#Ostara Festival event

[israelskelton]

Salty Beeches (Open Starter)

Starter 1

Israel woke up from his nap, startled by the voice saying they’ll be late. Adjusting himself to sit up more properly and rubbing his temples. Such an awful recollection of memories and a nightmare to relive that pain he felt in his throat.

Since lying low in his sentence. Unlike most, he had a strong chance of a successful existence if he fixed things up now. But this duty was tedious and overwhelming, especially when he lacked most of his powers and had a heavy limitation on them. He was essentially rebuilding his life, and revamping had proven to be tedious, difficult, and overwhelming altogether for the male.

What was going on again? Ostara? Had it already become that time of year? He groaned to himself; it seemed like no matter what; he was bound to be lost and he rubbed his eyes before glimpsing at the clock on the bedside table and doing a double-take. Moving to wash his face and get dressed he left with his current company. A pang growing in his chest as he thought of the celebrations. It didn’t take them long to get downtown. The sights and sounds around them engulfing the wolf and overloading his senses. He didn’t know where to look as he did a 360 on his heels. 

Starter 2 

Staring up at sky Israel laid on his back amongst the other prisoners on the beach. Carefree, if only for a moment, body cushioned by fine sand that melded to his body like warm clay. His arms tucked behind his head and eyes closed firm; light danced softly against his eyelids, which he momentarily pretended he was on holiday before deeming it “silly”. He was killing time before they disrupted his sense of peace with violence and bloodshed.

As the young male began to fall into the peaceful lull of half-slumber, a muffled echo of a voice rippled through the blood-tinged air around him. Israel drew in a breath, attempting to ignore what he assumed was some drunkard ━ some fool who strayed off the path towards what could very easily be his demise on these sands. Fate had not yet been revealed and as much as Israel loved a good fight, he wasn’t exactly in the mood right now. He resettled into the sand, shimmying himself into a him-shaped divot. But before he could re-test his fatigue, there came one long, ear-splitting tone yelling his name that sent a startling chill rocketing throughout his body. His eyes flung open, now as round and as wide as two saucers; a hard pound rattled the innards of his chest, which he tried to settle with a hand still reverberating with adrenaline.

Brows knitted and vengeance at the forefront of his thoughts as he swung himself upwards to look at the blood stained sand before him. Eyes uncaring of the situation he found himself in as he looked to his borrowed boots beside him covered in sand. Getting to his feet he entered the fight, dark eyes looking to his opponent. He wouldn’t mind this area so much if the prisoner’s collars were deactivated for the fight. At least then they- he stood a better chance on the sands. 

@covairecitystarters

[makrosea]

Downtown Bonfire

Mak had shown up a little while after the festival started. She wasn’t sure what to wear, so she opted for an outfit that was cute but comfy. Deciding that she’d want to start the festivities off right, with food and dancing, she made her way to the bonfire downtown, passing by a few familiar faces before she got lost among the throng of bodies on the outskirts of all the dancing. All the smiling faces and moving bodies were enticing, and she wasn’t even talking about those who were fucking around among the crowd. 

All the people dancing just seemed to be genuinely having fun. And Mak wanted to be a part of that, unable to recall the last time she really let herself have some wild, carefree fun. So, she let someone nearby take her by the hand and pull her into the crowd, her body instantly falling into beat with the others as the two moved together, against each other. 

When hands found her hips and tugged her over and turned her around, she smiled at the other, continuing her movements with her new partner. 

@covairecitystarters​ **one character per player for now please :)**

[mathiascain]

Mathias was excited to say the least. Last years festival was so much fun, and he was pretty sure this one would be even better. He was no longer new to the city, and he had a pretty good idea of the people within it. He also had someone who he could spend time with that wasn’t Patrick. The chthonic wasn’t sure what to expect out of Elessar, but he was glad that the wolf agreed to let Mathias hang around him. 

Patrick had been kind to even help Mathias find something to wear. While he had no problem with his clothes, he knew Elessar didn’t care for them too much. It was nicer than what he usually wore, but it still had an organized chaos to it that still seemed fitting. Mathias was pretty happy with it, even though he was showing more skin than normal. 

He met up with the shop owner at the beach, where all the fighting was going on. Mathias waved at the other man, then ran up to him. “Hi! Do you want to watch me fight?”

@sui-generis-elessar

[defectivelabwolf]

@israelskelton @mathiascain @simonhbishop​ @covairecitystarters​ + any others

Tesla was enjoying herself for the first time in a while. She wasn’t sure if Sena’s supplements were helping, but she felt good and felt like she was at least having less dizzy spells. But for all she knew, that might just be a placebo effect. So she still actively kept the need for breaks in the back of her mind. But she definitely was getting into the surrounding mood with all the writhing bodies and sound.

That was until she felt someone nearby. Was it a friend, someone wanting her to join back in one of the orgies, or a new face? She was unsure, but turned to greet the other person. “Happy Ostara. You want something?”

[sui-generis-elessar]

[undercoverhunter-elijah]

[wolfknightpoe]

@the-night-circus-christine

It had been a few hours since the festivities began when Vincent met "Lady Niyma". He'd have met the dancing cleric a half hour earlier, but the sending stone had lost connection with all the interference. So when he found Christine in the crowd he was already sweaty from dancing and just the constant closeness of the crowd.

"Sorry Niyma. I just got your message. Need to take this in for an upgrade. How are you enjoying things and do you want to find somewhere a little less public? Not that I'd be against dancing, but from your text I got the feeling you were looking for me for other reasons. You look lovely by the way."

[magisterleonedupont]

Crashing back to Grumpy Lion with the Youths

Leone had danced and partied as much as their body would allow by the end of Ostara. The mage was out of MDMA, and was very dehydrated and sweaty. So as the festivities wrapped up, they found a stall and paid for as much water as they could fit in their hands and bags to find a spot to cool of. But one issue they had with the crash was having to deal with younger people. And this small group of young adults they’d apparently had been hanging with for a while were getting ever less enjoyable as the mage returned to their senses.

It was unfortunately one of Leone’s issues. They had interest in the mage, some of them even seeming attractive to them. But Leone was nothing if staunch in their views of younger people. Unless they had anything more in common than having been partying together, the mage wanted them to decompress WITHOUT THEM. So they were probably shocked when Leone waved the hangers-on away when asked if they could join them for an afterparty. 

The mage typed a message to one girl in particular who was the most pushy on their tablet before taking a swig of water. You were fun, but you’re not my type. We partied, while I was on Molly, but that was the drugs speaking. But your younger mage friends there... If they want to get some spellwork practice, they are welcome to come with. As fun as it was, the party’s over. Sorry.

[breelandwalker]

2024 Witches' Calendar

For all my witches out there, here's a handy list of the 2024 dates for the solstices, quarter days, full and new moons, and special events. I've listed my sources at the bottom.

Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed and check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what special events will be visible in your area. Enjoy!

Solstices, Harvests, and Quarter Days

February 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas

March 19 - Spring Equinox / Ostara

April 30-May 1 - Beltane / May Day

June 20 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha

August 1 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest

September 22 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest

October 31 - Samhain / Halloween / Final Harvest

December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Full Moons

January 25 - Wolf Moon ♌

February 24 - Snow Moon ♍

March 25 - Worm Moon ♎

April 23 - Pink Moon ♏

May 23 - Flower Moon ♐

June 21 - Strawberry Moon ♑

July 21 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑

August 19 - Sturgeon Moon* ♒

September 17 - Harvest Moon* ♓

October 17 - Hunter's Moon (aka Blood Moon)* ♈

November 15 - Frost Moon (or Beaver Moon)* ♉

December 15 - Cold Moon ♊

*- Supermoon

Fun Fact: The title of Harvest Moon is given to either the September or October full moon, whichever falls closest to the autumn equinox. Once again this year, that month will be September.

New Moons

January 11 ♑

February 9 ♒

March 10 ♓

April 8 ♈

May 7 ♉

June 6 ♊

July 5 ♋

August 4 ♌

September 2 ♍

October 2 ♎

November 1 ♏

December 1 ♐

December 30 (black moon) ♑

Special Celestial Events

January 3-4 - Quadrantids meteor shower peak

March 25 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

April 8 - Total solar eclipse

April 22-23 - Lyrids meteor shower peak

May 6-7 - Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak

August 11-13 - Perseids meteor shower peak

August 19 - Sturgeon Supermoon / Seasonal Blue Moon

September 17 - Harvest Supermoon / Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

October 2 - "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse

October 17 - Hunter's Supermoon

October 21-22 - Orionids meteor shower peak

November 15 - Frost Supermoon

November 16-17 - Leonids meteor shower peak

December 13-14 - Geminids meteor shower peak

December 30 - Black Moon

(Check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what will be visible in your area!)

Mercury Retrogrades (in case you need them)

April 1 - April 24

August 4 - August 27

November 25 - December 15

Happy Witching!

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree's Lunar Calendar Series

Bree's Secular Celebrations Series

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2024

Calendar-12 - 2024 Moon Phases

Full Moonology - 2024 Full Moon Calendar

AstroStyle - All the 2024 Full Moons

Your Zodiac Sign - Astrology Calendar 2024

Old Farmer's Almanac - Mercury Retrograde Dates 2023-2024

Lonely Planet - Best Star-gazing Events of 2024

Sea and Sky - Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2024

DarkSky International - Dark Sky Placefinder for Stargazing

Pagan Grimoire - Wheel of the Year: The 8 Festivals in the Wiccan Calendar (2024 Edition)

=

If you're enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

EDIT: Mercury is stationed direct on Jan 1st, 2024. The source I used which stated it was in retrograde until the 18th had a typo.

EDIT: Fixed the zodiac signs for the full moons using a new source.

[makrosea]

[witcherwheeloftheyear]

A Witcher Wheel of the Year 2025

A Witcher Wheel of the Year will be a series of events all through the year 2025 - prompts for Imbolc and Ostara are now revealed!

There will be prompts based on every festival of the Wheel of the Year, and you are invited to create fics or art of whatever strikes your fancy for those. Prompts will be smutty and non-smutty, you can pick one or several. If you feel like creating something not based on the prompts, go ahead! We only ask that there is some connection to the festival, however you choose to interpret it.

All themes and genres are welcome, from G to E and from fluff to whump. This is a kink and darkfic friendly event, as long as you tag/warn accordingly.

No upper or lower word count limit for writers

All canons are welcome - games, TV shows, books

All ships are welcome, as are gen fics

Please be kind to each other - no bashing or kinkshaming ect.

On the date of each festival, there will be an event where you can share your work. Tag with #witcherwheeloftheyear so people can find it! Follow us on @witcherwheeloftheyear and @ us when you post so we can reblog!

Prompts will be revealed throughout the year, around three months ahead so you have time to create.

There is an AO3 collection here and a canonical tag: A Witcher Wheel of the Year Challenge

Mod: @bookscorpion

If you want to send me an anon message and you have no Tumblr account, please do so via a reply the Dreamwidth post for the event, 'More Options' will let you select anon). Also runs on Pillowfort

Prompts and Dates

Dates

Imbolc February 2nd

Ostara March 20th

Beltane May 1st

Litha June 21st

Lammas August 1st

Mabon September 22nd

Samhain November 1st

Yule December 21st

Prompts

Imbolc

vows - first time - candles - bed

lamb - weaving - thunder - ashes

Ostara

bathing/drowning - strawman - evergreen

eggs - leaving a mark - smoke - succession

-

Graphics for the moodboard by Crimsonherbarium, Sun Cross from Wikipedia, moodboard put together by bookscorpion. All base images free to use.

[wolfknightpoe]

"No problem, Mr. Pride. There are so many people here among the writhing revelers and busy festival stalls, that it's quite an impossible task not to bump into someone. I do hope I have not injured your tail?"

He then notices all the injuries on the skin of the Huldra before him. And a few familiar smells mixed with many he did not recognize. Orgies disgusted the "knight" personally, but he wasn't going to judge those that enjoyed such base partnerings or engaging in any liaisons in such a public setting. It was a celebration of spring after all. "I take it you're enjoying Ostara from your battle scars?"

☼ Ostara Three ☼ ——— open

All the smells of sex and intoxicating pheromones were a enveloping all of Ricky’s sensations like a blanket. He is drunk—not from drink but from the close proximity of his love Danielle and all the orgies that happen around him. He doesn’t want to ever leave for fear of missing a single moment of the fun he is having with his girl. That was until his stomach rumbled with hunger. He says his farewells for the time being to get something to fill his stomach to keep up his strength. He may try to squirrel away a little something for Danielle—just a little something so she can keep her strength up for all the activities they will be partaking in. After all you should keep your partners happy and healthy when you’re fucking their brains out. As he walks, struts really, to the feast with his shirt unbuttoned to show off the scratches and bites upon his tanned skin. He looks happily dazed with the stench of sex and lust clinging to his body and looked upon the table for something. Everything looked delicious it was difficult to choose. A hand reaches out to grab the first thing that catches the wolf’s eye when he feels his fingers bump against someone’s hand. “Oh shit——sorry ‘bout that.”

[sui-generis-elessar]

Elessar festival fashion

[undercoverhunter-elijah]

Eli wears nondescript clothing during the festival. He wants to fade into the background during the festivities which makes hunting all that much easier.

[sailtomarina]

Will it fit?

Hermione stood in front of the mirror nervously smoothing the pleats of her dress, a floaty, ephemeral thing hitting just above the knees that Luna insisted appropriately fit the pagan holiday. Hermione had never been one for celebrating anything aside from birthdays, Christmas, and New Year’s, but ever since entering the Wizarding world she found herself on a treadmill of festivals and holidays almost every month of the year. This time, it was Ēostre, or Ostara, or Easter, whatever you preferred to call it. It was one of a handful of celebrations of spring.

This year, rather than celebrating at one another’s homes like usual, their friends had opted to sign up for the Ministry-sponsored event. Guests were invited to frolic in fields and plant literal seeds for harvesting produce later in the season. A feast would follow that same evening under the ceiling of the night sky. It all seemed terribly whimsical and romantic, and normally Hermione would be excited if not for one more pesky detail.

In addition to the event signup was an optional service: matchmaking. And of course, her friends scribbled her name down for both.

So what if it had been months since her last romantic relationship? She was perfectly pleased with her life at the moment. Her days consisted of work, meals, reading, and evening walks. She even included socialization with semi-weekly trivia at the Leaky Cauldron and Flourish and Blotts’ monthly book club meetings. 

It was with irritation and swiftly growing horror that Hermione discovered not only was she to attend the silly Ēostre event, and she would do so with a blind date. Pairs were provided with thin golden arm bands that slipped over the elbow and twinkled with a color matching only one other. Hermione’s armlet sparkled white gold.

“Does it fit?” Luna’s head poked into the washroom where she continued to examine herself.

Gesturing to the band that magically sized to fit snugly around her bicep, Hermione nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. Let’s hope whoever I end up with fits just as well.”

“Oh, you needn’t worry about that. The matches include compatibility charms,” chirped Luna, as she braided small white blossoms into Hermione’s curls.

“Compatibility…charms? Is that even legal?”

She tittered as she waved a wand over her handiwork, ensuring Hermione’s hair and makeup would stay in place for several hours. “Yes. It doesn't affect your choices or anything sinister like that. Just points you in a promising direction and lets you figure out the rest.”

“Hmph. Well I suppose I could use the help given my poor choice in partners.”

“Your last one wasn’t that bad, Hermione, and Oliver was definitely worth the time.” Hermione blushed at Luna’s knowing wink. Oliver certainly did give her some delicious memories, and their breakup was friendly enough given the circumstances. “No more dilly-dallying! It’s time to go.”

Slipping on a pair of leather Grecian sandals and taking one more peek in the mirror, Hermione took a deep breath and tried to smile. Compatible sounded like a good thing, didn’t it?

***

“Oh, my god.”

Draco Malfoy stood frozen in front of her in a similar state of shock. An identical arm band fit around his arm. He cut a fine figure, if she was being honest with herself, in his cerulean chinos and tailored white oxford, sleeves rolled up to bare his muscled forearms with prominent veins cording the length of them. Shaking his head as if waking himself from a trance, he stepped closer to wave his hand over her arm. The resulting pulse of light confirmed their suspicions.

“Uh…” Could she be any less dull-witted? Where were the words that usually flowed out of her mouth like a bloody flood? Her mouth clicked shut—hanging open earlier like an imbecile—when he lifted his elbow to offer an escort.

“You look lovely, Hermione. It would be my pleasure to accompany you.”

Her tongue loosened at last. “Malf—Draco. What a…pleasant surprise.”

He smirked at her obvious difficulty at pleasantries.

“I would have never expected you of all people to require matchmaking.”

“Yes, well, I suspect we both have well meaning, meddlesome friends.” 

She had to share a smile at that.

It wasn’t that she loathed Draco Malfoy. Quite far from it, actually. She had definitely noticed him over the years as their circles occasionally bumped and overlapped. First it was the occasional work collaboration, then it was friends dating. The formerly thin and haunted young man filled out, his eyes lightening and gaining confidence. He was now the object of many a glance when circumstances threw them together, and even a friendly word now and then.

She just couldn’t fathom any dimension where he’d be interested in dating her, and she’d rather bite her tongue off than admit to fancying his appallingly good looks.

Damn Luna.

“Shall we go pick our seeds?” He guided them towards the tables where others gathered.

“Not quite done sowing your oats?” 

Why in Godric’s name did she have to be so nasty?

Rather than getting insulted, he surprised her by chuckling softly. “Long past that stage of my life—does that disappoint you?”

He picked up a small basket and guided them towards the root vegetable section.

“So are you actually looking to settle down? Find the next Lady Malfoy?” Hermione snagged parsnip seeds, to which he nodded approvingly.

“I’m strongly considering it.”

“I’m not exactly Malfoy material.”

“I know.” 

Turnips made their way into the basket. She licked her lips imagining sharp bites of the taproot in a bed of arugula and prosciutto. She couldn’t find any fault in his chosen produce. If anything, they’d make a fantastic salad together.

“But you’re my preferred material.”

Jerking to a stop, she looked fully up into his eyes for the first time. He gazed back, not a hint of humor on his face. He was serious.

She could barely breathe the question shouting against her skull. “Since when?”

He reached forward with one hand to tuck a wayward curl behind her ear before running his fingertips down her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. Grasping her hand in his, he prompted her to resume walking out towards the fields.

“For longer than I’d care to admit right now.” He didn’t elaborate, and Hermione found herself utterly devoid of any courage for further inquiry.

Following the rows of carefully labeled signs, they made their way silently to the appropriate section to cast their seeds out into the dirt, where they magically burrowed into the earth.

“Well that was much easier than expected,” he mused, glancing around to watch as others similarly finished.

“It’s more symbolic than literal planting, isn’t it? No digging into the dirt by hand here.”

Appraising her form with an appreciative eye that resulted in a pretty flush, he responded, “And a good thing, too, given our attire.”

She snorted in agreement. “I don’t know what Luna was thinking, picking this dress out.”

“Probably what I’m thinking right now. I meant what I said earlier, Hermione. You are lovely.”

She couldn’t take it anymore. Where did he get off being so…charming? So complimentary and intriguing? With a scoff, she pushed him back a step, her palms flat against his chest.

“Stop it, Malfoy. You don’t have to force yourself to be nice just because we were coincidentally matched together.”

Warm hands grasped her wrists, gently holding them in place.

“I’m not forcing anything. And even if neither one of us were signed up for today, I would’ve asked you out on my own soon anyways.”

There he went grabbing her attention again. It felt like rather than her wrists he was holding, it was her heart in a tight fist.

“All these years I've always wondered why I’m constantly drawn to you. Why I started out unable to stop teasing you, saying anything that came to mind to catch your attention. Stupid things. Regrettable things.”

“So stupid.” Her soft interjection pulled a wry smile from him in the middle of his speech.

“And after all the shite, the war, the trials, the slog of adulthood, I realized something.”

She could barely breathe listening to his words.

“I like you. I more than like you. I want to get to know you. See if we fit together as much as I think we will.”

Standing in the middle of a field, an uncharacteristic British sun beating down on them and people milling all around casting seeds in the hopes they’d take hold and grow into more, Hermione’s breath came back all at once. Pulling one hand loose from his grip, she returned his favor from earlier and brushed a silken strand of platinum hair off his forehead.

“I think we will, too.”

Or perhaps it wasn’t the sun that shone so brightly, but Draco himself as he smiled wider than she’d ever seen before.

[wolfknightpoe]

Vincent paused at the voice. A shiver went down his spine as he turned around. He was looking into the face of a dead man. Wyn's older brother, Trevor. He'd died during the attack on the city, he was sure of it. Just like Lucy... Otherwise, why would he have those feathered wings on his back? But that didn't make him any more comfortable.

"Oh. Hi Trevor. How have you been? Is Wyn doing well? Haven't heard from him in a bit." He may have had a friendly tone to his voice, but it definitely didn't match the slight pallor and wide eyes of his face.

―Ostara Festival 3

@wolfknightpoe​

The Ostara Festival is one of the rare moments Trevor can tolerate many people gathering at the same place, as it’s the same vibe as when he goes to VIP/Elite. He’ll most likely go at the beach during the festival, if only to get his blood pumping. But for now, he just wants to enjoy all the positive feelings around him. It’s nice to have so much good vibes for once.

That’s about when Trevor’s attention is brought upon a familiar face―Vincent; one of Wyn’s friend. His brother had asked him to check up on his friends for him, and to be fair, it’s not that the elysian had willingly avoided doing so, but simply that he’d been much more occupied by other things more important. But he’s happy that he can meet another one of Wyn’s friend. He’s not sure who will greet him, but calling him Vincent has always been the safest path. And so, he comes closer, and clears his throat. “Hello Vincent. It’s been a while. I’m glad you’re alive, and well. Wyn will be happy to hear the news.”