Also, I wasn't sure if I should have posted this in general or spell suggestions since I'm asking both general questions as well as spell suggestions, plus it's a fairly general spell oriented topic.
Sorry for the double post by the way but I just now noticed that.
This the feast of Ostara.In old times it was a four day holiday/rest period, after the ploughing was finished, and the earth ready for the main planting. It is a Sabbat, so of great significance to Wicca.
In old witchcraft, it was the time that the Oak King rescued the Goddess (Mother Earth)from the Holly King. The first day of Spring.
Easter is very much the reflection of Ostara, much like Christmas is the reflection of Yule.
When you think of Easter, you think rabbits, eggs of many colors, and baskets. Well, Ostara is a goddess of spring. Legend has it, when she was going to change the seasons, she found a bird freezing to death. She picked it up and tried to heal it, but it's wings had frozen and couldn't be repaired. So to save its life, she turned it into a rabbit. Now this rabbit was no ordinary rabbit because, since it was once a bird, it could lay eggs. And since it was touched by Ostara's magic, the eggs were a rainbow of colors. The "Easter Bunny" was born. Well, as all rabbits, he wasn't very faithful (enter dirty mind) and this made Ostara furious! She was so angry at the infidelity of her rabbit friend that she threw him up into space (he is the constellation Lepus). But after a while she felt bad, but not that bad. So he is only allowed one time of the entire year to come down and share his beautiful eggs with the children of the world (the Spring Equinox).
The egg is a very special symbol, because it represents birth. And birth is the theme of this sabbat, as spring breathes new life into our world after the very dead cold winter months. Fertility rituals are most common, and if you don't like the idea of making babies or planting a garden, prosperity rituals can be substituted. :)
As a young maiden I was told the story of the maiden goddess out walking on Imbolc. The maiden was a young goddess of course and a bit impatient. She wanted to get started on her spring transformations so eagerly that she began to cause the trees to bud and the animals to wake. It was however only the begriming of February and a more experienced goddess would have know it was too early for the spring to come. Soon a snow storm moved across the lands and covered everything in a thick blanket of white. Braving the storm the maiden goddess walked through the forest only to find a young bird lying dead from the cold in the freshly fallen snow. She wept at this loss and could not bare the thought that she had caused the animal to suffer. As she sat with tears pouring down, a lovely march hare with fur a silky smooth brown came darting through the undergrowth. He stopped near the maiden goddess and sniffed at her feet. "Why my dear lady are you crying?" the march hare asked. The maiden then produced the dead bird from the folds of her robe and the hare just shook his head. "Oh this will most certainly not do", he exclaimed. "There is nothing that can be done", replied the maiden. "Oh I know just what to do. Please hand me the bird and I will return as soon as I can", explained the hare. The young goddess handed the bird to the hare and with a quick leap he was off. The large tree stump across from the maiden opened to reveal a portal to the underworld and in a flash the hare was through it. For many days the maiden sat waiting for the return of the hare. She would often return to the spot and sit for hours on end listening to the sounds of the forest around her. Then one day, the equinox to be precise, the tree stump opened again and the march hare leapt though. "Oh my dear friend I am so happy to see you! I have waited on your return for days and days. exclaimed the maiden goddess. "I thought perhaps you got stuck in the underworld and could not return!" No my lady I have brought you a gift from the god of the underworld himself", explained the hare. With this he lifted his one paw that held an egg. "I don't understand", frowned the maiden. "It is the egg of the bird you found. I explained your situation to the god of the underworld and he said not to worry. You are forgiven for the mistakes you have made and you are to go forth and bring the spring anew!"
The equinox is also the first day of spring. Many practice fertility rites for both plants and animals. This is a time for beginning new endeavors. Clearing out the old to help bring in the new. This time is also great for renewing old things that really work or benefit life. Remember this time is about the world or nature coming back to life or a resurrection. Tis why it was so easy for the Christians to celebrate their Easter holiday near this time. Most will also celebrate Easter each year on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.
I think all of these are lovely stories to explain the meaning of Ostara.I heard part of these stories when a boy,The main story told to me by my witch teacher was that the Goddess (Mother Earth) was the lover of the Oak King, and was pregnant at Mabon.(September). The Goddess was then captured by the jealous Holly King, and kept prisoner underground.The Goddess was rescued by the Oak King at Ostara. At Beltane,(May 1st),the Goddess gave birth to her daughter Flora; and all the world burst into flower.
Flora then became the Goddess her mother had been,The Earth Mother.
Although all the stories are lovely, perhaps the one I was told is not really for children! The rabbit/hare stories are better!
I heard a story about a rabbit who found an egg and painted it in bright colours as a gift for the goddess and she loved it so much she asked the rabbit to share the gift with the children, but I like kts's story better ^_^
Ostara is all about spring and renual. Think new born animals, bright 'Easter' colours, flowers budding, sweets and dairy products. I usually have a light meal with my coven instead of a huge feast; a salad with strawberries, roast chicken, wild rice, and cheesecake for dessert.
I've never tried speaking with spirits on Ostara, I normally spend it outside doing yard work or walking in the woods. I suppose you could try, though I don't know how successful you would be at this time of the year.
