The light and darkness is equal at this time. On Earth the light is proven equal to the darkness as The Child of God is crucified. However, spiritual light overcomes darkness as Jesus conquers the world of the dead and rises, eventually taken to Heaven. Here He awaits the union of the God and Goddess. The God comforts the Goddess through Her sadness. Her tears fall to the Earth as rain. They are bittersweet tears, for She knows that all humans must die but the conquering of the darkness gives Her hope. New life starts to come from the Earth as it celebrates light overcoming darkness. As the second fertility holiday, the God returns to the Goddess to comfort and court Her again, to show His love and tenderness for the world.
History -
The history of Easter is the second most well known story coming from the Bible. It starts with the Last Supper. During Passover, Jesus met with the disciples for a traditional seder. At the end of the dinner he took the bread, broke it, gave it to the disciples and told them to eat it as His body and to continue this tradition in remembrance of Him. He then took the wine, blessed it, gave it to the disciples and told them to drink it as His blood and to continue this tradition in remembrance of Him. He then went to the garden to pray. There he was arrested. He was thrown in jail. The next day, the people of Jerusalem were given the opportunity to free him but they chose to have him crucified instead. After being crowned by thorns and beaten, Jesus was given a cross to carry through the streets. At the end of the journey, He was nailed to the cross and He died. His body was taken to a tomb but not fully prepared because it was the Sabbath. When the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to the tomb but found it was open and the body was gone; replaced by an angel who told them Jesus had risen.
The history of Ostara is also one of re-birth but that of the Goddess who has fully returned to the Maiden form. She and the newly returned God encourage the fertility of the Earth which awakens in Their love and encouragement.
It is believed that Ostara derives from the Germanic goddess Eostre, for which the month of April was named after. A spectacular quote on the Wikipedia page for her states, "Ostara, Eástre seems therefore to have been the divinity of the radiant dawn, of upspringing light, a spectacle that brings joy and blessing, whose meaning could be easily adapted by the resurrection-day of the Christian's God."
Decorations -
Easter decor is typically pastels, rabbits, and eggs or newly hatched chicks. These signs of fertility show the God and Goddess encouraging the Earth to be fertile again. Also, decor of a cross, the last supper, communion, or the ladies at the cross or tomb are appropriate. Purple, green, or gold may also adorn your altar.
Rituals -
Ostara is the time to prepare your garden for planting. A garden blessing at this time would be appropriate. To do this, decide if you need to prepare the soil with any particular fertilizer. Gather together some acorn, marjoram, and poppy. Mix all these together. Then while sprinkling them on the earth or mixing the fertilizer into the soil say:
Goddess of fertility, lend your energy to me now, allow it to prepare this earth to bring forth life as you will in time.
When the soil is prepared thank the Goddess for Her assistance and meditate for some time on what you hope to see in the garden.
For a more complex ritual to honor the God and Goddess, I particularly like this one at About.com.
For me, Ostara is a day of simplicity until getting to seder in the evening. Easter dinner is typically a seder-like dinner which honors the Jewish heritage of the holiday. This very simple, yet effective, ritual has no words to go with it as it is a quiet contemplation:
This is best done outside at sunrise. Gather a white, purple, and green candle. Place the candles in front of you, close together, almost as a triangle. Cast your circle if you wish.
Light the purple candle. Think about the meaning of the risen Jesus in your life. What effect does He have on you? How are you glorifying Him in your daily walk? Are you the Christian you want to be? How can you participate in the rebirth and become who you want to be? How can you honor Him this day?
As your thoughts clear on this topic, light the green candle. Think about the meaning of the earth. What is your connection to the ground beneath you? Are you fulfilling your destiny? Are you walking the path that the God/dess intend for you? Can you make your connection to the God/dess stronger in any way through your actions with the earth and nature? How can you honor Them this day?
As your thoughts clear again, light the white candle. Tie the previous two topics together. Can you start over as pure as the white candle now burning? In what way can God/dess or Jesus help you to do so? Who are you directed to help? How are you directed to live and love?
Sit and commune with nature and the Trinity as long as you need.
If you did cast your circle, without spoken word, close the circle. Move the candles to a place that they can harmlessly burn out. Remember to keep an eye on them! Fire safety must always be practiced.
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