot tea

Curling up with a good book

Writing poetry

A nap

Breathing gently

Hot bath

soothing music

Guided imagery

Quiet & Comfortable space

Be present – all thoughts of past & future aside

This is a time to restore your balance and gain your equilibrium. Learning how to unwind. We must know when to de-stress. Our bodies can’t help us unless we are fine tuning our consciousness, this is self-care. The cycles are a roadmap.

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Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th Facts

Here are a few fun facts of Friday the 13th to get you in the mood that it’s a good day:

o The US Seal has 13 stars, bars, feathers in the eagle’s tail, 13 bars in one claw, 13 olive branches in the other.

o The Chinese, Pagans and others in ancient times marked time by the lunar cycle and calendar, thus 13 was considered a very lucky number.

o Egyptian philosophy believes life is a mission for the eternal afterlife. This journey walks through 13 levels, the first 12 in this life, at death the 13th level. The number 13 symbolizes death as glorious and attaining “real life”. But you must go through the 12 stages first.

o Fear of Friday the 13th is called Triskaidekaphobia.

o The fear of Friday the 13th started as a Norse Myth where 12 gods were having a party in Valhalla (Heaven) and capricious Loki came as the 13th guest and arranged for Hoder the Blind to shoot Baider the Beautiful with a mistletoe tipped arrow where he died and the earth grew dark. 

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Full Wolf Moon

Full Wolf Moon
By Tara Sutphen

The Full Wolf Moon (Native American) at 16* Cancer will culminate, January 6, 2022 3:09pm pacific/6:09pm eastern (Farmers Almanac).

There is hope with this new moon, you are in the glow of making plans and changing accordingly. With your New Years Resolutions, this moon comes in to support you. It’s asking for you to dig deep into your subconscious mind. Go back to the root cause of your fear. Go back to the root cause of your insecurities. Go to the root cause of your procrastination. Go to the root of your lack of priorities or responsibilities.

And devise a new and strong plan. Change things to support your job, career, love life and health. The earth is waiting in all its supportive glory to help you get what you want. What you seek, seeks you. Write it down, make lists and do research. Also rest and refresh your mind and heart, knowing it’s almost time to prepare for your next phase of your journey. You have gone through times of unrest, but you know there is an easy pathway out of the shadow and into the light of your forthcoming well-being. Plan and prepare as you align your intellect and desires with your earthly sojourn.

Journal Questions:

3-5 sentences+ for each question.

Where have you changed:

Sentiments
Regrets
Anger
Actual person
Job
Career change
Move
House
Town
Country
Money problems
Bad habits
Phobias
Health problems
Stress

-Journal on rebalance in 2023:

People problems
Money problems
Relationship problems
Health problems
Personal issues
Bad habits
Phobias
Career problems
Past choices
Stress
Overwhelmed
Where are you most ambitious:
relationships
career
job
homelife
friendships
marriage
children
beauty
exercise
eating
inside maintenance
outside maintenance
person maintenance
place maintenance
thing maintenance

Your new viewpoint:

acceptance of yourself
acceptance of others
Spending too much time on others and not yourself
Spending too much time on yourself and not on others
Forward movement toward positive activities
Forward movement toward negative activities

-Time management, how long with each:

Family
Friends
Job
Career
Money
Beauty
Health
Harmony
Things
Strangers

-When creating calmness in your life:

Breathing deeply a few times a day
Drinking more water
Taking a walk
Meditating
Praying
Writing in a Journal
Creating a solution
Creating plans
Giving Hugs
Offering Smiles
Saying nice things to people
Waving here or there to people
Enjoying a color
Enjoying nature
Enjoying architecture
Complimenting your kids
Complimenting everyone

-Can you clearly say this is what I do now and I like it or I’d like to see a change:

What are you doing now
What job will you have next year
What job will you have in 5 years
What job will you have in 10 years
Do you stay with a career
Do you change careers often
Do you like jobs
Do you like responsibility
Do you like to be a boss
Are you a good boss
Are you a good employee
What makes you happy
When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up
What is your career
What is your self confidence
What is your earning potential
What is your verve for life
Are you a winner
Are you sometimes winning
Are you winning yet losing
Are you losing but close to winning
What could make you win
What could make you content

—-The winter brings a time of planning and refocusing. So we can develop those plans and then step into action. Whether it’s work, love or play, attach your life to the belief of wonderment. You are given this incredible opportunity to live, creating purpose. You have a voice to articulate asking for guidance and/or support. You have a heart open and willing. You have hands to work, create and nurture. You have a body for strong progress in work and play. You have a mind to be in resonance and encourage you in your everyday life. Connect with your Humanness. Achieve your dreams, what are you waiting for…

*Using your Intuition: Using your intuition and psychic ability to move forward. Feeling good about the decisions you make. Knowing when wrong feelings happen they can indicate going in a wrong direction.

*When meditating, remember you’re going to go past your mind and it’s set ideas, and proceeding toward the heart, taking it deeper, releasing false sentiments and just float in your divinity, going deeper and deeper to your very essence. Reaching into the core of your being. Shift into knowing you will begin to float in calmness as the eclipse takes away anxiety and confusion, replaced is gifts of knowledge and wisdom, quality of time and being one with your adventure on earth.

—–“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”—Nathaniel Branden.

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Winter Solstice – Yule

Winter Solstice & Yule

By Tara Sutphen

Dec 21: The Winter Solstice is a celebration of the heart, vessel of our dreams. Through the darkest time on the planet we are to find solace once again, returning to our inner resting place. Gallantly gazing upon our life’s daily uncertainty and unknowing future. May the earth fold us in comfort away from any harshness. As the light dims we are to harmonize and begin to sincerely replenish our hearts and minds. The pagans called this holiday Yule, where the people of Europe and Scandinavia made festive. It is not considered religious. The pagans were naturalists, such as the Native Americans and other indigenous communities around the world. They followed the course of the sun, the moon and cycles of the seasons for planting food and generally planning survival strategy. As winter comes we recognize our need to rest our minds, hearts and bodies while warming at the hearth. And as we come back out of the darkest day-night of the year and begin to gain more minutes of sunlight and replenishment each day. We linger for a glimmer of light to awaken, reconnecting our spark to life, to the sun and the conviviality of our own beating heart.

Recipes for Winter Solstice & Yule

Hot Apple Cider

Juice Apples or Buy Apple Cider

6 cups Apple Cider

½ tsp whole cloves

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

3 cinnamon sticks

Heat ingredients, simmer, strain & serve hot

Hearty or Veggie Stew

1 ½ pounds Beef stew meat

water (optional)

Vegetable Broth (for Vegetable stew)

¼ c. flour

Add tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onion

1 tsp thyme

2 tbsp mustard

Salt/pepper

Cook until meat is cooked and vegetables are tender

This can be a vegetarian dish if you prefer

Carrot Casserole

1-1/2 pounds carrots, sliced or 1 package (20 ounces) frozen sliced        carrots, thawed

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon grated onion

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1/4 cupshredded cheddar cheese (optional)

2 tablespoons crushed crackers (rice optional)

Bake

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Place 1 in. of water in a large saucepan; add carrots. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until crisp-tender, 7-9 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Transfer carrots to a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish.
    In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, onion, horseradish and reserved cooking liquid; spread evenly over carrots. Sprinkle with cheese; top with cracker crumbs. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Turkey-spinach Casserole

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons butter

3 cups stuffing mix

3 cups cubed cooked turkey

2 cups fresh baby spinach

1/2 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Bake

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, bring broth and butter to a boil.     Remove from heat. Add stuffing mix; stir until moistened. Stir in turkey, spinach and cranberries.
Transfer to a greased 11×7-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Squash Casserole

6 c. diced yellow squash or zucchini

Onion

Garlic

Salt/pepper

Butter or oil

Add into casserole dish

Bake 325* bake until squash is tender 20-45 mins

Alternative added ingredients into squash casserole

Crushed crackers

Cheese

Sour cream

Yule Log Cake

10×15 inch jelly roll pan – line with parchment paper & butter the paper.

Pre-heat oven 400*

4 eggs room temperature

2/3 c. sugar — 7 minutes beat eggs while adding sugar 1 tbsp at a time

Add sifted flour ½ c, to batter – stir don’t beat

Add other ½ c. of flour – stir

Pour into pan – BAKE 10 min. Do not overcook

While hot- put cake into clean dish towel sprinkled with powdered sugar so it doesn’t stick.

Remove parchment paper, still warm – roll the cake with the dishtowel in. Let cake cake cool.

Unroll cake – spread desired filling, jam, or frosting onto cake and re-roll cake.

Frost outside & decorate, Refrigerate to set overnight