Friday's Feminist

Eastre, The Great Mother Goddess

The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. The Venerable Bede, (672-735 CE ) a Christian scholar, first asserted in his book De Ratione Temporum that

Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the "Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility [was] known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." She is the Anglo-Saxon personification of the dawn. She is a fertility goddess and a friend to children, and she changed her pet bird into a rabbit to amuse them. Here are some customs my lady of the Spring likes you to enjoy:
Hot cross buns — At the feast of Eostre, an ox, was sacrificed, and its crossed horns became a symbol of the season carved into the bread. The word 'bun' derives from the Saxon word 'boun' meaning 'sacred ox'.
Easter lilies — It's believed that the lily, because of its shape, was associated with the reproductive organs, and therefore with fertility.
Easter candles — The pagans light bonfires to welcome the rebirth of the sun God.

Easter Bunny — The earthly symbol for the goddess Eastre, goddess of the dawn, is the rabbit, a symbol of new life.

Easter eggs — The egg has been a symbol of rebirth and fertility for many centuries. Long before Christianity was introduced, eggs were painted with bright colours to celebrate the sunlight of spring. There's ancient evidence of egg rolling and egg-tossing contests as well as egg gift-giving. In pagan times the egg was believed to have special powers. It was buried under the foundations of buildings to ward off evil, and brides stepped upon an egg before crossing the threshold of their new home. To be given an egg was to wish many children upon the recipient.
Decorating and colouring eggs was a popular custom in the middle ages, and throughout Europe different cultures have evolved their own styles and colours. In Greece, crimson-coloured eggs are exchanged, whereas in Eastern Europe and Russia silver and gold decorations are common, and Austrian eggs often have plant and fern design.

Oh joy, Spring is here! So shine shine, pretty baby be a freind of mine........

Peace

Today, quite unexpectedly I had a yoga class with Baron Baptiste. I thought, "OK, lets just be present and see how I do with this." I had a goooood class. I let go and I didn't fight it. Sometimes a person is in the right head space at the right time. The itty bitty shitty committee is at recess and spirit takes over. It's like walking on water.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, Peace, Peace, Peace
Jai Bhagwan Baby................

Friday's Feminist

In celebration of Women's History Month let's take a moment to give proper due to some of the sister's in this country who gave us a voice, made us stronger and empowered us to be the magnificent women we are today. No better way to start than with Gloria Steinem, an American feminist icon, journalist and women's rights advocate. She is the founder and original publisher of Ms. magazine. As a writer she gained popularity through an expose as a playboy bunny, political coverage of presidential elections and a groudbreaking article in 1962 raising the topic of marriage vs. career which preceded Betty Friedan's work in the Feminine Mystique. "I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career. " She has cofounded several organizations including, The National Women's Political Caucus, the Women's Action Alliance and the Coalition of Labor Union Women. Steinem has been a tirless advocate for all women. She has given us condifience and helped us to stand straight backed and proud knowing were more than equal and up to any challenge. Yeah, you go girl!

"Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry. "

Sunday Peace Prayer

The Soul Garden

Just as the heart becomes carefree

in a place of green, growing plants.

goodwill and kindness are born

when are souls enter happiness.

Rumi

Pray for peace