TWV Presents...



Articles/Essays From Pagans

[Show all]

Views: 21,346,633
February 1st. 2019 ...
 Paganism and Witchcraft in the Media

September 25th. 2018 ...
 Understanding the Unseen

August 25th. 2018 ...
 A Little Magickal History
 Men and the Goddess
 Back to Basics Witchcraft: Magical Creativity for Small Living Spaces
 Kitchen Magic and Memories
 Why the Faeries?
 Magic in Daily Life
 An Open Fire: Healing from Within
 Cernunnos: The Darkest Wood in the Moon's Light
 Gudrun of the Victory Gods
 Ares and Athena
 La Santa Muerte... The Stigma and the Strength
 The Lady on the Stairs
 The Wheel of the Year in Our Daily Lives

July 26th. 2018 ...
 The Importance of Unification: Bringing Together Community Members to Invoke Cohesivity

May 29th. 2018 ...
 Wild Mountain Woman: Landscape Goddess

April 20th. 2018 ...
 Nazis Made Us Change Our Name

January 25th. 2018 ...
 Finding Balance: Discipline Wedded to Devotion

November 15th. 2017 ...
 Witch?

September 30th. 2017 ...
 Transitioning

July 31st. 2017 ...
 Sin Eaters and Dream Walkers

July 2nd. 2017 ...
 On Cursing: Politics and Ethos

June 1st. 2017 ...
 Herbal Astrology
 The Sacred Ego in Mediterranean Magical Traditions

April 30th. 2017 ...
 Tarot Talk: the Knight of Pentacles

March 30th. 2017 ...
 Tarot Talk: the Ace of Swords

January 10th. 2017 ...
 The Gray of 'Tween
 Becoming a Sacred Dancer
 Little Dog, Big Love

December 9th. 2016 ...
 A Child's First Yule

November 10th. 2016 ...
 What Exactly Is Witchcraft?
 A Witch in the Bible Belt: Questions are Opportunities
 On Death and Passing: Compassion Burnout in Healers and Shamans
 What I Get from Cooking (And How it’s Part of My Path)

September 11th. 2016 ...
 The Shadow of Disgust

August 12th. 2016 ...
 When Reality Rattles your Idea of the Perfect Witch
 Hungarian Belief in Fairies
 Designing a Pagan Last Will and Testament
 Past Midnight

July 13th. 2016 ...
 What Every Pagan Should Know About Curses
 Magic With A Flick of my Finger
 Finding and Caring for Your Frame Drum
 An Open Mind and Heart

June 13th. 2016 ...
 Living a Magickal Life with Fibromyalgia
 My Father, My First God
 Life is Awesome... and the Flu

May 15th. 2016 ...
 Faery Guided Journey
 Working with the Elements

April 2nd. 2016 ...
 The Fear of Witchcraft
 Magic in Sentences

March 28th. 2016 ...
 Revisiting The Spiral
 Still Practicing

January 22nd. 2016 ...
 Coming Out of the Broom Closet

December 20th. 2015 ...
 Magia y Wicca

October 24th. 2015 ...
 Feeling the Pulse of Autumn

October 16th. 2015 ...
 Sacred Lands, Sacred Hearts

September 30th. 2015 ...
 The Other-Side

September 16th. 2015 ...
 Vegan or Vegetarian? The Ethical Debate

August 6th. 2015 ...
 Lost - A Pagan Parent's Tale

July 9th. 2015 ...
 Love Spells: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
 The Magic of Weather

June 7th. 2015 ...
 A Pagan Altar
 A Minority of a Minority of a Minority

May 6th. 2015 ...
 13 Keys: The Crown of Kether

March 29th. 2015 ...
 A Thread in the Tapestry of Witchcraft

March 28th. 2015 ...
 On Wiccan Magick, Theurgy, Thaumaturgy and Setting Expectations

March 1st. 2015 ...
 Choosing to Write a Shadow Book

February 1st. 2015 ...
 Seeker Advice From a Coven Leader

January 1st. 2015 ...
 Manipulation of the Concept of Witchcraft
 Broomstick to the Emerald City

October 20th. 2014 ...
 Thoughts on Conjuring Spirits

October 5th. 2014 ...
 The History of the Sacred Circle

September 28th. 2014 ...
 Seeking Pagan Lands for Pagan Burials
 Creating a Healing Temple

August 31st. 2014 ...
 Coven vs. Solitary

August 24th. 2014 ...
 The Pagan Cleric
 A Gathering of Sorcerers (A Strange Tale)

August 17th. 2014 ...
 To Know, to Will, to Dare...
 On Grief: Beacons of Light in the Shadows

NOTE: For a complete list of articles related to this chapter... Visit the Main Index FOR this section.
|
|  |


Article Specs

Article ID: 14483

VoxAcct: 279420

Section: words

Age Group: Adult

Days Up: 2,903
Times Read: 7,021

RSS Views: 12,726
| The Magical Egg and Celebrating Ostara Through Food

Author: Nar Leoterra
Posted: March 13th. 2011
Times Viewed: 7,021
The Magical Egg: Eggs are a symbol of life, creation, birth and rebirth. Over the centuries, eggs have been revered, cursed, collected, broken, eaten, buried, filled, and used in innumerable ways by humans desiring to tap their mysterious energies (Cunningham, 1996) . Some see the earth itself as an egg. Eggs provide protein, which sustains life, as does the earth.
In Hindu mythology, Shiva created an egg out of which the earth and sky were formed. Other deities associated with eggs include Osiris, Aphrodite, Venus, and Eostra. In many mythologies throughout the world, eggs are linked with the divine.
According to some, eggs not only produce life (when fertilized) , they also symbolize life itself. The shell represents earth; the membrane represents air; the yolk is fire; the white is water. Eggs have even been used to save human lives, being sacrificed in place of humans in some ancient cultures.
Although most eggs that are consumed come from chickens, other birds' eggs are also used. Quail eggs are often seen in Asian cuisine, as are duck eggs. Gull eggs are considered a delicacy in England and Norway.
Besides being a nutritious food source, eggs also have many magical uses. Eggs were thought to give protection, possibly because of the white color of many shells. In ancient Egypt, eggs were held in the hand while reciting protective invocations, as a method of protecting people on ships from drowning. (Cunningham, 1996) . In Thebes, Egypt, the tomb of Haremhab, built about 1420 BCE shows a depiction of a man carrying bowls of ostrich eggs and other large eggs, presumably those of the pelican, as offerings. Perhaps this man was asking for protection, or giving thanks.
Eggs have also been used for divination. The first egg laid by a hen is thought to possess special powers. Records show us that eggs have been used for divination in Europe since the 17th century. The egg white was dripped into a basin of water and people gazed at the shapes made by the whites. This practice was brought to America in the 17th century as well, and some believe that this little "game" was the start of the hysteria that lead to the Salem Witch Trials.
In some cultures, an egg was rolled across the marriage bed to promote the conception and birth of healthy, male children. Jewish women used to eat double-yolked eggs in an attempt to cure sterility. Eggs are added to fertility diets, as well as diets for spirituality, protection and grounding.
* Note: If you like eggs and are not allergic to them, enjoy them any way you wish. Just remember, moderation is key. Also be careful when consuming products that contain raw eggs. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, or those with compromised immune systems should not consume raw eggs
And now on to the good stuff...
Celebrating Ostara Through Food
As I consider myself to be a kitchen Witch, I like to celebrate the Sabbats in the kitchen. To me, taking the bounty of the gods and goddesses and transforming those beautiful ingredients into a meal is just as good as any ritual. The only tools I need are my hands and a few basic kitchen implements: a good knife (an athame, if you wish) , a soup pot (cauldron) , a cast iron skillet, and some wands in the form of wooden spoons.
Eggs and dairy products are traditional foods for this time of year, as well as fresh spring vegetables like tender asparagus. Asparagus is associated with the element of fire and the energy of sex. Combine this with the fertility of the egg if you're trying to have a baby. It couldn't hurt, and it might help, if you visualize it helping.
The following recipe is one that I make for my mother on her birthday. As her birthday is in December, I substitute broccoli for asparagus (see notes) .
Springtime Frittata
1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed 6 eggs 2 tablespoons water or milk 1/2 cup grated Swiss or Gruyere cheese 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped 4 oz ham or prosciutto, diced salt and pepper to taste olive or Canola oil
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the asparagus for about 5 minutes, until tender and wilted. Remove, strain, and run cold water over it in a colander. Preheat oven to 350 F.
In an oven-safe skillet, heat approx. 2 tablespoons oil. Cook the onion 5 minutes, until tender. Add cooked diced ham or Prosciutto, if using.
In a large bowl beat the eggs with milk or water. Season with salt and pepper. Add cheese. Pour mixture into the skillet, covering the eggs and ham. Arrange trimmed asparagus on top.
Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until eggs are almost set but not brown. Place skillet in the oven and cook the frittata until the top is browned and eggs are completely set.
Slip a spatula around the periphery of the frittata to loosen it and slide it onto a serving plate and serve hot.
[Notes: Feel free to leave out the meat if non meat-eaters will be present. Serve with crusty rolls and a salad of spring greens (dandelion greens, for example, or baby spinach) . This is also a good recipe to have at Yule. The yellow of the egg yolks reminds us of the returning sun. If making this at Yule, omit the asparagus and substitute broccoli. You may also wish to add some red bell pepper, whose bright red color adds a little extra fire energy. Broccoli: Moon, water, protection (Cunningham, 1996.) Add broccoli to protective diets.]
Other spring foods include sprouts, artichokes, carrots, cauliflower, celery, radishes, rhubarb and watercress.
Ideas for spring dishes include lamb (prosperity) , salad with spinach, sprouts and radishes, tea sandwiches with butter and watercress, rhubarb pie, carrot soup with dill, cauliflower and new potato curry (aloo gobi) , fried cauliflower with yogurt (served cold and delicious in the warmer months) , roasted asparagus with garlic and chili (lots of fire energy in this dish) , and seafood such as red sea bream, sardines, cockles and clams.
Nurture your fertile mind and your budding creativity this spring. Get into the kitchen and see what you can come up with to celebrate this season of rebirth and renewal. What will you grow this year? Will it be a new-found love of cooking? As they say in Turkey, Afiyet olsun - good appetite - and Blessed Ostara.
Footnotes: Cunningham, Scott. (1996) . Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen
http://en.wikipedia.org
Copyright: Copyright 2011 Brandy Griffin. All rights reserved. Note: This is reproduced from my blog http://witchininthekitchen.blogspot.com.

ABOUT...

Nar Leoterra
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
 Website: http://witchininthekitchen.blogspot.com
 Author's Profile: To learn more about Nar Leoterra - Click HERE

Other Articles: Nar Leoterra has posted 2 additional articles- View them?
 Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email Nar Leoterra... (Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales)

|
|
Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2019 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.
Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh.
Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections
(including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.)
are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc.
TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.
Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.
|  |
Witches, Pagans of The World



|


Current Topic
Editorial Guide
NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.
The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.
All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).
|
|