Volume 20 Issue 2
Imbolc 2023

Seasons of the Moon is a quarterly online magazine published by students and members of The Order of The White Moon, an eclectic international order of women dedicated to The Goddess. The Order provides personal empowerment and priestess training, and operates local groups. All contributions are original material submitted by our students and members. (We do not accept outside contributions.) Please direct comments and questions to the Ezine Editor.

Imbolc 2023

Holy Days
Celebrating Ostara Spring Equinox: Renewal, Rebirth, Fertility and Balance, Maeve MoonBird

Ritual Work
Imbolc Ritual ‐ Crossing the Threshold, M)0(rrigan
Imbolc Candle Ritual, M)0(rrigan

Witchy Writings
As Above, So Below; As Within, So Without, Peace Whitehorse

Thou Art Goddess
Imbolc: The Sun Rises Again, Emily Beatrice
Ostara: 50/50, Emily Beatrice

Sacred Sites
Writing‐on‐Stone, Ajna DreamsAwake

OWM Awareness
OWM Happenings, Ajna DreamsAwake

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit
My Muse has Left, Peace Whitehorse

Recipes Fit for a Goddess
Blackberry Cobbler, River

Reviews
Dark Goddess Magick by C. Ara Campbell, Emily Beatrice

Just for Fun
Family Activities, Emily Beatrice

Holy Days

Celebrating Ostara Spring Equinox: Renewal, Rebirth, Fertility, and Balance

The pagan sabbat Ostara is on March 20^th, 2023 in the Northern Hemisphere. This sabbat celebrates the Spring Vernal Equinox. On this day there is equal day and night. Then the days will be waxing, growing longer with daylight, until the longest day of the year Midsummer sabbat, the Summer Solstice June 21^st.

Ostara is named after the Germanic Spring Goddess Ostara or Eostre. She is often depicted as a maiden goddess and associated with the Spring Equinox. Other goddesses to work with on Ostara include Persephone, Freya, Brigid, Blodewedd, Dziewanna, Flora, Beiwe, Artio, Kore, Artemis, Diana, Maia, Lada, and Olwen. Any goddess related to spring renewal, fertility, and the sun are good to connect with on Ostara. The Green Man, Jack in the Green, of the British Isles is also a symbol of the blooming Spring season on Ostara.

Ostara represents the renewal, rebirth, and fertility of the Spring season. The winter snow is melting, flowers are in bloom and warmer, longer days are ahead. The earth is awakening. The day of the equinox also connects to energies of balance and hope.

Rabbits are mating this time of year and are a common animal associated with Ostara for fertility. Eggs, baby birds, honeybees, butterflies, and horses are also connected to this sabbat.

Ostara is a time to reflect on renewal, rebirth, fertility, and balance. It is also a great time for cleansing and purification of your home and self. Weather divination and flower magic can be done, as well as magic for home protection and fertility. Ostara is also a time to renew your creative process and work on planting seeds of new creative projects.

Boil eggs and decorate them for your Ostara altar or table. You can explore natural dye or use any paint, markers, or stickers you have. This can be a fun family craft activity as well.
Explore egg magic. Boil an egg boil and think of your intentions and wishes for the Spring. Once boiled write and/or draw anything to represent your Spring intentions and wishes. You can bury this egg outside symbolically as a planted spring seed, or place on your Ostara altar.
Paint, draw, craft of write about the Ostara sabbat. Light a candle and allow any images or thoughts that come to you be part of your creative process.
Write your Spring intentions and wishes on a candle and burn this on Ostara. Colors for Spring are green, yellow, pink, sky blue, and lilac. You can choose any candle this color.
Collect local wildflowers on a nature walk and press them in a book. Learn about each flower's meaning and magical associations.
Create a flowers crown to wear on Ostara.
Bake hot cross buns with the cross symbolizing the four seasons, directions, elements, and moon phases.
Create a delicious, celebratory meal for Ostara. Foods associated with Ostara are salads filled with spring greens, eggs, lemons, honey, chocolate, and any local seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Create a costume or dress up in a way that celebrates the Spring Equinox.
Journey with a Spring animal such as rabbit, baby birds, horses, butterflies, and honeybees. Create a piece of art and writing that represents this journey.
Write in your journal reflecting on the aspects of balance, renewal, rebirth, and fertility on Ostara.

May you have a blessed, bright Ostara, Spring Equinox.

Click on the link to follow Maeve at https://thecreativepriestesspath.com/celebrating-ostara-spring-equinox-renewal-rebirth-fertility-and-balance/

Maeve MoonBird is an HP of Order of the White Moon. She is a visual artist who enjoys exploring where creativity and her pagan spirituality meet. Maeve is passionate about sharing the Goddess and spirituality with OWM Sisters.

Ritual Work

Imbolc Ritual ‐ Crossing the Threshold

Imbolc marks a threshold from Winter to Spring and so I designed this ritual to consciously cross a threshold. Our purpose is an initiation, this means to begin a conscious connection or relationship.

With this ritual you may want to begin your Year and a Day to prepare for your initiation into the craft, or initiate if you already completed your trial phase. Or maybe you have decided to change your current spiritual path or practice. Perhaps you just want to renew a vow.

Spiritual or mundane reasons ‐ a ritual is a suitable way to begin something new or different (quit smoking, unhealthy lifestyle or partner) ‐ it is a statement and acknowledgement on the outside that supports you and your choice within.

As we begin something new we leave the old behind ‐ be aware of what you want no more in your life. Now, it is as vital that you know where you are going to, i.e. how this 'new' is looking, feeling, tasting. So, therefore, this ritual consists of several steps.

Ritual Bath

Pouch made of gauze or roughly woven tissue to hold the herbs but not the aromas
Rosemary (dried or fresh plant ‐ no powder)
Mugwort (dried or fresh plant ‐ no powder or oil)
Oatmilk (if you have no milk you may use oat flakes and add them to the herbs in the pouch)
Sea salt
Tea candles (preferably white)

Altar

Cloth (white)
Taper candles (golden, green, and red)
‐‐ all colors can be substituted by white ‐ in case you don't have colored candles, you can use one white candle
Item representing the intent (figurine or picture)
Ribbon
Cauldron or other fire safe cup
Acacia Senegal wood (if not available you can use benzoin or gum Arabic)
Gemstones (clear quartz crystal, black obsidian, sunstone or yellow tourmaline)
Tarot Deck

First, make sure you will have a quiet space and time ‐ it is sufficient if you tell the people living with you that you don't want to be disturbed from … to …
It ismportant is that you will feel safe and free to do as you like.
If you do the ritual indoors, prepare the things you need for the Altar set up. Once you enter this room from your ritual bath/washing, you will not be leaving this room again until after the ritual is finished.

Ritual Bath

The ritual begins when you go the bathroom 😉
Light the candles to create a special atmosphere ‐ this is not your usual bath, it is the first part of your new life.
Fill the pouch with the herbs, close it and put it in the water.
The size of the pouch and the amount of herbs is your choice. It is important that you feel good!
If you do not have a tub or cannot take a bath, you may wash yourself with the infused water from a sink.
Let the pouch soak in the warm water so the etheric oils sealed in the herbs can be released.
Add the sea salt and the oat milk.
When you lie in the tub or wash yourself, feel how this water clears and cleanses, protects and enhances you on all levels.

Stay as long as you need to feel totally prepared for the next step.

Altar Setup and Ritual

Enter the ritual space
Light the incense, smudge yourself and the space and put it back on the altar.
Cast a circle around yourself and the altar. Cast it big enough so you can move comfortably within.

Sit or kneel down, take the candles up, one after the other, and put them in their holders.
The golden one represents you, the red one represents the fire of divine strength, also the Goddess Brigid, that supports you and fuels you on your path, the green one represents the hope that supports you and encourages you at all times.
Place them close to each other and loosely bind them together with the ribbon. Tie it around the lower part of the candles so it cannot catch fire when you burn them.

Take the Tarot Cards and fetch the Star ‐ it is a symbol of protection and support.

If you want to engage with a certain deity now, call her and invite her to be with you.
State your intent clear and respectful, ask for support and guidance.
Choose your own words, feel what you say matches with your emotions.
Spend as long as you feel necessary but still comfortable for you.

When you make your commitment burn parts of the acacia wood and keep the rest.

Give thanks and dismiss all you have called.
Extinguish the candles
Open the circle but don't leave it immediately.

Visualise the threshold where you cast the circle.
Visualise and feel the 'new' behind that line.
When you are ready jump out of the circle into your new life.
Now make sure you ground well with proper food and drink.

The Tarot Deck that was with you in the ritual will be a good guide for you to use.

The Gemstones are supporting you to balance your energy.
‐ Clear crystal quartz helps you to ground and clear your energy when its unbalanced.
‐ Black obsidian supports you to not be directed by fears, and helps you to overcome blockages or trauma, it enhances spiritual and emotional strength.
‐ Sunstone balances your psyche, it helps you to see and work things in life from a bright merry strong center.
‐ Yellow tourmaline brings luck and trust in yourself and your own abilities, and herewith supports your good judgement.
‐ Crystal quartz is a good enhancer for all other gemstones ‐ so keeping them together is not a problem.
‐ Acacia Senegal wood can be used together with the yellow tourmaline as a supporter and lucky charm.

Imbolc Candle Ritual

a forest in winter with sunlight shining through the trees and snow in the foreground

I remember when I took this photo. It was Imbolc 2007 in a large forest just behind our home in Munich. It's a mobile shot ‐ not to compare with the quality nowadays… but the essence of this day is captured here clearly. It felt magical. Everything was possible in this moment. In the magic of this picture, I see the following ritual. If you have such a forest or park that you like and know, you may want to go there earlier to collect some bark, leaves or resin.

Candle Ritual

1 black, 1 white/red candle
incense burner and coal tab
ink and paper or parchment
pot (to keep burning paper and ashes)

1^st part of the Ritual

Arrange your altar or a small table with the things above.
Feel free to elaborate and add a statue of the Goddess or whatever you deem suitable.
Cast a circle if you feel and invite the Goddess to your support, guidance or protection.
Close your eyes and let the time since Samhain pass before your inner eye.

What in your life do you feel you no longer need or want? This can be a person, your own behavior/pattern that triggers feelings you find out are not good for you. Write these things down and banish them to the paper. Write one piece for each.

Now light the black candle
Take up each paper separately and light it in the flame of the black candle, drop it in the pot and let it burn ‐ watch it turns to ashes.
Once you have burned down all that is negative and hindering, feel how light you are now, now the burden is taken from you.

2^nd part of the Ritual

Light up the white/red candle
Ignite the coal

Close your eyes and look inside yourself and 'remember'. What do you want to attract in your life? What do you want to welcome on your path? Hold these things/people/situations clearly before your inner eye, feel them with all your senses (taste, scent, sound…)

With each 'pictured wish' that you visualize add some resin or bark on the coal and with this scent, let the wish take space within you ‐ repeat.
When you have completed, sit in this wonderful atmosphere of a fresh new start and let the spirit of this moment memorize in you.

Give thanks to the Goddess and open the circle.

Dispose of the ashes in a running water ‐ if there is no water then pour onto the ground ‐ in a park or forest away from your house.

Light the white/red candle in your full moon rituals or whenever you feel it is the right thing to do 😊

You can light another white/red candle on this one to continue.

After the ritual do something new, something you have not done before. Be creative!

M)0(rrigan is a Priestess of Morrigan, and a practitioner of Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. She is is a Level III Adept in the Sacred Three Goddess School

Witchy Writings

As Above, So Below; As Within, So Without

a mountain top with stones in the foreground, overlooking a valley and blue sky

This is an "occult maxim", which means "hidden truth". You may have seen this phrase in your studies. Where did it come from, and what does it mean?

The origin of this phrase is the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus¹. The Emerald Tablet is said to be a tablet of emerald green stone on which is written the secrets of the universe. The source of the original Emerald Tablet is unclear, so it is surrounded by myth. The most common story claims that the tablet was found in a cave tomb under the statue of Hermes in Tyana, clutched in the hands of the corpse of Hermes Trismegistus himself.

OK, that's where it comes from, but what does it mean, you might ask? Let's break the phrase into two parts.

As Above, So Below

I take this to mean that whatever is "out there" in the whole, wide Universal cosmos can also be found in the smaller cosmos of our Earth. The Universe is alive, it is a living being, and so is the Earth. The Earth is a part‐of‐being to the Universe. Just a speck compared to the great "Out There". But, just as the Universe is made up of many, many parts‐of‐being, so is the Earth comprised of many smaller components, we could even call them cells.

So if Divinity is found in the Universe, so It is also found here on the Earth. If Peace is found there, so is Peace found here. If Love is part of the Universe, it is also found on the Earth. All things good ‐ and bad, if there be any bad in the Universe ‐ found above can also be found below.

Divinity is infused in All‐That‐Is on Earth. Nature is divine, in that God and Goddess are immanent within Nature. All of Nature is a living Being, comprised of living Beings. As above, so below.

As Within, So Without

I believe that this states that that which we are comprised of comprises the rest of the Universe, and that which comprises the Universe is to be found within ourselves.

Just as both Earth and the Universe are living beings made up of smaller living beings, so are we living beings made up of smaller living beings, we call them cells. But it is more than that. Just as Divinity permeates the great "Out There", so is Divinity immanent within us. We are a living, breathing part of Goddess and God.

There is so much in Earth Nature and in the Universe! And if we look within and really study and get to know ourselves, we will be amazed at all the beauty and magick that are within our divine selves.

¹https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/legendary-emerald-tablet-001956.

Click on the link to follow Peace at Witchy Writings

Peace Whitehorse is the founder of Peace Grove School of the Goddess and facilitator and High Priestess of the Peace Grove Coven. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and her Shetland sheepdogs, and is active in Sheltie Rescue.

Thou Art Goddess

Imbolc: The Sun Rises Again

The sun has returned and three birch trees, representing the Triple Goddess,
dressed in their winter best greet the day with the ground covered in snow.
The warmth of the sun that the sun brings with the promise of spring reflects into the snow.
The days are getting longer.
The darkness is lifting, and we are shifting towards spring and new life.
Darkness still looms in the distance,
but for now it's time to start planning
and preparing for the growing season ahead.

a painting with snow in the foreground, and sun shining through barren trees

"The Sun Rises Again" Original painting by Emily Beatrice 14 x 14 Acrylic on Canvas

Ostara: 50/50

The Spring Equinox is one of the days of the year where it is nearly equal hours of day and night.
As we move from darkness to light (left to right)
we are moving into warmth, and sunlight,
and all the promises and possibilities that spring brings.
However, we shouldn't forget the lessons learned during the dark times.
The complexity of night doesn't shine through as brilliantly during the day.
Both day and night are beautiful in their own way.
Learn to embrace them both and let the lessons you learn during hard and easy times light your path.

a painting of a sphere, one half is blue and white representing the moon, against a black background on left side and bright yellow, representing the sun, against a pale blue background on right side

"50/50" Original painting by Emily Beatrice 14 x 14 Acrylic on Canvas

Sacred Sites

Writing‐on‐Stone

Nestled in the heart of Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), lie the sandstone cliffs of Áísínai'pi (Writing‐on‐Stone). Áísínai'pi is located in the Milk River Valley of southern Alberta, in the shadows of the Sweetgrass Mountains of Montana. The valley has been inhabited by First Nations people for more than 3,500 years. The discovery of tipi rings and a medicine wheel suggest there were permanent settlements in the area, but it appears to have been used predominantly as a summer camp for nomadic peoples.

pictograph Sun painted with red ochre on sandstone

petroglyph, A round shield with strips of leather hanging down,carved in sandstone

The soft sandstone served as an ideal medium for rock carving. In fact, Áísínai'pi is home to one of the largest concentrations of indigenous rock art in North America. Painted images (pictographs) and carvings (petroglyphs) date back to the 1^st Millennium BCE. Animals such as horses, bison, deer, and snakes figure prominently. Warriors, tipis, feathers, and medicine wheels are also represented. Many images are ceremonial and depict nature or animal spirits, or record dreams that occurred during vision quests. Some images depict bison hunts and battles and some are biographical, relating meaningful events in someone's life.

petroglyph, stick figures with large circular shields in front of them depicting a Battle scene carved in sandstone

By the mid 19^th century, settlers had moved into the area, forcing the indigenous populations onto reservations and preventing them from accessing their sacred sites. In 1924, a road engineer heard stories about a place where "the spirits spoke through stone and where ghosts lived". He got permission to hire local guides to take him to Áísínai'pi. Two Elders, Bird Rattle and Split Ears, had visited the area as children and were able to share information about the images depicted. Bird Rattle immortalized the event by carving two Model‐T Fords into the rockface with a piece of crystal. He became the last known Blackfoot to carve an image into the sandstone.

petroglyph,side view of a simple box truck carved in sandstone

Áísínai'pi is considered to be the home of sacred beings and nature spirits. Small prayer bundles (ikkistakssin) dedicated to the spirits can still be found throughout the area. One such spirit is Kipitaakii, also known as Old Woman. Kipitaakii and her husband, Napi, Old Man, are considered to be the first man and woman. Old Woman can be a trickster, but she is also a benevolent deity, helping humans or sharing her wisdom, She taught them how to use plants for medicine, and how to make tools and clothing.

Writing‐on‐Stone Provincial Park was founded in 1957, and, in 1977, it became a designated archaeological preserve. In 1981, a portion of the park was named a Provincial Historic Resource to protect the rock art from vandalism and graffiti.

While visitors can follow a path through the sandstone hoodoos to view some of the petroglyphs, there are areas which are only accessible through guided tours, and some areas are off limits due to ongoing archaeological excavations. In March 2005, Writing‐on‐Stone was designated a National Historic Site. In 2019 it was added to the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites for its unique contribution to the cultural tradition of the Blackfoot Nation.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/writing-on-stone-archaeological-site
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing-on-Stone_Provincial_Park
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1597/
http://www.native-languages.org/old-lady.htm
All images by the author

Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.

OWM Awareness

White Moon Happenings

The Ordination Council accepted Priestess River's application to the Level IV High Priestess Program. River continues to excel on her chosen path as a Pagan Spiritual Mentor. We wish her great success.

Our Annual OWM Yule Gift Exchange was a big success. This annual tradition is a wonderful way for Sisters to share their abundance with each other, often re‐gifting ritual tools, Tarot decks, or other items that they no longer use. It's always a treat to receive precious treasures that have been loved and cherished by another Sister.

We are always delighted to welcome our new students in Sacred Three, Moonlit Path, Peace Grove School, Pyramid of Light, and Dark Moon's Heart from all over the world! We are always happy when sisters find their way to OWM!

More About OWM

If you're not an OWM student and you'd like to learn more about the Order of the White Moon, the schools offering Traditional White Moon Studies, or browse the Goddess Gallery, we welcome you to learn about us!

For those who are not currently Sisters of the Order but would like to feel supported, we encourage you to visit OWM's website and submit a Prayer Request. This Public Outreach program is one of the ways that OWM gives back to the community. We offer prayers, distance healing, and loving support to members of public.

You can connect with OWM on social media! Follow us on Twitter at @OrderWhiteMoon for regular updates on Seasons of the Moon, the Weekly Tarot Zodiac and other OWM public outreach programs. Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/orderwhitemoon.

Visit and like us! The Twitter feed and Facebook page are available to the public. Feel free to share these links. We appreciate your feedback so please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

May the Peaceful, Compassionate, and Healing Presence of the Goddess be with you now and always.
Blessed Be

HP Ajna DreamsAwake

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit

My Muse Has Left

Hear me, fairy, troll and gnome.
Find my Muse and send her home!
I need to write, to get down to it
I try to write and cannot do it.
Frustration does not even begin
To describe the pickle I'm now in.
My Muse has left and I am sad,
Might say even a little bit mad.
Words are bottled up inside me
Without my dear Muse here beside me.
Where, oh where, could she have gone?
Looked everywhere from dusk til dawn
And back around to dusk again
While in my hand my favorite pen.
Come home dear Muse, now it is time
To help we put down prose and rhyme.
I cannot get far without you here,
Instead of words I'm bleeding you‐tears.
I've work to do and need your assist.
Come back, we'll peacefully coexist!

Recipes Fit for a Goddess

Blackberry Cobbler

Ingredients

1¼ cups + 2 tablespoons sugar, separated
1 cup self‐rising flour, see notes for easy homemade version
1 cup milk, any kind, whole is best
½ stick butter, melted.
2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries, rinsed and patted dry
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

Note: If using frozen berries, be sure to add them when they're frozen. If you let them thaw, they'll be mushy, and the consistency will be off.

Preheat the oven to 350°.
Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of flour in a large bowl.
Stir in the milk, then the melted butter. Mix until well‐combined.
Pour onto the bottom of a greased 9x9‐inch baking dish.
Distribute the berries throughout the top. They'll sink in further as they bake.
Sprinkle Frac14; cup sugar over the top, reserving 2 tablespoons for later.
Bake for 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar on top.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Serve immediately, (with ice cream of course)!

To make Homemade Self-Rising Flour: 1 cup flour + ½ tsp of salt + 1½ tsp baking powder

River is a Priestess of the Order. She is currently in the Level IV High Priestess Training Program.

Reviews

Dark Goddess Magick by C. Ara Campbell

Campbell's book, "Dark Goddess Magick" is a guide to help readers who are going through difficult situations using myth and shadow Goddesses as a medium for change. It contains 20 different representations of the feminine divine that fall into the Dark Goddess category. Campbell also includes a really nice glossary, and the index is helpful as well. At the very least each chapter includes associations with the Goddess it's about, a ritual, and a spell. Chapters are divided into 6 sections.

It isn't super inclusive in the sense that every single Dark Goddess out there is written about in depth. I imagine that would be very difficult to achieve and a huge undertaking for one individual all things considered. However, you do have your more traditional neo‐pagan heavy hitters such as Morrigan and Hecate. Campbell also includes some I have not heard of such as Ereshkigal and Coatlicue.

What I like about it is that the author breaks down different associations with each Goddess. This is really handy to have if you need a quick reference. Each chapter is meaty without being wordy. This makes it a great jump off point for research into a particular deity. The chapters are color coded, making it easy to flip through and find what you need quickly.

The most significant thing for me about this book is that it isn't another pretty guide telling the reader to embrace love and sunshine and peace. It doesn't ignore the dark parts. Campbell states that, "We have been told that anything that isn't positive or pleasant is wrong. And for what? To make us manageable, digestible, and easy to deal with." (Campbell, 11) This is a refreshing take on a lot of neo‐pagan literature that's out there. It isn't going to be a book for everyone, but it is a good reminder that you can't have the good without the bad. Otherwise, you end up trapped in trauma. There is never going to be an exact balance, but you can learn to manage and embrace the good with the bad. Campbell's book offers readers a simple and organized way to process their feelings. It isn't a cure‐all, but it's a good step towards healing.

Campbell, Ara C. (2021) Dark goddess magick: rituals and spells for reclaiming your feminine fire. Fair Winds Press.

Just for Fun

Family Activities

Whether you have young children, or you're looking for things to do to get in touch with your inner child, or you're planning activities with your chosen family, I have found some really fun ideas that are easy to incorporate and possibly a little messy. Hopefully you and yours enjoy them as much as we have.

Honey Tea: This is a really easy recipe to make. My ratio is 1 tablespoon of honey to 1 cup of hot water. However, my 5‐year‐old would argue for more honey. Honey is soothing, nourishing and an effective cough suppressant. Within Neo‐Paganism and kitchen magick it represents sweetness, fertility, and prosperity. *** Please do not give honey to children under 1 year old as it can cause anaphylactic shock. Always consult your medical care team before using any at home remedy.

Spring Cleaning: Imbolc is a fantastic time to do a little spring cleaning. (In general, I like to do a deep clean in my house on or before the Sabbats.) It has been deliriously dismal and grey outside for the last 6 weeks. I can't open my windows and the weather isn't comfortable enough to get outside. Cleaning and then cleansing/purifying your space is helpful for me to get out of whatever funk I might be in. Setting an intention and incorporating a little magick and ritual into the activity makes it more meaningful.

Planning a Spring Seeding: Did anyone else receive their first seed catalogue of the year? Mine came in the mail last week and I cannot tell you how excited my kids and I were to flip through and see what options we have for the upcoming growing season. ***I won't advocate for "guerrilla gardening" as an Imbolc/Ostara activity. If you aren't careful you can introduce species of plants that will do more harm then you intended. Contact your local Extension Service if you are in the US to find out more.

Observing Nature: This is such an easy activity that requires you to be quiet and patient with yourself. If you can't get outside for whatever reason, check out your local nature centers to find out if they have an observation room. One of ours has comfortable seating, offers binoculars and bird guide books. There are also microphones and speakers set up so observers can also hear the birds and wildlife inside. Once in a while there is someone from our local Audubon Society chapter to answer questions and offer insight on what you might see. I also suggest checking out a local foraging group. I wouldn't eat anything unless you are absolutely certain there is correct identification, but going out and seeing early signs of spring and learning about your local flora and fauna is a fantastic way to celebrate.

Glow in the Dark Egg Dying: This isn't your typical Easter Egg dying activity. Get a hold of some glow in the dark craft paint. Spray foaming shaving cream onto a tray until it's completely covered. (Old cookie sheets work great.) Drizzle the glow in the dark paint onto the foaming shaving cream. Lay your hard‐boiled eggs on top of the glow in the dark paint. Let it sit for a minute to let the paint adhere to the shell of the egg. Rotate the egg and repeat until it's completely covered. Let the eggs dry and enjoy the colors.

Ostara Intentions: You can use an eggshell with the yolk blown out or a hardboiled egg for this activity. Get some paint, pens, or sharpies. Write your intentions for Spring on the egg shell and then bury it outside weather permitting.

Painting with Eggs: Blow the yolk out of the egg. Very carefully fill it with tempera paint. Set up a canvas outside and throw the paint filled eggs at the canvas.

References
Tosh, Pritish K. Is it true that honey calms coughs better than cough medicine does? Retrieved from: Honey: An effective cough remedy? - Mayo Clinic
Underwood, Crystal. Neon egg dying. Retrieved from: Neon Egg Dying (growingajeweledrose.com)
Wigington, Patti. (2019) Honey in magic and folklore. Retrieved from: Honey in Magic and Folklore (learnreligions.com)

Emily Beatrice is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon. She is Usui Reiki I & II certified and feels called to support others on their healing journey.

The articles featured in Seasons of the Moon are written and/or submitted by members of the Order of the White Moon and are their own intellectual property. Please feel free to share this publication but do give credit where credit is due and link back to the source.

Thank you for reading, we hope that you have enjoyed it just as much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you.

Many blessings to you and yours,
Seasons of The Moon Staff

Get Seasons of the Moon via email! Join the Seasons of the Moon group.

Seasons of the Moon Home

Volume 20 Issue 2 Imbolc 2023