Druidry as a Spiritual Practice
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The Wheel of Life
Alban Eiler
Alban Eiler, translated as The Light of the Earth or time of Spring Equinox, is also known as Ostara in Pagan traditions. Ostara was a Germanic Goddess, known as the virgin Goddess of spring. The Anglo-Saxons pronounce it Oestre, from which we derive our Christian word “Easter” as well as our word oestrus (production of eggs).
The Druid Priests were astrologers, and they carefully marked the four quarters of the year, the equinoxes and solstices, as a way to chart the passing of time. This enabled their tribes to know when to plant, when to harvest, and when to prepare for the cold months.
Alban Eiler marks the time of year where life is renewed, and when the light and dark are in balance. It is also a time when the light is waxing or growing stronger, which represents an increase in the energies of brightness and wisdom. This is represented by the element of Air and the direction of East on the Wheel of Life. East is where the Sun rises (represented in Christianity as the resurrection of Christ or the “Son” rising from the dead). It is a time of harmony and balance and is perfect for making new plans for the completion of one’s goals. It is time to lay the seeds of new projects that have been hatched from the cold months and a time to take action on these new beginnings. Since it represents a time of balance with day equaling night in length, the energies of the earth are in particular harmony.
As mentioned, Ostara or Alban Eiler is associated with the Christian celebration of Easter, with the lamb being a Pagan symbol that was incorporated into the Christian tradition. Eggs laid by the Easter Bunny come from the belief that the bunny laid sacred eggs in honor of the Goddess. The rabbit then distributed these eggs to all. Both eggs and rabbits represent new beginnings and fertility. Colors for this holiday among Wiccan circles are purple and yellow. It is interesting that these colors are frequently used in our modern day candy Easter eggs.
This is a time when the God of light wins victory over the God of darkness. In the Catholic Church, this is the time of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, meaning that she has become pregnant. Pagans focus on the conception of the virgin Goddess and the solar God. Ostara represents the time of year where the young man is initiated into the mysteries of manhood and impregnates the virgin Goddess Ostara from which the fruits of summer will grow. It represents a balancing of the earth's gravity midway between the extremes of light and dark. It is a powerful time to do magick.
Blessings
Grey Panther