Ostara: Customs, Spells & Rituals for the Rites of Spring

Rating:
Summary: Great book for cabin fever
Review: "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!"

Rating:
Summary: Great book for cabin fever
Review: "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!"

Rating:
Summary: LIGHT-WEIGHT FLUFF
Review: Author Edain McCoy has brought us a breath of spring air in her new book Ostara! With legends and lore, spells and rites, crafts and recipes, all for a wonderful experience in bringing in the spring season.

Incorporate the spring celebrations of the ancients in with our modern traditions. Give honor to our Deities, and celebrate in the blessings of the earth as the wheel of the year turns once again!

Pagans and Christians alike, no matter your beliefs will find Ostara not only enlightening but also enjoyable. All while finding commonalties and similarities to which you will be amazed. If any book could bring unity, but for one day, it would be Ostara. Wouldn't that be a glorious day indeed!

M.L. Benton, Publisher, Echoed Voices.

Rating:
Summary: Great for just learning
Review: I'm just learning about the Sabbats and this was the first one I came across on Ostara so I really enjoyed it. There are lots of stories of history, celebrations, discussion of things like the easter bunny, the birds & the bees etc - oh, and fairies. The parts I enjoyed the most were in The Goddesses of the Awakening Earth chapter - it has all sorts of neat goddess stories, things to do like burning incense to honor the godess of spring. There are some great riruals for Ostara like the balancing and centering ritual - made up of rhythmic breathing.

Rating:
Summary: Great for just learning
Review: I'm just learning about the Sabbats and this was the first one I came across on Ostara so I really enjoyed it. There are lots of stories of history, celebrations, discussion of things like the easter bunny, the birds & the bees etc - oh, and fairies. The parts I enjoyed the most were in The Goddesses of the Awakening Earth chapter - it has all sorts of neat goddess stories, things to do like burning incense to honor the godess of spring. There are some great riruals for Ostara like the balancing and centering ritual - made up of rhythmic breathing.

Rating:
Summary: More "pagan lite"
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great for the younger or teen witch!
Review: This is a great teaching tool (along with the other Sabbat Books) for educating and planning learning activites for primary and secondary educational level students. As an adult, I also enjoy the cross cultural comparisons and recipes. This book would make a wonderful Ostara gift!

Rating:
Summary: Great for the younger or teen witch!
Review: This is a great teaching tool (along with the other Sabbat Books) for educating and planning learning activites for primary and secondary educational level students. As an adult, I also enjoy the cross cultural comparisons and recipes. This book would make a wonderful Ostara gift!

Rating:
Summary: A medium rating.
Review: This was a fun read for early spring, particularly as it was snowing outside (the week of equinox!!!)

I didn't like it as much as some of the others in the series. I would have liked to see more crafts and more rituals.

Still, I must say...that pasta recipe is GREAT!

Rating:
Summary: Nothing new to see here, folks.
Review: While I thought this was fairly well written as magick books go, Ostara did not inspire me. Granted, the history of this sabbat may hard topic to write about. What I really found lacking was the ritual / spell aspects. It was just a rehashing of correspondence tables that we have seen many times before. McCoy does not give us a real, solid ritual to work off of. I read through the book once and went through it about half a dozen times looking for something to inspire me but came up short. It is not awful, just not that great.