The Sabbat of Ostara: The Origins of the Easter Egg Hunt

The annual hunt for hidden eggs has become a popular spring activity in many cultures around the world. Popularized by Abraham Lincoln in the late 1800s, Easter egg hunts are now anticipated each year by children all across the globe. However, many people are unaware of just how ancient this tradition truly is.

The Ancient Origins of the Easter Egg Hunt

Egg hunting, in some form or another, has existed for at least 2,000 years. Hunting for hidden eggs in the spring was a common practice in Asia and India. It was symbolic of the belief that we are all responsible for our own actions, and that each of us must find a way to renew our own life. The egg was seen as representing reincarnation, so the annual egg hunt was a time to reflect on our own inner balance and decide how best to improve our position in the next life.

The egg hunt also had a deeper meaning, particularly in the East. Searching for eggs was a symbolic representation of the soul’s eternal quest for renewed life. It was thought that the soul might have the opportunity to perfect itself, and so reach the ultimate goal — union with the divine.

Both Germany and Scandinavia had their own egg traditions. Eggs were offered to the Goddess in exchange for blessings or wishes. As Christianity gained power, and Pagan practices were declared illegal, these egg offerings had to be hidden so that the authorities could not find them. An ‘egg hunt’ ensued as those in power sought to find these eggs. This eventually became a game for children.

Historic Egg Hunts in the United States

It was First Lady Dolley Madison who hosted the first ‘egg roll’ on the lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. She did this in 1812 in an attempt to garner support for her unpopular husband, President James Madison.

In 1862, while the horrendous Civil War was ravaging the South, President Abraham Lincoln tapped into the ancient and archetypal symbol of the egg, a real-life representation of new life and hope. He ordered decorated eggs and festive treats to be hidden on the White House lawn. President Lincoln then invited the children of Washington, D.C. to come and search them out on Easter morning. This practice has been upheld by most American presidents, and the tradition was quickly picked up my the rest of the nation.

Egg hunts, with the Easter Bunny, are an ancient and respected practice that was been adopted by many different religions and cultures around the world. Today, many Wiccans and Pagans enjoy the practice of the egg hunt each and every year around the time of the Spring Equinox.

The Sabbat of Ostara: The Legend of the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny has become a staple of the Christian holiday of Easter. However, few realize that this legend has its roots in the Pagan practices of the Anglo-Saxon people. Their celebration of the goddess Eostre gave rise to the modern legend of the Eostre of Ostara Bunny, also called the Easter Bunny.

The Origins of the Easter Bunny Legend

Eostre was the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. Her festival was the Spring Equinox, and it was around this time that many of the local animals gave birth or entered their reproductive cycles (called ‘estrus’ periods in honor of Eostre). The woodland animals, devotees of Eostre, would bask in the warmth of spring and feast on the season’s bounty of spring greens.

Among these animals was a small hare who wished to present his goddess with a gift, but he had nothing of value to offer. One day while foraging for food, the hare came upon an egg. He much desired to eat this egg, for it had been some time since he had feasted on anything better than grass. Just before he cracked the small object, the hare thought that the egg might make a nice gift for the goddess Eostre.

Upon reflection, however, he realized that, as a goddess, she could have eggs any time she wished. His egg was nothing special. It was not fit for a goddess. The hare took his egg home, determined to make it beautiful. He began to decorate it, painting it in Eostre’s colors and adding symbols sacred to her and to spring. When he was satisfied, he presented his creation to the goddess.

Eostre was so impressed by this small gift that she wanted to share it with the children of the world. Children were the greatest symbol of new life, and so of spring, so she felt it was only appropriate that they be the ones to share in her gift. She ordered her hares and rabbits to deliver decorated eggs to the world’s children every spring. Eostre’s Bunnies, as they came to be called, did this with joy.

The Enduring Legacy of Eostre

Today, children around the world decorate Eostre’s Eggs, or some variation thereof. Many followers of the world’s Christian religions create Easter Eggs to celebrate the resurrection of their savior, Jesus Christ. Wiccan and Pagan children decorate Ostara Eggs to welcome warmth back to the earth. There are dozens of other similar traditions around the world.

All of these have a common theme — the celebration of life, death, and rebirth. Eostre and her Bunnies , as well as the Easter egg hunt, have become a part of spring throughout the world, sometimes even for those who do not realize it.

Techniques for Meditation

Many people fail at meditation because they lack the proper technique. Outside the meditation itself, there are several that affect the success of a meditation session. These include focus, posture, surroundings, and the time of day.

Focus During Meditation

Many masters of meditation suggest that focus and concentration during meditation should focus on the third eye chakra, located on the forehead. By focusing on this location and its energies, it is possible to become aware of the higher self, to leave physical and mental difficulties behind. With the attention focused on the third eye, both conscious and subconscious cares can fall away.

Focusing on the third eye has the effect of drawing the eyes upward. This is important during meditation, since eye position does have some effect on the state of mind. When the eyes are pointed downward, the focus is on the subconscious. When the eyes are straight, the conscious mind is the focus. However, when the eyes are drawn upward, a connection to the higher self is much easier to establish.

By focusing on the third eye during meditation, the higher self becomes active. This technique is called the third eye meditation technique, and it simply uses the natural tendencies of the body to shift the mind’s state of consciousness.

Posture During Meditation

There are many different opinions when it comes to the proper posture for meditation. Most of them are right in some respect. Very few are wrong, unless they are painful or uncomfortable.

Meditation should feel comfortable and secure. Any position that meets these requirements is fine, as long as the spine is kept straight. In other words, no slouching. A popular position is to sit cross-legged on the floor, or to kneel, with the spine straight as an arrow. These positions, well fine, are not good for those who are less limber.

An alternative is to sit in a chair that has a straight back, feel flat on the floor. For additional comfort, the chair should have arms. Meditation can also be performed while standing or lying down (though this can lead to sleep). The chair, ground, or other surface should be soft and comfortable, but still allow the back to remain straight.

Surroundings During Meditation

On of the largest mistakes made regarding meditation is the place in which meditation is performed. The space must be quiet, free from outside distractions, such as the phone, children playing, or the dog barking.

From a ceremonial and ritualistic standpoint, the best place for meditation is in a cleansed and consecrated area, such as a church, temple, or circle. Some practitioners will insist that facing the east is critically important. While this may make some slight difference, it is more important to be comfortable.

Before meditating, it is important to take a look around the room and anticipate what, if any, sounds may be distracting. Unplug the phone, feed the dog, or whatever. Nothing interrupts meditation like a sudden sound. Some people like to use headphones, playing soft music to drown out any potential distractions.

The Best Time of Day to Meditate

From a metaphysical standpoint, there are several ways to decide what time of day is best for meditation. There has been some evidence to suggest that the hour closest to a person’s time of birth is the best. And astrological influences are always important, and should be taken into account.

However, for some, these times may simply not work. Ultimately, the time chosen must work in some fashion. Early morning before everyone awakens, or late evening once everyone is asleep. For some, those who are home during the day, afternoon may work well, since no one has come home yet, including those potentially noisy neighbors.

In the end, the key to successful meditation is consistency. The place and time of day should be the same or similar every day. A minimum of fifteen minutes once a day is required to really see the benefit of meditation, but twice a day is better. Without persistence and consistency, the benefits of meditation cannot be fully realized.

How to Find Your Animal Totem

Animal totems have existed in many cultures throughout the world. Recent years have seen a renewed interest in totems and their meaning, and their popularity only continues to increase. Today, many people are searching out their totem animals in the hope of deepening their understanding of self.

What is a Totem Animal?

In essence, animal totems are symbolic objects that are generally used to get in touch with certain qualities that you may already possess, but are hidden. These qualities are found within the particular totem animal, and often, you will feel a specific affinity for the animal totem, but this is not always the case.

It is possible to have several animal totems at different points in your life, as there are several types of totems. Totem animals will come into your life when you need them, and then be replaced when their assistance is no longer required. The direction your life takes will determine which totem animals you attract. These ‘animal guides’ will instruct and protect you, and will guide you back to your natural state of being. That is, they will help you to find the person you were meant to be. However, before they can do this, you must know who your totem animal is.

How Can I Discover My Animal Guide?

Some people know instinctively which animal is their totem without any guidance. Most people do not. If you fall into the latter category, there are several questions you can ask yourself to determine which animal might be your guide at this moment. Remember that your animal guide can change, so revisit these questions whenever you feel the need to.

• Which animal do you feel most resonates with you? In other words, which animal are you most drawn to?
• When you go to your local zoo, which animal do you always insist on seeing?
• Is there an animal that you frequently see in your life with no logical reason? For example, do you see a squirrel every time you turn around?
• If you could only research a single animal, which animal would you choose to research?
• Is there any animal that you find particularly frightening or intriguing?
• When you dream, does the same animal seem to present itself?

Search Yourself For Clues to Your Animal Totem

The answers to these questions may not yield any particular results. For some people, the answers will lead them to believe that they have several totem animals. For example, it is possible that you feel attracted to cats, want to see the monkeys at the zoo, see many squirrels around your house, love to research bears, and are terrified of spiders. Maybe you are also intrigued by horses, and see tigers in your dreams.

It is unlikely that all of these will be your totems all at the same time (though it is possible that they will all eventually have their parts to play). In this case, you’ll want to do some additional searching to find your totem animal. There are some exercises you can do to help you discover your animal guide, but you must never try to force an animal guide to come. They will sense this and avoid you.

This exercise takes patience, but it does eventually work for most people. Start by considering your answers to the pervious questions. Make a list of the animals on that list, and add any animal that has played a significant role in your life at any point. Look around your personal space and see if you have pictures or carvings of specific animals around you.

Start an animal journal. In this journal, record any animal that shows up in your life more than once. Your pet cat doesn’t count, because the cat will obviously be in your life. See if a stray cat sits outside your door frequently. Perhaps ravens gather outside your window. Maybe that hawk just will not get out of your dreams. Add these animals to your list.

Sit quietly and meditate upon your list. Ask that your true totem animal be revealed to you. If you feel the need, use incense, candles, or any other tools you feel comfortable with. Take your time and commit yourself to finding your totem animal.

Be patient when attempting to connect to your animal guide. There are many different types of totems out there, so it may take a while for your own totem to make itself known. Repeat your meditation over and over again until you are successful.

When you do eventually find your animal totem, make sure you honor the animal in question. Fill your space with pictures, paintings, of sculptures of your animal. Perhaps wear a pendant representing your totem. You might even want to have the animal itself in your home, assuming that your totem isn’t something exotic. Your animal totem should be respected as a friend, teacher, and guide.