The Path of a Christian Witch by Adelina St. Clair Page B

So, this day is essentially dedicated to Mary in her Virgin and Mother aspects. It was celebrated by lighting candles, hence the name of Candlemas. It also coincides with the feast of St. Brigid, who was dedicated to the healing of women, midwifery, and child care. This feast commemorates the promise of spring, of life, and of women’s power as guardians of this life. It is a great time for a women’s circle, where we can acknowledge the Goddess in each of us. We can look at each other and truly say, “You are Goddess.” I also take a moment to recite a rosary, taking time to sit with my Goddess and recite her praise. I meditate on the mysteries of her life and let her wisdom fill me.
    Ostara —celebrated March 21st (spring equinox), it commemorates the goddess Oestre and the return of life on Earth. Spring is upon us and winter has been defeated. From the name of this goddess, we get our own Easter, the greatest Christian Holy Day of the year. Although the focus of Easter is certainly on Christ’s passion and resurrection, we celebrate the same theme on Ostara: the victory of life over death. Easter is the high point of the Christian calendar, as it celebrates the greatest mystery of our tradition: that of Christ’s resurrection. I tend to focus on the Christian aspect of this celebration, although I keep my Witch’s vision open. The celebration begins forty days earlier with Ash Wednesday, as we remember that we are mortal and that our bodies will return to the earth at the end of our journey. Lent is a time of personal preparation for the celebration that awaits. People tend to give up something they like as an act of penance. Being a Witch, I know that the most important tool I have is myself, and I use this time to correct something about myself. This requires honesty and dedication. But I have found that making a commitment for forty days usually results in permanent change of a behavior or forms a new habit that I want in my life. It is truly a transformative experience. This leads us to Holy Week. Holy Week is my yearly retreat, my time of renewal. On Palm Sunday, we relive the Passion of Christ. I bless my palm branches and place them on my altar for the year. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the Last Supper. I bake bread that we share amongst family and friends. There is the symbolic washing of the feet that reminds us that we are meant to serve our brothers and sisters.
    Good Friday has always held a special meaning for me. It is a day when I try to remove myself from the turmoil of everyday life and take a walk with my Lord in his final days of humanity. Every year I receive a new revelation, a new lesson. I usually take a walk to the river and sit on a rock. I breathe in the spring air and let the world fade away. Usually, clear as crystal, I hear a voice in my head telling stories, or a single phrase that puts my life into context.
    After this quiet day, it is time to celebrate the Easter Vigil. It is the most beautiful celebration of the year for me, for it is the one during which I feel the most at home. Of course, it is a Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. But the Witch in me also finds herself in the midst of her elements. There is the blessing of the fire that is passed throughout the crowd. Then the baptismal water is blessed for the year and the priest asperges us with it. The procession continues with the burning of frankincense and myrrh. And all around are lilies and gardenias, symbol of the renewal of life on Earth. Fire, water, air, and earth. The liturgy reviews our tradition all the way from the beginnings of the world to the resurrection. It is the hour of glory for my Lady, Mary Magdalene, first witness of the resurrection. All around, music resounds, bells ring, and life surges forth.
    Beltane —celebrated May 1st, it is a fertility festival, when young men and women showed their intention for union in various ways . . . With the return of spring and its potential for