Rather than as
purely Pagan holliday, I chose to observe and commemorate the Vernal ( Spring )
Equinox, as a universal holiday, not really bound to any religion, a
priori. In fact, as I have mentioned
when I wrote about Saturnalia and Sol
Invictus, most, If not all of the
holidays which are associated ( and seen
on ) with the Wheel of the Year, actually predate any known Pagan religion. Some anthropologists describe it as sort of
prehistoric cult of worshiping the nature, or plainly superstitious attempts
to mark specific periodic changes in nature and affect them. Hence unrelated to any Pagan deity or
specific religion, rather the nature itself.
So when Wiccans
celebrate the victory of their Solar god , god of Light, over his twin counterpart,
god of darkness, or pregnancy of their Lunar goddess in any of the forms ( for
example Biggid ) I celebrate the
reawakening of the Earth, vegetation, arrival of the spring and lengthening of
the day, and try to harness the motivational, creative and inspiring energies
of the day.
For me, as an
Eastern Orthodox Christian, both
Annunciations, and the Easter do not occur before April ( Church uses Julian calendar
for holidays and rites, and Gregorian is used as mundane, plain-time calendar ), hence I do
not necessarily associate the two.
The fact that
the plethora of Earth cultures and religions, old and new, commemorate this day in some form, is a
reason more for me, to take its power and significance seriously.
So what is Vernal equinx celebration
Spring equinox celebration, in any of it’s multitude of forms (“Alban Elfed”, the Teutonic festival in
honour of Eostre, Roman “Hilaria Matris Deûm”, Welsh Gwyl Canol Gwenwynol ,
“Disablot” of the Norse , Iranian “Nowruz” or “New Year” , “Sham El Nessim” ,the
Ancient Egyptian holiday, Wiccan “Ostara” etc.
) commemorates the astrological phenomenon, which occurs in March ( any
day between the 19th -25th of March ) on the Northern Hemisphere.
Thus “is the equinox on the Earth when the Sun
appears to cross the celestial equator, heading northward” [1], and
consequently, the duration of the day and night are equated. Hence the
associations of the holiday with harmony and balance as well.
In essence, in
Europe it’s a festival associated with the return of the Light, and the deities
associated with it are often associated with Light, renewal, rebirth, growth,
flourishing, all the things we associated with spring.
Hence, the old
German pagan goddess Oastra, and her Teutonic
version ( Anglo- Saxon ) Eostre, are perceived the similar way, as
Jackob Grimm, describes in his “Deustche mytholigie” :
“ Ostara, Eástre seems therefore to
have been the divinity of the radiant dawn, of upspringing light, a spectacle
that brings joy and blessing, whose meaning could be easily adapted by the
resurrection-day of the christian's God. Bonfires were lighted at Easter
and according to popular belief of long standing, the moment the sun rises on
Easter Sunday morning, he gives three joyful leaps, he dances for joy
... Water drawn on the Easter morning is, like that at Christmas, holy and
healing ... here also heathen notions seems to have grafted themselves on great
christian festivals. Maidens clothed in white, who at Easter, at the season of
returning spring, show themselves in clefts of the rock and on mountains, are
suggestive of the ancient goddess “ [2]
Her sacred
animal, alleged to had been her helper in spreading the influence of the Spring
was rabbit, and the colored eggs were left at her sanctuaries and
temples, on Vernal equinox, which seem to have influenced the Westerner’s
trademark symbols of Easter.
It’s often
speculated, how the Christian custom of decoration of the boiled eggs
originates from these celberations, and indeed what many Christians do, in modern times may indeed be modeling after
these pagan customs, but the actual ritual of
dyin g the egg red , on Easter,
or rather Saturday before it is a
Christian proprietary ritual. It has to do with a miracle associated with Mary
Magdalene, which had happened to her upon the resurrection of the Lord
Christ.
Correspondences
Concepts, ideas,
notions and words associated with it are: light, youthfulness, vigor, power,
virility, growth, strength, action, determination, increase etc.
The colors
associated with the day are green and yellow [3]
Plants
associated with the day, include, among
other: Five finger’s grass, Primrose,
Saffron, Sage, Nettles, Violets, Daffodils, Hyacinth, Narcissus and other
Stones include,
Jasper, Bloodstone, Moss agate, Citrine, Sunstone and others
Rituals and
spells
The 12 Candles
ritual
I designed this
ritual, to be performed on the Spring Equinox day, in order to bless some
aspect of Your life, to entice success
in some specific area(s) of life, and to make ( reasonable ) wishes come true.
Set twelve
candles, so that they form a circle. Any color can be used, though green or
yellow would be in accordance to Equinox tradition. In the centre of the candle circle, place a
fireproof dish ( like a censer, or a fireproof
dish with coals ). Light the
candles, sunwise.
Next, crush and
powder
·
Five
fingers grass· Saffron
· Sage leaves
On a piece of
paper write down Your needs and wishes. Sprinkle it with just a small pinch of
powder. Fold it thrice, towards oneself. Throw some crushed and powdered herb
mixture into the censer with coals and the set the paper alight while chanting:
“Darkness end
and sorrow burn,
Raise with
light, good luck return !Set in motion, break the stillness,
Open the roads and bring success !”
Toss also the
burning paper into censer, and add some more
of the powder. You may want to
chant few more times, more so If You
feel so inclined. Bury the ashes
remaining in Your own yard, or on sprinkle some place where the
idea of abundance and growth is dominant, such as forest, or strong
river that flows toward East etc.
Alternatively, You could add ashes to the soil
in some pot, and plant some herb there.
Blessed seed
ritual
Seeds can be
empowered and planted to work Your
magick in manifesting Your need for money income, health growth, abundance,
fertility, success and alike, and this can be done throughout many auspicious
times of year. Like Nights of the Full
Moon, Winter Solstice, even Imboloc.
But by far most auspicious and prominent
day for it is Spring Equinox, more so If
the Moon happens to be Crescent ( in
waxing phase )
All You need to
do is empower some seeds, for example by means of chant, prayer, or even
passing few times through incense smoke, then plant them, water with
consecrated water ( it can be Lunar slime, water in which Holy water from the
Church has been added, “living water”
, or crystal essences ), and as
the plant grow so will Your health, wealth, success etc.
Burning the Corn
doll
The doll made of
Corn or Wheat collected during Lamas or Even Samhain, ashes are reserved and
sprinkled in fields, gardens and plant pots to ensure fertility, good yields and abundance. This is a
traditional European folk custom. [4]
Linen charm for
spiritual development
If Your desire
is to increase Your spiritual powers, aptness and proficiency in spiritual work, You can create this charm to assure You achieve this goal. On the 22nd
of March, get some new, linen fabric,
preferably purple If You can get it. Go
where the Willow tree grows, and cut the
bark, or perforate minutely, and collect the dripping sap on Your linen fabric.
Carry it on Your behalf onward from that point as often as able, and place it
bellow pillow when sleeping. [5]
Hope You found
the post informative and inspirational ,
Many Blessings,
from Shadow J
NOTES: This article was written and composed by myself, should You wish to use any part of it elsewhere online, You may, but You have to provide credits ; Shadow of Shadows magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com or a direct link to this post
CREDITS AND REFRENCES:
[3] According to Cass Eason’s
“Encyclopedia of magick and ancient wisdom”
[4] According to Cass
Eason’s “Encyclopedia of magick and
ancient wisdom”
[5] According to “Kalendar za srecne dane” ( trans. “Calendar
of the lucky days ” ) by Jasna Jojic Pavlovski, Gorgon publishing house,
Belgrade, similar ritual, modified for use here by myself is an European
custom which was/is believed to entice spiritual growth . Used without any
ill will , for educational purposes on here . More on the author and
book, can be found on here: http://jasnajojic.com/magija-biljaka-i-lek-i-amajlija/
IMAGE CREDITS: Image was taken and edited by myself
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