Witches Brew

Officially it’s five more days till Ostara, the first day of Spring. Today was muddy, it was cold, it was snowing, but a small circle of Pagans came together this afternoon to celebrate the changing of the season. Eight or nine adults and three of four children chanted and danced, feasted and magically expressed ouir hopes and desires for renewal in nature and in our personal lives. We colored Easter egg–Ostara eggs–to honor the Goddess and God who bring new life, to be tools in making manifest our magical intentions, and to delight our inner children.

I discovered that the art of coloring eggs has become more complicated since I last dipped one. We had dye in plastic cotton swabs and glitter paint in squeeze tubes… I ended up finger painting eggs with the glitter paint. My inner child was pleased.

Part of our ritual asked for a healing for the honeybees have been dying across the country, and the bats that have been dying this spring in New York and surrounding states. Nature awakens but many of her children have been poisoned and need our prayers.

It’s been a long, cold winter but Spring is just around the corner. A new energy is flowing through the local Pagan community. Two organizations will be holding Ostara celebrations in the coming week. Generally Pagans celebrate eight seasonal holidays. Ostara welcomes the Spring Equinox and the return of new life in nature. And Goddess, are we ready for daylight, balmy temperatures, and new growth.

The newly organized Central Illinois Pagan Society will host their second monthly Meet-Up meeting this weekend at an area bookstore. The February meeting drew an enthusiastic group.

A member of CIPS, who has an online metaphysical store, announced that he is about to sign the lease on a bricks and mortar store, expected to open in Pekin in April, AND he is bringing a major Pagan writer to town for the grand opening.

Exciting times ahead! I will report on events as information becomes available.