| As we fast approach one of the eight celebrated | | | | recommended as a good time to perform self |
| Wiccan Festivals, Ostara, let's take a look at where | | | | banishing and gain qualities we wish we have. Like |
| this festival originates and what it means to Wiccans. | | | | Christianity, it is a time when the Wiccans decorate |
| The Wheel of the Year is what the Wiccans use to | | | | their houses with painted eggs and baskets of spring |
| celebrate the seasonal cycle of the earth; each | | | | flowers. |
| festival is spaced out every six to seven weeks in | | | | This particular Sabbat (festival) also celebrates the |
| the calendar year. Four of the festivals have Celtic | | | | fertility of seeds blessed for planting and the general |
| origins with Celtic names: Imbolc (February), Beltane | | | | rebirth that comes with spring. Traditional colours for |
| (April/May), Lughnasadh (August) and Samhain | | | | the holiday are light green, pale pink and lemon |
| (October/November) whilst the other four, which are | | | | yellow. Wiccans use Neolithic sites like Stone Henge |
| more commonly known, point to the solar calendar: | | | | to celebrate these festivals, as they continue to act |
| Spring and Autumn Equinox and the Summer and | | | | as gigantic solar calendars showing significant dates |
| Winter Solstice. | | | | for hundreds of years. |
| The festival Ostara is on March 21st and 22nd and | | | | Celebrating and living the Wheel of the Year help |
| celebrates the Spring Equinox which is considered to | | | | Wiccans nurture spiritual roots and deepen the |
| be a gateway where we can pause and reflect and | | | | connection with their spirit. They get to refine their |
| then move into a new time of the year. It is the | | | | practice and show their commitment to their religion. |
| second of 3 spring festivals and is traditionally a time | | | | It also heightens their connection with Earth and |
| used to free yourself from things that hinder you. It | | | | Nature and helps to awaken their relationship with |
| is the day of equilibrium where neither the harsh | | | | land and elements. Each of the eight festivals is an |
| winter nor the merciless summer is present. Night is | | | | important time for all Wiccans and specific rituals and |
| not longer than day, day not longer than night. It is | | | | traditions are undertaken with each. |