OSTARA CRAFTS
Natural Egg Dyes
Green; Colts-foot, bracken, growth, prosperity Fehu
For a pale green: spinach leaves
Yellow-green Carrot tops,
For a green-gold: yellow delicious apple peels
fertility, new beginning Berkana
Yellow; Tumeric,
for a light yellow: orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seeds or ground cumin sun, energy, vitality Sowulo
Orange-Yellow: onion skins
sun, energy, vitality Sowulo
Rust: Onion skin
strength Uruz
Red; Madder root
for a pale red: fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries
sacred eggs Sowulo
Pink: Madder root
love, affection Gebo
Blue: Blueberries
protection Thurisaz, Algiz
Bright blue: Red cabbage leaves
Spirit, Sky Father Tyr, Mannaz, Ansuz
Beige to brown; strong brewed coffee,
Reddish brown: limes,
Deep brown: pecan or walnut shells
Earth, Mother Goddess Berkana, Laguz
To dye the perfect eggs the natural way, here's what to do:
1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered.
2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.
3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)
4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the stuff used to color eggs. Put eggs in bowl. If you want eggs a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.
Decorations:
Use small leaves from fresh or dried herbs like parsley, rue, thyme or fern. Press the leaves against the egg and wrap securely with a section of old nylon stocking. Do this before putting in the dye bath. After dyeing, rinse these eggs in clear water before unwrapping. The area under the leaves will have little or no dye if done properly.
Glue dried, pressed flowers, sequins, crepe paper, or similar flat decorations to the eggs. Use your imagination.
Create designs with markers, stickers, paints. NOTE: Drawing designs with crayons won't work here as the waxy crayons will melt off in the boiling process.
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Significance of Colors for Ostara Eggs
Blue - Healing, Peace, Astral projection, Fidelity, Sleep, Unity Brown - Animals, Helps connect to the rythms and energies of the Earth Gold - Activity, Money, The God, The Sun Green - Abundance, Calm, Fertility, Prosperity, Neutralize difficult situations, Renewal, Freshness, Hope Indigo - Clairvoyance, Healing, Past lives Orange - Attraction, Energy, Friendship, Willpower, Endurance, Strength Pink - Romantic love, Peace Purple - Communication with higher level beings, Connection with the Divine, Ending quarrels, Healing, Tranquility, Patience, Trust, Deep Sleep, Healing serious illnesses Red - Courage, Lust, New life, Desire, Passion, Sexuality, Strength, Enthusiasm Red Violet - Hidden knowledge Silver - Psychic abilities, Spirituality, The Goddess, The Moon Turquoise - Spiritual Knowledge White - Good fortune, Healing, Purification, Virgin Goddess Yellow - Creativity, Communication, Intellect, Knowledge, Youth, Mind Power, Light, Purity, Happiness, Wisdom Black - Absorb and dispel negative influences, Mystery, Rememberance, Eternity, Constancy