Guest Author - Deanna Joseph

The month of March brings with it the promise of warmer weather and longer days here in the northern hemisphere. The Vernal, or Spring, Equinox falls on or about March 20th or 21st, and while it may be raining outside my window as I’m writing this, I know that sunny days with bees buzzing around the flowers are mere weeks away.

Before the advent of Christianity, many Europeans celebrated the vernal, or spring, equinox. The equinox was the beginning of the longer days and warmer weather, and if you lived in a cold harsh climate, spring was truly a blessing to be celebrated in a big way. Where food may have been scarce, the coming of spring meant fresh meat for the table. It meant planting a garden and having fresh fruits and vegetables again.

As the snows were beginning to melt, and the presence of baby animals were beginning to make themselves known, fruit trees blossomed in abundance, a sign of the earth waking from her winter’s sleep to unfold new life on the land. In parts of Europe this celebration was known as Eostar (sound familiar?) or Ostara, and was named after a German fertility goddess of spring of the same name. The hare and the egg, both symbols of the goddess Eostar, represent fertility and rebirth. These symbols have now carried over to the Christian celebration of Easter in which the resurrection of Christ is celebrated.

Whatever you choose to call this celebration, the symbols of Ostara, or Easter, are timeless reminders to live life to its fullest and be present in our lives every day. The metaphorical seeds we plant will bloom to life, and we will eventually have to harvest them. Take time now to dwell in that place of balance and peace, and let those seeds be of love and harmony among our brothers and sisters.