2010 Sabbat Dates

The Sabbats are based on astrological times. Culturally, we celebrate Beltane on May 1st, but the actual cross quarter time always falls a few days later, around the fifth of May. I personally recognize & honor the power of both days. All of the following times listed are in Universal Time.

Imbolc
February 3rd, 22:30

Spring Equinox
March 20, 17:32

Beltane
May 5, 14:32

Summer Solstice
June 21, 11:28

Lughnasa
August 7, 14:45

Autumn Equinox
September 22, 03:09

Samhain
November 7, 12:33

Winter Solstice
December 21, 23:38

Spring Garden blessing

When you have your garden ready for planting, hard boil a brown fertilized egg.
Using a brown or green marker, draw symbols of growth, earth and fertility on the egg.
On the East side of your garden, dig a small hole with your bare hands.
Say a prayer to the Goddess over the hole, asking her to bless you garden.
Place the adorned egg in the hole and cover it.
Walk clockwise nine times around the perimeter of your garden, and say:
"Eostre, make my garden green this Spring.
I offer this egg to the giver of all things."

Fertility Spell with egg

The egg is a symbol of Springtime and represents abundance, life and birth. The egg is such a universal symbol of life potential, that it lends itself well to fertility magic.

You will need:
A piece of green cotton cloth (10x10)
sewing needle
green thread
a piece of paper
an image baby(s)
egg shells from fertilized egg
3 (or nine) fertility plants - wheat, myrtle, rice, nuts of all kinds, carrots, rye, barley, pine cones, acorns, juniper, pine, cedar, lemons grass, honeysuckle, turnips, apple seeds
Stones such as geodes and jade

Cut cloth in to a circle
Write goal (baby girl, twins etc) on piece of paper
On a new moon, meditate over your ingredients, infusing them with your desire to have a baby(s)
Continue to meditate for at least 15 minutes everyday, until the full moon.
On the full moon, combine all the ingredients int he green cloth and and sew it up.
Hold the talisman over your belly and say,
"Goddess, grant me fertility.
A healthy child, life to be.
The sacred egg, seed in my womb
From my blessed body, a baby will bloom.
A child whose blood comes from mine
A child I shall birth in nine months time."

Eostre

In honor of the Anglo-Saxon Goddess Eostre (say ESS-trah), the Spring/vernal equinox was named Ostara. When the Saxons invaded Britain, they introduced Eostre and the traditions that honor her to the Celts, who later adopted her into their own pantheon. Her name means "moving with the waxing sun."

Around the time of the Spring Equinox, animals would start to give birth or going into their "estrus" cycle, so named after the goddess. The ancient Celts, who lived in a close symbiotic relationship with their livestock, celebrated the return of life with a festival in her name. Eostre is seen as Spring personified. To the Celts, she is the goddess of rebirth, new beginnings and fertility. Her symbols include the "sun cross," the egg, the rabbit, flowers and baskets. The legend of the Easter bunny originally started as a story of offerings in her name. A small rabbit came across and egg at the beginning of Spring. He was hungry after the long winter and wanted very badly to eat the egg. But instead, he decorated the egg and gave it to Eostre as an offering.

Spring has Sprung!

After a hectic month, we are rededicating ourselves to blogging & sharing.
For Ostara, the coven gathered for brunch & egg decorating.
Did you know you can dye eggs with food coloring and vinegar?
Here is the currant scone recipe from our Spring brunch:

2 Cups flour
2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried currants

Preheat the oven 450 degrees F
Place the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder and sugar) in bowl.
Rub in butter with your fingers.
Mix in currants and stir.
Mix in milk with fork until dough forms.
Turn dough out onto a floured surface.
Sprinkle with a little flour and lightly knead.
Flatten it into round circle 1/2-inch thick.
Cut into 8 triangles.
Lightly flour cookie sheet.
Put on cookie sheet 2 to 3-inches apart.
Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes.

Pagan Wiccan Wheel of the Year Calendar Dates 2009

Pagan and Wiccan Holy Days of the Year.

February 1st - Imbolc. Moonrise @ 9:53am

March 20th - Spring Equinox or Vernal Equinox @ 5:44am

May 1st - Beltane. Moonrise @ 12:12pm

June 20th - Summer Solstice @ 11:43am

August 1st - Lughnasah . Moonrise @ 4:32pm

September 22nd - Fall Equinox or Autmnal Equinox @ 3:23pm

October 31st - Samhain. Moonrise @ 4:32pm

December 21st - Winter Solstice @ 10:46am