A Blessed Ostara

A blessed what?

Ostara! Oh, come on, its always celebrated around the spring equinox. Its the time when we celebrate the rebirth...

Whoops, wrong religion. OK, let's step back to pre-Christian Europe, and the area now known as Germany. According to Kveldulf Hagan Gundarsson and Gunnora Hallakarva "[t]he feast of Ostara takes its name from the Goddess Eostre, of whom little is known, except that she must have been a Goddess of spring, fertility, rebirth, and the rising sun. Her name is etymologically connected with both the "east," and with a word for "shining; glorious." The Ostara worship was so strong in the Germanic lands that the somewhat similar Christian feast of rebirth and renewal was given the Goddess's name." (Check out their entire article at: http://www.vinland.org/heathen/mt/ostara.html)

So, what did I do to renew myself today? I looked at my new bike. That's right, I've taken another step to health. It sits in the middle of the living room, with the helmet hanging from the handle bars. I probably should have taken it out today, but to be honest, I find myself suffering a little bit from "51 year old male doesn't want to make more of an ass out of himself than normal" syndrome. Oh, I'll take it out this week, and probably do a header, but I thought I'd read the book, and do some surfing on the Internet to figure out how to work the "21 gears". (My first bike didn't have a gear!)

So that was my first move toward rebirth this Ostara. Have I got something else planned? (If you have to wonder, think about why I'd ask the question if I didn't have something up my sleeve?) I'm going on another fast!

Hold on Tonto, I thought you were against fasting. I am. But I'm not going on a food fast. I'm going on a "Digi-Fast". I'm turning off my computer.

Oh, don't worry, I'm not turning off my computer for good. Just for a few days each week when I'm at home. I have to have the thing on at work, but I'm learning that the job is nothing more than a tool. Its no longer my life.

So what has my life become? Like most of you I spend hours on my computer. I download all sorts of things. I surf, I check out the forums, and I post on my blog. Instead of sitting for hours in front of the TV, I sit in front of the computer, while the rest of the world passes me by. The television was called the "boob tube" when I was growing up. Its been taken over by the Internet. I'll admit it: I'M A DIGITAL ADDICT!

So as part of my rebirth this "Ostara" I'm going to eat as close to 100% raw as I can. I'm going to take my bike out and see if I can grow wings when I do a header. And finally I'm going on a "Digi-Fast". At least two days a week, I'm going to turn off my computer. That's right, the switch is going to be flipped off. I'm starting with Friday and Saturday.

I'm going to spend more time with my wife, and friends. I'm going to spend time reading books that will help me connect with my inner self, and I'm going to reconnect with the world around me.

So, what's your plan this Easter, Ostara, Asatruar or Eostre?

Note: I realize that the picture is sickeningly cute. I'm trying to atone for all those rabbits my Great Grandmother used to fix me for Easter Dinner! Just be glad that I didn't use this picture on this post. (Talk about a sickening "Hallmarkesque" moment! ):

To be honest, I was going to post it but my friend Thomas threatened to chew off my....OH GOD NO! NOT THAT! TAKE THE LEG INSTEAD! PLEASE GIVE IT BACK! (Damn rat!)

My thanks to the fine folks at Performance Bicycle for the great deal on my new Schwinn Sierra GS, lovingly named "Flash"! (Don't ask me the name of my Palm Pilot!)