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Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring (Holiday Series)
 
 
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Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring (Holiday Series) [Paperback]

Edain McCoy (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)


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Book Description

Holiday Series February 8, 2002
The lure of the vernal equinox is impossible to ignore. Called Ostara or Eostre in nature spiritualities, it is one of the most primitive and 'earthy' of the solar festivals. From colouring eggs with natural plant dyes, to spring cleaning rituals, to spells for love and lust, this book will help you connect with the spirit of the festival and incorporate its rituals and customs, both ancient and new, into your own Ostara celebrations.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The vernal equinox has long been regarded as the most earthy of the solar festivals, and McCoy's guide to the pagan celebration of Ostara/Eostre ably instructs readers in the holiday's historical association with fertility and sexuality, as well as its symbolic nature as a harbinger of spring. McCoy includes some useful history, as well as rituals, recipes and spells for the March 22 festival. The writing can be gimmicky ("Eggs-actly Ostara" is a bit much for an opening chapter title), but this is an engaging and helpful guide to Pagan ritual.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Edain became a self-initiated Witch in 1981 and has been an active part of the Pagan community since her formal initiation into a large San Antonio coven in 1983.  Edain has researched alternative spiritualities since her teens, when she was first introduced to Kaballah, or Jewish mysticism.  Since that time, she has studied a variety of magickal paths including Celtic, Appalachian folk magick, and Curanderismo, a Mexican-American folk tradition.  Today, Edain is part of the Wittan Irish Pagan tradition, where she is a priestess of Brighid and an elder.  

An alumnus of the University of Texas with a BA in history, she is affiliated with several professional writer's organizations and occasionally presents workshops on magickal topics or works individually with students who wish to study Witchcraft.

This former woodwind player for the Lynchburg (VA) Symphony claims both the infamous feuding McCoy family of Kentucky and Sir Roger Williams, the seventeeth-century religious dissenter, as branches on her ethnically diverse family tree.  In her "real life," Edain works as a licensed stockbroker.

Edain is the author of fifteen books, including Bewitchments; Enchantments; and her most recent release, Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (February 8, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0738700827
  • ISBN-13: 978-0738700823
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edain McCoy has written more than twenty books on metaphysical and occult topics since she was first published in 1993. Her popular titles include Celtic Women's Spirituality, Astral Projection For Beginners, How to Do Automatic Writing, Karmic & Past Life Tarot, The Sabbats, Advanced Witchcraft, If You Want to Be a Witch (Llewellyn Worldwide), and The Healing Power of Faery (Adams Media).

An alumnus of the University of Texas with a B.A. in history, she is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Butler University. She is affiliated with several professional organizations including the Authors Guild and the American Translators Association. She is listed in the reference guides Contemporary Authors, Who's Who Among American Women, and Who's Who In America, and her articles have appeared in Fate, Circle, Enlightenments, and similar periodicals.

Edain held positions related to education including handscoring standardized testing, substitute teaching, music education, and private tutoring. She spent many years as a licensed stockbroker and financial advisor for several international investment firms before making the leap of faith into her first love--writing full time. In 2006 she was granted a Certificate in Paranormal Investigation from Flamel College, an online institute devoted to training leaders and scientists who study various aspects of the occult. This training assisted her and her expatriate friends in Argentina (visit them at www.TangoWithJudy.com) to investigate haunted sites that have been, and continue to be, denied to other investigators. In December 2008 she completed her studies to become a Reiki Master of the Usui-Rand linage, an intuitive healing art that is still opening new doors to both spirit and spirituality.

She often gives workshops on metaphysical and New Age topics, and has taught the art of guided mediation to many students eager to use this technique for spiritual exploration. Pagan festivals energize her spiritually because she says she learns something wonderful from every person she meets. To view her speaking schedule, learn more about her books, or to find her e-mail address, visit her website at www.EdainMcCoy.com.

 

Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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 (8)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The latest installment in the Llewellyn Sabat Series, January 18, 2002
By 
This review is from: Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring (Holiday Series) (Paperback)
Llewellyn has been compiling a collection of books on the Sabats written by well respected authors within our community.

Their latest offering is Ostara - Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring by well known an respected Edain McCoy. Ms. McCoy is well a well known elder within the community and has authored fifteen books on various subjects dealing with witchcraft and Wicca.

The most interesting parts of this book deals with the origins of many of the myths and lore associated with the Spring Equinox. There are simple spells for this season, symbolism's and associations, rituals and recipes and correlation's with Gods and Goddesses. Ms. McCoy has drawn from many sources some wonderful material and placed it into a well written an attractive package.

While much of this material deals mainly with information that is of the workshop 101 level, it is a good reference book for the basics of this season. It is a lovely beginners book, and is part of a package that will cover all the Sabats.

If you are looking for a good gift for the beginner, or to add to someone's collection of the Sabat books, this is a lovely and informational book.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars good info, horrible editing!, March 7, 2005
This review is from: Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring (Holiday Series) (Paperback)
since i am relatively new to paganism, i found this book to be informative... the most interesting part for me was when she discussed the cultural heritage of the easter bunny, the egg, spring break, new easter clothes, etc. she also gave some good ideas for ostara rituals.

however, i will agree with another reviewer, the book is badly edited. she will address a topic in one chapter, and then several chapters later, she will address the same topic, and use almost the exact same wording. (and pictures!)

be wary of the recipies. her recipe for hot cross buns is very vague, i had to add about an extra cup of flour, and i kneaded it, even though she didn't say to. not paying attention, i followed the recipe exactly for the frosting: 2 cups powdered sugar, i cup orange juice, and got a runny mess. then i realized that they probably meant one *tablespoon* of orange juice. (next time, i'll try the hot cross buns in the red plaid better homes and gardens cookbook)
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for cabin fever, February 7, 2003
By 
"roxx33" (Boise, ID United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring (Holiday Series) (Paperback)
"Ostara" is another book in the Llewellyn series of Pagan holidays. This book is fun and creative, focusing on spells and rituals for the rites of spring. It is more than a book about Easter, it is filled with things we associate with the season, such as spring cleaning, the green man, and the birds and the bees. It takes a historic look at Easter and the origin of associated things like bunnies, eggs, and rebirthing. I enjoy this title because it is fun, informative, and not too heavy. The recipes are great, and you'll want to make "hot cross buns" when you read about their Pagan origin. I think this title is a great one to share with children, as you can make homemade Easter baskets, hunt for eggs, and learn together about the legends of Eostre. Edain McCoy's "Ostara" will make you "think spring!"
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
The not-so-humble egg is inarguably the spring festivals, Ostara included. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
rebirthing ritual, making magick, waxing sun, magickal energy, sacred sex, spring goddess, awakening earth, horned god, ritual tools, maiden goddess, creator deity, modern pagans
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
More Symbols, Green Man, The Goddess of the Awakening Earth, Goddess of Spring, Lady Day, Great Rite, Mother Earth, The God of the Greening Earth, Goddess of the Earth, Middle Ages, Earth Goddess, Earth Mother, Spring Goddess, Sun God, United States, Middle Eastern, Mother Goddess, Mark's Day, Mother Goose
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