Eostre and the Spring Hare

Eostre the Anglo Saxon goddess of Spring and New life. This Goddess was such an important Goddess that she was never allowed to be demonised by the church, so the Christian church added what today is known as Easter to it's calendar. Eostre the Shining Dawn is associated with, the awakening of life, and the fertile season. The goddess Eostre may have been interchangeable with many other forgotten Celtic Goddesses of the rising of life, such as the Welsh flower Goddess Blodeuwedd (meaning face of flowers). Eostre is a Goddess of the Moon and fertility, ( the word oestrogen comes from the word Eostre) and her sacred symbols are the Egg and the Hare.

The Hare was said to leave eggs in fields, this actually is due to the fact that Hares make nests in Meadows and quite often near Curlew nests so this could easily be confused as a shapeshifter. The Hare is a native species and due to them living above ground has lead to much habitat loss with fewer meadows and modern farming techniques, unlike the non-native Rabbit, that live and breed in large underground warrens. Sadly the lead roll of the Hare in Easter celebrations has been lost to the Easter Bunny.

However the Magic, Shapeshifting and rebirth associated to the Hares bode well for them in the Celtic times, the Hare was so revered that it was forbidden to kill a Hare. The only time this ban was lifted was at the Spring Equinox when to eat a Hare at this time was to partake in a Shamanic experience with Hares magical powers these could be of a feminine energy with strong associations to The faery folk whom being the Celtic Nature Spirits also seem to connect with Hare magic for healing and fertility. Hare also possesses masculine energies of power and vast strength and stamina.

Hare's connection to Shapeshifting and Shamanic journeying was later also connected with Witches who where said to shapeshift into Hares, these familiars would run wild around the land stealing milk and playing tricks.

On a full moon the Hare can also be seen mixing herbs with a mortar and pestle, thus giving Hares, strong ties with Moon and Silver. Eostre would have been celebrated on the full moon closest to the Equinox and as we come to this time we may want to think about Shapeshifting changes in our own lives and about any New beginnings we wish to work towards.

SACRED HOT CHOCOLATE

For each person:

1 CUP OF COCONUT MILK OR ALMOND MILK

1-2 TABLESPOONS OF RAW CACAO POWDER

1-2 TABLESPOONS HONEY

1 TSP MACA POWDER (OPTIONAL)

PINCH CAYENNE

PINCH CINNOMON

Put all the ingredients, except the cinnamon, into a pan over a low heat. Whisk all the ingredients together thoroughly. Once the ingredients are mixed and hot, pour into cups. Sprinkle with cinnamon. 😊

With Eostre Spring blessings

Wyrd Wytch

For more beautiful felted Hares go to

www.wyrdwytch.co.uk