Crystal Aura Gaze

Happy Ostara!

Ostara is the Pagan celebration of the Spring Equinox, or First Day of Spring. On this day, the light and the dark are perfectly balanced – and the light is beginning to take over. The days will get longer and brighter.

Persephone returns back from the Underworld

It is said that the reason for Spring and Autumn is connected to Persephone. She is daughter of Demeter, who is goddess of harvest.

When Hades abducted Persephone and dragged her to the Underworld, her mother was so devastated to lose her that she caused all of the crops to dry up and stop growing – causing autumn and winter. When Persephone returned, Demeter brought the plants and crops back to life, causing spring and summer.

Persephone is bound to Hades in the Underworld by pomegranate seeds. She spends half of the year in the Underworld with Hades – while Demeter mourns her during autumn and winter. And then she returns – and Demeter rejoices during spring and summer.

On the first day of spring (and the first day of autumn, too), I like to replay the story of the abduction of Persephone.

[1]  I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter, awful goddess — of her and her trim-ankled daughter whom Aidoneus rapt away, given to him by all-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer.

[4]  Apart from Demeter, lady of the golden sword and glorious fruits, she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the narcissus, which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to please the Host of Many, to be a snare for the bloom-like girl — a marvellous, radiant flower. It was a thing of awe whether for deathless gods or mortal men to see: from its root grew a hundred blooms and is smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above and the whole earth and the sea’s salt swell laughed for joy. And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands to take the lovely toy; but the wide-pathed earth yawned there in the plain of Nysa, and the lord, Host of Many, with his immortal horses sprang out upon her — the Son of Cronos, He who has many names.

[19] He caught her up reluctant on his golden car and bare her away lamenting. Then she cried out shrilly with her voice, calling upon her father, the Son of Cronos, who is most high and excellent. But no one, either of the deathless gods or of mortal men, heard her voice, nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit: only tender-hearted Hecate, bright-coiffed, the daughter of Persaeus, heard the girl from her cave, and the lord Helios, Hyperion’s bright son, as she cried to her father, the Son of Cronos. But he was sitting aloof, apart from the gods, in his temple where many pray, and receiving sweet offerings from mortal men. So he, that Son of Cronos, of many names, who is Ruler of Many and Host of Many, was bearing her away by leave of Zeus on his immortal chariot — his own brother’s child and all unwilling.

Hymn to Demeter, Homer, ~600 BC

On Spotify:

• The Abduction of Persephone – Mythology
• Persephone – The Birth of Spring – Myths of the World
• PERSEPHONE: Pomegranates and A Story of Power – Styx and Bones

(More Spring goddesses to honor here.)

Spring Cleaning

The first few days of spring are a great time for deep cleaning. But cleaning should be thought of as a chore. It should be seen as a spiritual renewal.

With every dusting, spraying, and decluttering, you are clearing out old energy. Winter was a time of rest and isolation. But during this time, we built up a lot of energy, that must be released.

Spring playlist

Side A and Side B of my spring playlist.

A great way to welcome in Ostara is to listen to a playlist – whether you find one online or make up your own! Music is an excellent way of connecting to a specific vibe.

Themes of your spring playlist may include: Spring; the months of March, April, May; youth; starting over; innocence; playfulness; the light, daylight, brightness; flowers and grass; bugs; nature; rain and rainstorms; birds and bees; fertility; rabbits and bunnies; chicks; babies and kids; the forest; wildness; awakening; gaining energy; joy, optimism, and positivity; bravery and excitement.

More…

In January, we planted seeds for the new year, but this is the point of the year in which we are ready to take action. Now, our souls are anxious from resting all winter long, and we are ready to leap ahead.

Go ahead and make some exciting plans for yourself. Start setting dates for the summer. It’s time to get back into the world.

And most importantly, let yourself be young again. Look at the world through a child’s eyes. Be a little childish. Cultivate optimism, as naive as it seems. This is the time and place to be wild and free!