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Spring Equinox 2015
From Madness to Mindfulness
New Life, New Beginnings
Jennifer Rasmussen
Ostara blessings to all! I am relieved that the Equinox is finally here. This winter was harsher than
usual, which tells me that Mother was in dire need of rest. Despite the bitter cold, I waited patiently
for her to start stirring and returning to life.
You see, I can relate to her. I look forward to winter every year. By the time autumn is nearing its
end, I am ready to build my cocoon and rest. The past couple of years have been especially difficult
emotionally. As many of you know, I have battled anxiety and depression for almost as long as I
have been alive. I have tried medication and meditation, all without success.
Over the last several years, anxiety has deprived me of so much joy as well as my ability to be
myself. I have lived in a constant state of fight-or-flight, which is so unhealthy for body and mind. I
have tried to develop a mindfulness practice, but something always managed to get in the way.
Things had gotten to the point that I didn’t want to leave the house. I even considered quitting
Imramma/The Sunday Stew. Thankfully, when I told Kallan that I thought I should just stick to my
behind-the-scenes role she told me, “That’s just your anxiety talking.” I knew she was right.
Several months ago I purchased three books on working through anxiety and depression without
medication (unless absolutely necessary). But, now that spring is here and I am almost finished with
classes for an endorsement to my teaching certificate, I am going to focus on kicking depression and
anxiety disorder’s sorry backside.
This spring, I am tackling these beasts and showing them that they are not the boss and will no
longer be taking up space in my life. From what I have learned already, it can take as few as six
months or as much as over a year for significant results. That seems like a long time, but it is nothing
compared to the time I have lost because of the control they have had on my life. I know I will
stumble, even fall, but I will win. I hope that by sharing my successes and failures with you, I may
help not only myself but others who silently battle the same demons.
I want my life back and I am going to take it. After all, a Witch who cannot heal herself cannot heal
others.
Jennifer is a Witch and a teacher from the northwest suburbs of Illinois. She can often be found
talking to her garden plants, sitting with a crochet needle in one hand and yarn in the other, or
perusing the ‘net for lesson plans. She is co-owner of Leave them in Stitches, which can be found on
Facebook.from the information it contains, for example, employees or people interested in
purchasing a product or in requesting your service.
Imramma Magazine
Page 2 of 18
Sparkle and Shine
Ostara
Renee “Sosanna” Olson
As a devotee of the goddess Hecate, spring is an important time of the year. In one
of the most popular myths related to the goddess, Hecate participates in the search
for the captured Persephone in the underworld by the god Haides. After an eventful
search, rescue, and deal with Haides, Persephone stays as his wife and queen in
the underworld, returning in the spring. Her mother, Demeter is said to be so
distraught that when her beloved daughter descends into the underworld all the life
dies on the earth only to return the following spring when Persephone returns.
Hecate accompanies her on this journey each season, using her torches to light the
way and her keys to unlock the passage to and from the underworld.
“Spring is Nature’s way
of saying, ‘Let’s Party!’.
~Robin Williams”
Spring is when we look to welcome a burst of new life over the planet. We plant our
seeds that we blessed at Imbolc and sow them deeply in the warming soil. This is
the time when we see new life often in the form of bunnies and ducklings and pets
in the pet store to the marshmallow kind that grace Easter baskets across the
United States. For me, this is the time when my flowers are blooming and I’m able
to finally get my hands in the soil.
As a potter, I work with the Earth in the form of clay in my studio all year; however
there is something different when I’m able to get my hands into the soil for the first
time of the growing season. Remembering my Imbolc ritual blessing of the seeds, I
go out into the garden and begin with a deep breath and complete the following:
Using my hands I dig into the soil feeling the energy flow through my hands. I
visualize the flow of energy from my body to the seed as it drops into the soil. I
cover it when the soil imagine the walk of Hecate from the darkest parts of the
underworld bring forth Persephone and breathing life back into the world. She
comes forth from beneath the earth and breaks through the ground escorted by
Hecate Chthonia, Hecate Phosphoros, and Hecate Propolos!!
Ostara Blessings!
Sosanna is blogger, shop owner and spiritual counselor located in rural North
Carolina.
Page 3 of 18
Imramma Magazine
The Witch’s Way
Building the Circle: Pagan Community
Michele Warch
Is there an inherent responsibility for action and formation for all members of the pagan community? We continue
the series with Irene Glasse:
Q: Where do you see the Pagan community's boundaries?
A: The border between the Pagan world and consensus reality is remarkably permeable, and depends a lot on the
situation of the individual practitioner. I think some of us love community--we seek out Pagan meet-ups, date within
our belief system, find other families to play-date with, get involved with local groups, etc. Others genuinely prefer a
solitary experience and only join up with other Pagans at large festivals/moots, if then.
As a whole, it makes us an unusual community. We fluctuate a lot in terms of our numbers and needs. And that, of
course, influences our boundaries. In a community with many adults but few families, it may be hard for Pagans with
young children to meet all their community needs. Likewise, in a community full of families, a single adult Pagan
may feel a bit left out. So we continue to learn and adapt. I think that flexibility is one of our greatest strengths as a
community.
Q: What would you like to manifest regarding our concept of community?
A: I would like to see a little more tolerance all around for the different kinds of families and family structures within
greater Paganism. I hear from a lot of people that we're still very much in a learning phase when it comes to families
with children. I've also heard of discomfort and awkwardness when a poly family first enters some communities. Like
it or not, most of us are the product of the West--on a deep level, we have deprogramming to do. Children really do
matter and can add a lot to a spiritual practice. Love comes in all shapes and sizes. Simple things, but we're still
smoothing over our historical rough edges.
Q: How would you describe your own tradition in 100 words or less?
A: I am a creative, eclectic Wiccan. I am no longer a member of any one particular tradition. Although I have a very
classical pedigree, I find my calling more toward Mysticism than formal Wicca. So, my rituals resonate strongly with
my spiritual upbringing but also contain influences from other spiritual paths…modern and ancient. Basically, I like to
build my own practice. What works, stays. What doesn’t, gets revised.
Q: What projects are you currently working on?
A: I am a yoga teacher, and one project I'm currently working on is finding ways to make the physical practice of
asana serve Pagan spirituality…developing yoga practices that honor the transitional energies of the High Holidays,
and I plan to expand into spellwork at some point. Every pose in yoga has a particular energy; just like an herb.
Accessing the energy of those poses within a Pagan context holds a lot of potential. I'm also working on a new
musical project, but you'll have to be patient for more news on that.
Michele "Rhiannon" Warch is an ecofeminist witch and priestess in the Sisters of the Spiral Moon coven, a goddess
oriented group of women; a diviner, oneirocritic, environmentalist, writer and blogger; co-coordinator of her state's
pagan meet up group.
Imramma Magazine
Page 4 of 18
Saga’s Cottage
Ostara Craft
Loren “Saga” Morris
Blessed Ostara, everyone!
I have a delightful and fairly easy craft for you. A child would enjoy this one too, I think.
You can make this as elaborate or easy as you would like. It takes minimal clay-working
skills. It does take a small amount of patience when painting your item. I don't generally
use the colored clay because it isn't in the color that I want, and I would have to paint it
anyway. I also like to use Original Sculpey for my crafts.
This will make a lovely altar/home decoration when you are finished. You can use one of
the crystal ball stands to set it in.
Spring Goddess by
Loren Morris
Emu eggs are a beautiful vibrant green color with a great shell texture. They look like
they came from the Emerald City. They can be pricey when looking for them. You want
to be picky about them also because you don't want an extra-large hole in the bottom of
it. The smaller the better.
Items needed:
Emu egg
Original Sculpey Clay
Acrylic paints in your choice of colors
If you want you can use a face mold for her face and leaf molds for the vines.
Start with a clean, dry egg. Do not scrub your egg. The color of the egg will scratch off if
treated harshly.
For this project I would like to convey the fertility and abundance of nature in spring, so
I'm going to make a full-figured, lovely spring goddess in beautiful greens.
To continue reading:
http://sagascottage.blogspot.com/2015/01/spring-goddess-ostara-emu-egg-craft.html
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
― Margaret Atwood, Bluebeard's Egg
Page 5 of 18
Imramma Magazine
Tiffany’s Gumbo
Decisions of Change
By Tiffany Newson
I heard the geese honking outside and the first thing I though was, “Finally spring has arrived!” For Georgia, spring
means the rainy season. It is thunderstorms, windy days, and tornado warnings. I love it because Mother Nature is
shaking up the world; stirring it from its deep slumber. It is a time to be alert for changes on the horizon and open for
the renewing that needs to be taken place.
When you're shaken, the things we hold on to so tightly are either loosened or even dropped because we realize it
serves us no purpose. We are forced to look at situations and people in a broader window than we would have
without the harsh change.
Rain and thunderstorms are frequent during this time of year. The abundance of water is there to replenish, renew,
and remove all the old and dead things. There are times when the rain turns into flooding. When this happens in our
lives, it's generally because we are not open enough or are holding on to dead things that can no longer be revived.
We drown ourselves because of our inability to be like the water and go with the movement. It's not the rain’s fault
but a reminder that all things go in a cycle and it’s time to open and allow change to take place.
Scary and dangerous situations also happen where the winds pick up so much that it turns into a tornado swirling
and destroying everything in its path. These are the times that terrify us because it gives us little time to prepare and
think of a strategy. It forces us to rely solely on ourselves and our ability to act quickly lest we also are caught up in
the winds. That moment between when you see the funnel form and it touches the ground is crucial. Are we bringing
everything we can hold, letting go of everything and finding our stronghold, or are we still scrambling in shock?
Spring is the time of forced change. How you react to it determines how the change will come.
Tiffany's Gumbo was melded together for her love of spice and desire to bring more urban and ethnic flavors to the
world.
Want more Broome Shtick?
Visit Rob’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Broome-Shtick/1457812467779372
Page 6 of 18
Imramma Magazine
A Green Witch’s Tea Party
My Ostara Cup of Tea
Rev. Amy Blackthorn
“Nature’s first green is gold.” -Robert Frost
What can you say about spring, when buried under a foot of snow? We know spring will eventually come.
The days are just starting to feel longer, but it is still cold. We need that first burst of green. Yet, we soldier on
because of the promise of light.
How do you recognize that spring is on its way? I get inspired. It’s a twinge that runs from my brain to the tips of
my fingers and leads me to creating fantastic things. The spark of life that begins at Ostara isn’t just about
crocuses and snowdrops. It is the quickening of the heart, and body. The melting of the snow is a reminder of
the change needed in the world.
How do we branch out in our own lives to not only accept that change, but to encourage it? Two words: road
opening. Many cultures view the spring as a time of birth, but how can we grow if we’re still mired in the past?
We can’t. We cannot run ahead if we’re still dragging our feet through past arguments and misfortune. It’s time
to cast off that baggage and step into the future you deserve.
This time last year I left a toxic job. I knew I needed a change of pace in my career, so I dug out a road-opening
oil and started anointing a candle. The doorbell rang, and when I came back to my work, I ran face first into a
wall of lemony freshness.
You see, a good portion of road-opener type oils use a citrusy scent. The idea of that bright acidic scent cutting
through the murk is almost universal. If we translate those same ideas to our tea rituals we can help bring back
the light.
So let us blend you your own Ostara tea to help get rid of the mire of the last few months. Blending sounds
intimidating, but the tea aisle of your local shop can be really empowering. There is a lot of debate over loose
vs. bagged tea and it mostly comes down to quality of the tea. Let’s face it, the most magical and delicious tea
ever created does us no good if it’s so expensive you won’t drink it.
Things to think about:

If you want a softer tea flavor, I’d start with something like a jasmine green tea as a base.

It’s okay to use the herbal, rooibos, or honeybush-based teas if you’re sensitive to caffeine.

If you really are hesitant about blending your own, Google “Ostara Teas” and order some that someone
has already blended. You could buy Lemon Zinger and it’s still going to be about your inner experience.
You’ll still enjoy drinking it.

Don’t stress about the ‘right way’ to do it. You can add Lemongrass or Blood Orange tea bags to black
tea or find something more subtle. This is about your taste and spring cleaning those cobwebs, not
about proscription.
Rev. Amy Blackthorn has been described as an "arcane horticulturalist" for her Green Witchcraft, her work as a
Plant Spirit Oracle and her history of teaching the creation of herbal remedies. Amy has 22 years in Paganism.
Amy started her formal schooling in horticulture, herbalism, and agriculture and somehow all of that “higher
education” didn’t stamp out her love for the arcane. Amy opened her own tea shop in Feb 2014 and never
looked back. You can connect with Amy at her website, http:///blackthornhoodooblends.com and like her page
on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BlackthornHoodooBlends
Page 7 of 18
Imramma Magazine
Beneath a Frosty Moon
Ostara
Snow Moon
After many months of bitter cold, and layers upon layers of clothing; spring has finally arrived! It hasn’t been great
for snow-lovers like me, however judging by what others have experienced, I shall not complain!
Traditionally, Ostara falls on the spring (or vernal) equinox. Seasonally, it is the time of year for rebirth, growth, and
nature waking from its long, cold, winter slumber.
Although spring is not one of my favorite seasons, I love watching the transformation of the earth from barren,
brown, and frozen white, to a burst of greens and foliage blooming in every color under the rainbow.
It is quite stunning to watch Mother Nature paint the world with so much life, love, & energy. The word equinox is
derived from Latin, meaning “equal night”. During the spring and autumn equinoxes the Earth’s tilt is neither away
from, nor towards, the sun but perpendicular.
The spring equinox is known as an equal point or point of equilibrium. Astronomically, the spring equinox brings a
balance of light and darkness. Though, in this case, light will begin to grow and ‘conquer’ darkness, as far as total
daylight hours.
The energies of male and female become balanced at this time. For the celebration of spring and Ostara, I enjoy
doing more of a low-key blessing that I write myself.
I prefer to weave my blessing into a mini ritual that is cloaked with many wonderful spring colors, visuals, scents,
and tastes. I decorate my altar or dining table with various fresh flowers; usually my favorite colors, which are blue
and purple, with a few extras thrown in like pink, yellow, or greens.
I create an Ostara essential oil to burn and love experimenting with some of the different spring scents I am drawn
to during this special time of year. I use ylang-ylang, jasmine, sweet orange, lemon, frankincense…Just choose
whatever evokes a feeling of “spring” to you.
For an Ostara fire, I select candles in light pastel colors of blue, pink, mauve, yellow, or white. Prior to reading my
new Ostara blessing, I pop into the kitchen and brew up a nice spring time beverage to enjoy post-blessing.
Usually, it becomes a nice fruit spritzer or custom drink like frozen raspberry lemonade to toast the new season the
right way!
Once I am in position, I quietly sit and contemplate what the season means to me and what positive changes I
would like to implement in my life heading into this time of transformation.
I focus on these changes as I light each candle. I also light a small black votive or tea light candle and quietly
reiterate everything I wish to banish or let go of that has lingered through the colder season. I then recite my new
Ostara blessing.
As you can see, I keep my celebration simple, quiet, & peaceful.
I wish all of you many bright blessings throughout the spring season and beyond.
Below is my Ostara blessing for this year, please enjoy!
Light and dark are balanced, Spring has now arrived, For every breath that nature stirs, The earth has come alive.
Pinks and purples, Reds and blues, Earth is wrapped in rainbow hues. As we prepare for all that’s new, The gentle
air of spring will flow, As we prepare for all that’s new, Earth’s sacred bounty now will grow. As winter sheds its icy
cloak,The earth begins to melt, For every sacred bud that grows,Her re-birth now is felt. Dance into the fields of
green, Let the sun caress your skin, Release your soul from winter’s grasp, And now embrace the light within.
Bless us all this equal day, When the warmth begins to grow, Bless our homes, our lives, our loves, Through
solstice heat, And winter’s snow…
Blessed be
Snow Moon* ©
Snow Moon started walking the path of the Craft at twelve. She is passionate about reading, writing, celebrating
the Wheel of the Year in every aspect. She also knows her way around the kitchen and loves to share what she
cooks up with friends and family.
Page 8 of 18
Imramma Magazine
We Are All Worth Catching
Ostara – An Emergence
Renee Avard
A long, dusty road. Lights burned out. Fog settles in. But I keep going. Turning a blind corner in anticipation. It's
only another challenge. The sand kicks up. Visibility is at its lowest. No clarity. Panic is threatening to swallow the
little bit of the clear path that is left. Hope becomes a rare commodity and feeling loved – just as rare. “I'm alive! I'm
alive!” is heard far in the distance. The wheel is turning.
I know the above might seem like I am not grateful for the winter, but that is not true. I am always thankful. Those
days of seclusion have their place along the wheel. The stir-craziness of the same four walls was taking over and,
without much of a way out, a feeling of being trapped settled deep inside me.
But then – I can feel it all around me. Light, celebration, growth, and joy are all being ushered in by the great
Sabbat of Ostara. Light greens, purples and pinks begin to sprout up in a variety of places from dreams to the
graphics I tend to draw closest to me to my wardrobe. And while it would still be a few weeks before Spring would
finally be considered 'here', its very promise is enough for us all to get our act together and begin dusting ourselves
off. Especially me.
I find freedom from my Den of Solace where the winter kept me cocooned (for good reason). But now, I am set. I
am ready. I am being called to play. I will heed the call. She never steers me wrong. I feel a true emergence in
Ostara, not only in the physical acts of stepping out of the dark and squinting at the bright lights, but also in the
emotional act of suddenly feeling deep down inside that I am not meant to be still. It seems I am to be out of the
house more. And active.
Ostara brings about a world of new opportunities, new chances and hope after coming out of a place of fear and
dismantled psyches. The “glooming” of the winter Sabbats may have left residual effects and it is best to remember
the curtain needs to be opened slowly so the dust won't just go everywhere. This cleansing needs to take place but
at a slower, gentler pace. It cannot be rushed, or this new found healing will not go easy, resulting in a lengthier
process.
Ostara is a wonderful reminder to me that the Gods and Goddesses are never far – they are always planning our
next adventure. And they do not leave us hanging. That is what makes life so dang gorgeous. I plan on enjoying all
of the simplicity of this season I can and let go of the complexities I tried to tangle myself up in while I was in my
Den.
I have beauty entering my life – we all do. Ostara assures us of that.
Renee has two books forthcoming and her poetry, Magic Musepirations, and random thoughts can be found at
http://reneeavardfurlow.com .
Page 9 of 18
Imramma Magazine
The Muses’ Mouthpiece
Ciel Luciole
The Spring Equinox is upon us! Or, at least that’s what the calendar says. Right now the landscape outside of my
window is covered in a couple feet of snow, a fact that is true for a good chunk of the country right now. Whether
you call it the Spring Equinox, Ostara, or something else, the themes that permeate this Sabbat are universal. It’s
about hope, renewal, birth/rebirth, and new life “sprouting” up in all its forms. We’re all familiar with that old
chestnut, and there is nothing wrong with it! But there’s more to it than that. There always is, isn’t there?
It’s also planting season and that means it’s time to plan the seeds of our hopes and dreams, those things we wish
to see grow in our lives in the coming year. More than that (yes there’s more!), it is also a season of purification, of
“spring cleaning”, and clearing away those things that might hinder our growth. Yes I know, many (if not most)
traditions view Imbolc/Candlemas as the Sabbat of purification, and if that is how you and your tradition do things,
awesome! But for me and my tradition purification comes at the Equinox. You can easily see the correlation in the
physical/mundane act of tending a garden. Before planting you must clear away the debris of the winter that might
be cluttering up your garden beds. In essence you have to “pull the weeds”.
If you have a garden and are lucky enough to live in a region of the country that allows for planting as soon as the
Equinox the act of clearing the garden beds and planting the seeds you will be growing can become a magical act
in and of itself if you visualize the elements of your life you wish to clear away and the hopes you wish to see
manifest in the coming year while you’re at it. But not everyone has a garden and, depending on where you live, it
is entirely possible the ground will still be too frozen or muddy and flooded to do any actual planting just yet. That is
where the symbolic act comes in! We Pagans do love our symbolism, don’t we?
My coven will be symbolically “pulling the weeds” of those things that no longer serve us by using the purifying
power of the Pine. As part of our Spring Equinox Rite we will pass a pine bough over our bodies while focusing on
those things we wish to rid ourselves of, essentially brushing them away. Then, the pine bough will be burned. A
seed will then be planted in an individual starter pot to symbolize those things we wish to see grow and manifest in
our lives.
Whether physically or symbolically, it’s time to clear the garden beds, pull the weeds from your life and get down to
the business of growth and manifestation. May all the seeds of your hopes and dreams bear fruit in the coming
seasons. Blessed Equinox, Witches!
C.L. (Ciel) Luciole is the Founder and Priestess of the Covenant of the Silver Grove and its community offshoot
The Silver Grove Society. She shares her life with a sassy feline and is known in her community for her irreverent
nature. This is no more evident than on her personal blog where she dishes up a weekly dose of sacred snark.
Find Ciel on her blog, http://bewarybitches.wordpress.com/ or her Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/bewarybiotch
Page 10 of 18
Imramma Magazine
Contemplations of a Crone
Welcoming Spring!
Jeanne Gripp
Spring may seem far off with the mountains of snow that many people see out their windows. But, the Maiden is
ready to rise from her Winter slumber. The Maiden's clock is set to awaken her upon the arrival of Spring,
regardless of the weather. And, soon enough she will shake the snow out of her hair and paint the land with greens
and other bright colors from her palette. With careful observations, one may see bright spots of green grass or the
ever welcome color of early blooming bulbs.
Growing up, we had traditions to welcome the seasons and to celebrate the holidays. As a child, I remember
counting the days ‘til the next fun event and preparing for it with the excited anticipation that only a child can
exude. Growing up in a very Christian area, Ostara was called Easter and it was celebrated separately from the
Vernal Equinox. Depending on where the two holidays fell on the calendar, the Spring celebrations might be
extended for a couple of weeks.
Spring was ushered in by bringing inside branches of forsythia and dogwood to force into bloom. My mom made
sure I was awake before sunrise to help her welcome the sun and thank it for returning with the promise of Spring.
An abundance of crocus, many of which Mom & I had lovingly planted the previous Autumn, would help us
welcome the return of light and warmth by showing off their bright yellow centers.
Easter memories are of bunnies and chicks made from pompoms dancing alongside brightly colored eggs and
flower crowns. Eggs were a large part of the celebration growing up. We would dye them, paint them, glue on bits
and bobs to give them a ‘new’ look. We would choose an egg and decorate it for the annual egg roll.
It wasn't until I was much older that I realized that the egg roll was actually an egg divination. We would mark a
hard-boiled egg with various signs depicting ways to either solve a problem or what we’d like to see happen in the
future. We would roll the eggs down a slight incline of our sidewalk and when the eggs had stopped, we would look
at the sign on top to tell us what we desired to know. As a child, I just thought it was fun to draw pictures of events
on an egg with a wax pen and then dye it a pretty color.
Now we have new traditions to add to those memories. We welcome the Maiden by eating scrambled eggs and
onions, a custom belonging to my husband's Cherokee ancestors. A bonfire is lit as a tribute to the rebirth and
renewal of the season. Later, the ashes will be spread over the garden and flowerbeds. Candles of green are
carved with runes, anointed with oils and lit. Seeds are blessed and planted in pots for the Summer’s garden.
However you celebrate, may the Maiden bless you this Season.
Jeanne Gripp is a Mixed Media and Sculptural Artist, Subtle Energy Worker and Dowser who lives in the heart of
the Colorado Rockies. An Animist, Jeanne is also the Keeper of the blog, The Candy Corn Chronicles.
Page 11 of 18
Imramma Magazine
There and Back a-Hen: Just a Bunch of Clucking
Nonsense
“Pogo Stick”
Melissa “Chicky” Cassick
Oh, spring! Season of renewal! Season of new growth! Time to make changes! The time of year to get off
your duff and do something different!
But I’m not.
I lost my babysitting job at Christmas. Not of much consequence monetarily, but it provided a few extra
bucks, and gave me a small sense of purpose beyond caring for my own family.
Then there was nothing on my calendar.
And I had to figure out what to do next.
And I decided that maybe I didn’t need to do anything just now.
I considered job hunting but kept hitting a brick wall. I have limited availability because of kid schedules, we
have only one vehicle, and we have no available child care. After a great deal of discussion with my beloved
husband, we both came to the conclusion that until the youngest is old enough to be alone for a short time
after getting off the bus, home was the best place for me to be. (Those of you who are familiar with my
youngest are imagining that to be about 35 or so.)
So instead of “springing forward,” I am hopping up and down in place.
For a person as introverted as I, the return to full-time mommery is a dream come true. I love my home. I
love having time to cook and clean (something I enjoy more than most people think is normal.) I love sewing
and crocheting. And yes -- I love wasting a bit of time each day on goofy websites that have lots of “Doctor
Who” memes and gifs of bouncing llamas. Honestly, though, I wasted time in similar fashion while at my last
office job. That’s our secret.
Ostara’s message is often one of new awakenings and new beginnings. But for me this year, the message
is, “Sit still and let the world awaken around you.” For the first time in over twelve years, I have time to really
appreciate my home and the insane happiness that lies with its walls. I can goof off with my kids without
worrying about all the things I need to do. There is no hurry, no anxiety. I can sit against the rough bark of a
tree trunk, breathe in the damp fresh air, and watch my flowers bloom.
Chicky lives with her beloved husband in a farmhouse in the city, where she raises herbs, guinea pigs, and
children. She sews, crochets, and can cut with big girl scissors. In her spare minute each day, she writes
short stories, poems, and parodies. She worships the Earth, finding the location convenient.
Page 12 of 18
Imramma Magazine
The Magical Gardener
Mother Earth Awakens
Johanna Lawson
Something wonderful is about to happen, something for which I have been waiting for quite a while, something
bright and colorful, something warm and inviting, something lively and joyful, something magical and spirit-moving.
Spring is arriving! Mother Earth awakens!
In just five days, the wheel turns to Ostara, the first day of the long-anticipated spring. The cold gray days of winter,
spent planning and dreaming gardens, are slipping away and making room for a multitude of colors and warm
sunny days. The nights will soon be full of the rich scent of thawing earth and the sounds of critters slipping out of
hibernation and back into the wild. I will soon be swapping out the heavy sweaters, flannel-lined leggings, and
mittens for my old jeans, worn t-shirts, and gardening gloves. My winter cocoon will break open, allowing the wings
of my spirit to soar through the warm days of planting my magical garden.
Ostara will find me immersed in magical gardening. My altar will be decked in branches of forsythia, painted eggs,
birds’ nests, floral-scented candles of pale green and yellow, and seed packets to be blessed for outdoor planting.
The first day of spring is my usual time to start some seeds in egg crates, to move houseplants into larger pots,
and to cleanse and charge all my new gardening tools acquired over the winter months. My kitchen will become a
makeshift potting shed for the day, unless Mother Earth decides to grant me a beautifully warm and sunny day to
do my work outside on the patio. I will clean and fill bird baths and feeders and set out any new bird houses,
whether it is cold outside or not.
After a celebratory dinner with my family, it will be time for releasing our wishes for new beginnings into the
evening breeze, for welcoming Mother Earth back from her long winter nap, for blessing the garden for another
abundant growing season, and for welcoming the return of my plant and animal friends who grace our yard each
spring. This is the time when I also send out a call for any new friends I would love to have as residents in my
garden (perhaps an owl this year, maybe, please?). I have also worked out a special blessing for safe emergence
and a happy and healthy season for the mason bees that are currently in their winter slumber in the crisper drawer
of my refrigerator (more on this at a later date!).
My little part of the world is about to burst open, to come to life again, in vibrant colors, beautiful songs, rich and
sweet scents, and brighter and warmer days. A great magic is about to occur – birth, rebirth, reawakenings, new
beginnings, new possibilities, light, warmth. Mother Earth awakens and I am sure I am not alone in shouting a
joyous welcome to her.
Wishing you all a blessed and beautiful Ostara!
Johanna Lawson is a witch, a Mother Earth devotee, a magical and certified Master Gardener, a blogger and
published writer, an activist, a wife and mom, and a domestic goddess, among the many other roles of this life.
You can follow her journeys in these roles at her blog, entitled “Village Wise Woman”, at http://johannavillagewisewoman.blogspot.com
“If spring came but once in a century, instead of once a year, or burst
forth with the sound of an earthquake, and not in silence, what wonder
and expectation there would be in all hearts to behold the miraculous
change!” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Imramma Magazine
The Witches’ Cupboard
Ostara
Autumn Earthsong
As winter turns to spring, we celebrate Ostara. When day and night are balanced,
the days lengthening, and the Sun warming Mother Earth, our thoughts turn to being outside again!
The foods that we use to celebrate Ostara are eggs, of course, but also honey cakes, seasonal fruits, leafy green
vegetables, nuts such as sunflower and pine, dairy, fish, and sweet breads like hot crossed buns. Here are a
couple of recipes to you might like to try to celebrate!
Bountiful Garden Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
6 cups spinach, torn
1 lb romaine lettuce, torn
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 cucumber chopped
1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 orange, peeled and sectioned
3/4 cup blackberries, raspberries and/or blueberries
1/4 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
Garnish: croutons
Place all of the ingredients except croutons into a large salad bowl and toss to mix. Drizzle with Raspberry
Dressing; garnish with croutons. Serves 6-8
Raspberry Dressing
3/4 cup to 1 cup raspberries, crushed
1 cup oil
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
1 TB sugar
2 TB lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients except salt and pepper; whisk well. Add salt and pepper to taste
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Imramma Magazine
Honey-Apple Cake
1 cup chopped pecans, divided
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey
3 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups chopped Golden Delicious apple
*Honey Sauce
Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan; sprinkle bottom of pan with 1/4 cup pecans. Set aside.
Beat sugar, oil, and honey at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time,
beating just until blended.
Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir
in vanilla, remaining 3/4 cup pecans, and apple. Spoon over pecans in pan.
Bake at 350° for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan, and place on a wire
rack over wax paper. Pour Honey Sauce over warm cake. Cool.
Honey Sauce
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup milk
Bring all ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Pour
over warm cake!
Autumn’s Ostara Eggs
12 large eggs
1/2 -3/4 cup Miracle Whip
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
*These measurements are a guess as I don’t measure. Adjust as you need
to.
Hard-Boil your eggs and let them cool.
Halve the eggs lengthwise. Place yolks in a small bowl and mash them with a
fork. Add all ingredients. Mix well. Fill eggs with yolk mixture. Keep cold!
Enjoy! Blessings and love, Autumn
Autumn Earthsong is our resident Kitchen Witch and will have lots of delicious recipes for you to try. She’s been
the recipe writer for Samhain’s Sirens for two years now; and has been our Herbal Witch for The Sunday Stew as
well. She loves to cook for her family and friends, as well as growing her own herbs and studying to be an
herbalist. She believes that you can imbue a lot of Magick and good intentions and healing herbs into your food for
your family and friends. As a wife, mom and Nana she does that for her own family too. You can also find her
blog at http://www.autumnearthsong.com
Page 15 of 18
Imramma Magazine
The Secret Life of the American Witch
The Appointment
By Kallan Kennedy
The time has come for her to arrive in what has become our annual ritual. As she catches me by the arm, and as a
polite gesture, I feign surprise. I am not at all startled; subtlety has never been her strong suit. She is bubbly, chatty
and full of energy, and now she wants to show me her art. I have to admit, it’s difficult to remain dispassionate in
the presence of such infectious effervescence. She is enthusiastic about everything.
We walk along the corridor, and she is sure to stop me to show off her first works; she calls them her “green
phase”. She knows this is my favorite color, and she has certainly used every shade the eye can see. As a mixedmedia artist, her verdant work is breath-taking. I can’t help but admire her talent.
We move to her newer creations, and I can see how she’s progressing in her craft. She’s added splashes of pale
colors and uneven textures that capture my attention and draw me into her vision. The smells run the gamut from
fresh to loamy, and seem to add to the cacophony of the whole. She claps in delight as she takes in my reaction to
it all.
Quite pleased with herself, she hugs me tightly. “See?” she whispers, “It’s not so bad. It’s just my turn on the
wheel. Come on, let me show you something else I’m working on.” She brushes one of her long champagne curls
from her face as she puts her finger to her lips, then motions for me to kneel down next to her. She pulls back
some brush to reveal a litter of bunnies, just a few days old. I gasp, and she giggles, then pulls me away before the
mother rabbit can see us.
She whirls me around in an ebullient dance, and just as I am getting my bearings, I notice the seedlings at the
edge of the forest. I can’t help but laugh now, “Witch Hazel? Really?” She roars, tears streaming down her face. “I
couldn’t help it. The irony was too tempting. I knew if all else failed, you’d have to appreciate that, my beloved
Witch.”
She does this to me every year; melts my heart with her playful presence. She draws me out of my introversion
and brings me into her embrace. She never takes my reluctance as insult. Rather, she accepts the challenge with
glee. She coaxes me back into my role as plant-whisperer and wildlife rescuer, every single time. I take her hand,
and we dance in what will become a field of sunflowers. She lets go of my hand and pirouettes to the end one of
the rows. I yell, “Spring has sprung!” and she guffaws as she waves and moves on.
Next year, I’ll try not to be so reticent.
Kallan Kennedy is a Celtic-American Witch from the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. She is a writer, educator, public
speaker and Morrigan-child. You can find her blogging at theamericanwitch.org or here at imramma.com.
Page 16 of 18
Imramma Magazine
Kids’ Coloring Page Ostara Basket
Page 17 of 18
Imramma Magazine
LaPulia Studios Book of Shadows Pages
Ostara
Rita Digilova
Here are the LaPulia Studios Ostara pages for your Book of Shadows!
LaPulia is dedicated to create your custom-personalized family heirloom Book of
Shadows and by using only archival grade acid-free materials, and binding them in
highest quality genuine leather, we achieve unparalleled quality and durability of our Books.
These books are designed to last for many centuries to come and preserve your family legacy within its pages. We
are so confident in our craftsmanship and quality of materials, that if your Book fails for any reason, we will fix or
replace it no questions asked.
You can choose from the world’s largest selection of leather bound Book of Shadows, Grimoires and Magical
Witchcraft Books. If you cannot find Book of Shadows or Grimoire you like, we can create a custom Book of
Shadows heirloom according to your personal specifications and preferences.
Before we ship, we perform a s special Book Blessing ceremony where we infuse and charge all of our Books with
the magical energy so it becomes a powerful magical artifact needed to serve its owner. Therefore our Book of
Shadows and Grimoires create strong connections with their new owners and will activate and grow their magical
consciousness.
We are dedicated to making your dream Book of Shadows and Magic Grimoire come true.
Shop with confidence and if you have any questions please do not hesitate and call or email us. We would love to
serve your needs.
To download, go to http://lapuliabookofshadows.com/magick-spells-pages-gallery/
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Imramma.com
E-MAIL:
[email protected]
Visit Imramma:
http://www.imramma.com
ABOUT IMRAMMA
In Gaelic, Imramma literally
means “Wonder Voyage.” It is
the journey of the soul to the
Otherworld; our connection to
the eternal; our spiritual quest.
Imramma.com exists to inspire,
connect and assist each lifeauthor in the creation of his/her
narrative through that spiritual
quest.
Your Imramma is a solitary
expedition. It is the sum of your
life and connection to the land,
the spirits, and the magics. For
each of us, it will be different,
but it is vitally important that
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and eagerly to receive the
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Let Imramma.com guide you
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To those for whom hard work
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adventurers of all kinds, you
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Imramma Magazine
About Imramma Magazine
Imramma Magazine is a free, e-publication serving the Pagan and Witchcraft
community by connecting quality unsung writers, artists, and artisans with
their peers. Our goal is to provide insights, food for thought, and fun via this
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