Its the Spring Equinox on 20th March, also known as Ostara one of the eight ancient Celtic festivals. Plus the next full moon is tomorrow on 18th March.
If you have been wanting to tune into the earthly rhythms, the wheel of the year and the lunar cycle are the perfect reminders to explore some simple rituals.
My full moon ritual
- cleanse yourself and space by burning dried sage
- recognise that now is a great time to release and let go
- revisit intentions and goals and looks at anything that is holding you back or standing in your way.
- write these down and burn them
- take a moonlit walk, no matter the weather
- put a glass of water outside in the moonlight and drink your moonwater the next morning.
As an aside it is worth looking into the similarities of the moon's cycle and our menstrual cycle. i also read recently in Sally Beaton's book that the 'men' in the words menarche, menstruation, and menopause come from the Green word 'men' meaning month and 'mene' meaning moon. If you are interested in this let me know I can signpost you to some amazing recourses.
My Ostara traditions
I normally join Ostara and Easter celebrations together as they are often very close together. However this year the gap is bigger, though it just means more time to spread out the activities.
- make or buy hot cross buns and have a poetry tea time full of spring poems. The cross on the buns can represent the perfect balance at this time of year when nigh and day are in equilibrium.
- blow and decorate eggs and have an blossom branch on the table to hang them.
- getting the garden ready and sowing seeds
- making a cleansing herbal infusion with the fresh new herbs emerging now. I infuse nettles, cleavers and dandelion leaves in cold water overnight and enjoy the next day. *Just be careful if you have any kidney issues when using nettles as they are a strong diuretic.
I hope these have given you some ideas for celebrating this season.
|