Magic in the air!
Magic’s in the air!
High tides are rising
Life cycles turning
Bursts of energy make magic fly
Rebirth is the learning
Monday 20th March sees the Spring Equinox something we all yearn for in those darker days of winter.
The Spring or Vernal equinox which in bygone days was known as Ostara occurs on 20th, 21st or 22nd March.
The Equinox marks when the sun crosses the celestial equator Northwards or the half way point when there becomes equal amount of daylight and darkness. At this time the sun rises directly in the East and sets directly in the West and thereupon after the daylight hours increase until the Summer Solstice.
Have you ever wondered how the Easter Bunny materialised? That cute little being that kindly leaves those scrumptious chocolate eggs?
This welcome little visitor is believed to have evolved from pagan times which were related to the Easter festival.
Eostre or sometimes known as Oestre was the goddess of fertility who was closely associated with symbols like eggs.
The Easter bunny is probably a mistake as the hare is the sacred creature of the goddess Eostre.
The hare is associated with the moon goddesses, the egg and the hare represent the god and goddess respectively.
It is because there are strong traditions with Easter and pagan traditions that hares were strongly associated with witches and witchcraft in early Christian times. People claimed that a witch could shape shift her form at night and become a hare!
The solitary hare standing on its hind legs like a person soon aroused suspicion! Hares scream when in distress and this cry sounded almost human and this again added to the supernatural qualities hares had! They were often accused of ruining crops, stealing milk and food which people assume was the witch in hare form!
People often thought that a witch’s familiar was a hare.
Moon gazing hares were believed to be a positive symbolism as they brought rebirth, positive energies and good luck.
Long before there was a man in the moon, people thought they saw a hare there. And hares are often also associated with Celtic goddesses, shape-shifting, and fertility especially Eostre!.
I have discovered that if you enter a certain Devon church that dates back several centuries, you may see a strange mysterious symbol carved into the wood. It depicts three hares, each figure shares an ear with the next so that only three ears are shown. It’s beautiful in its symmetry and its circular design, but the exact origin and meaning remain a mystery. The recognisable round shape of the figures is, however, undeniably reminiscent of the moon.
No doubt by now you have realised that I have a soft spot for a hare. I sometimes see them cavorting through fields here in Suffolk where I live.
The hare is often shown as a delicate, tender, feminine symbol, and perhaps her association with the moon is a way to make gentle the often harsh mysteries of nighttime. After all, any night, no matter how dark, seems a bit more charming when watched over by a soft-eared hare guardian in the moon’s light.
I am offering silver clay jewellery workshops where you will make silver hare either moon gazing or cavorting!
I have various silver pieces of jewellery for sale too!
Please send any enquiries to susanstudd@btinternet.com
