Light & Shadows of Chalandor

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PYSANKY

Pagan Anglo-Saxons made offerings of colored eggs to the Goddess Eostre/Ostara at the Vernal Equinox. In fact, most cultures did pay homage to their springtime goddesses with gifts of eggs, including the Egyptians and the Greeks. None, however, surpassed the traditions of the Eastern Europeans, particularly the Ukrainians. They created intricately colored eggs called pysanky. Pysanky were, and still are, amulets of fertility, protection, and prosperity. Witches today continue to practice this ancient craft, decorating eggs, powerful symbols of rebirth, with potent magickal inscriptions.

There is an ancient Ukrainian legend that tells of a demon monster who wants to devour the world. This monster is chained, but weakens his bonds as he pulls and tugs to break free. Every spring, the chain is strengthened in proportion to the number of pysanky made and exchanged. The magickal eggs represent the light that pushes back the darkness of winter.

People of the Ukraine didn't accept Christianity as its official religion until nearly 1000 CE. Even then, the pagan population refused to give up this magickal art. Eventually, the Church had to accept it. So today, we will find Christian symbols carved along with the ancient symbols on these beautiful eggs.

SYMBOLISM OF THE EGG

The golden yolk of the egg represents the Sun God. The white shell symbolizes the White Goddess, and the whole egg is a symbol of rebirth. Today, we know that chickens begin egg production as the days grow longer. The reason for this is that the retina of the hen's eye is stimulated by more than 12 hours of light a day. This, in turn, stimulates egg production. Egg-laying, then, is intricately connected to the lengthening of days at the Vernal Equinox.

To alchemists, the egg also has symbolic associations with the four elements: the shell represents the earth, the membrane represents air, the egg white represents water, and the yolk fire.

MAKING PYSANKY

As you follow the links below, you may feel a little overwhelmed at the intricacy of this beautiful art form. Don't be discouraged! You don't have to be an artist to make powerful pysanky amulets. The process is much simpler than it sounds. Beginners may blotch a little wax on the eggs when learning, but that's OK.

Nets & Stars - front view Nets & Stars - side view
Pysanky art uses a wax-resistant method similar to batik. Using a tiny brass funnel called a kistka, melted wax is used to make designs on the egg. The egg is dipped in transparent dye, waxed again, dipped in another color, waxed again, etc.

PYSANKY AS RITUAL

Pysanky are powerful magickal amulets. Traditional pysanky incorporate ancient symbols of fertility, prosperity, and protection. In olden times, an egg might have been decorated for protection and given to a loved one. Blue lines particularly protected against fire. Eggs with wheat designs were planted in the soil for abundant crops. Eggs decorated for prosperity were kept throughout the year, and so forth. Encircling bands of color represented the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Solar crosses represented the union of male and female, or spirit and matter. All symbols on the egg had meaning, from the obvious -- wheat for fertile crops -- to the obscure -- ladders for different planes of existence.

I made a pysanky to empower a career move as a professional tarot reader. I incorporated runes into my design, particularly ones to stimulate intuition and open channels to other realms. I also added the prosperity rune, as this was, after all, a job. These were worked into a sun symbol with encircling bands and a wheat design. This egg is now displayed beside my tarot decks. I've also used more modern symbols in my designs -- the goddess with upraised hands, the eight phases of the moon, and others. Utilize the ancient symbols, but also be creative.

A Pysanky Ritual

You will need:

Raw, room-temperature eggs (cold eggs will "sweat" as you work with them and resist the wax and dye)
Transparent dyes made particularly for pysanky
Beeswax
A kistka (a funnel-shaped stylus that holds the melted wax for "drawing" on the egg)
A spoon for dipping eggs in jars of dye
Egg carton or egg holders for eggs
Newspaper to spread on work area

A ritual candle, preferably in a color that matches your magickal intentions, inscribed with runes, and dressed in oil (also for melting the wax)
Herbs and incense to match magickal intention

1. Prepare your area as you would for any magickal working by casting a circle, calling the quarters, etc.

2. Bless and consecrate your eggs and other tools for the purpose of your magickal working.

3. As you light the candle, recite a chant asking the God/dess to be with you and to accept the magick you are about to perform. Summon the power of the ancient signs and begin to draw them on the egg. As you draw on and dye the egg, visualize your magickal goal. Is your spell for prosperity? Visualize yourself with abundance. For fertility? Visualize your healthy, beautiful baby. Continue this visualization throughout your work. Chanting is entirely appropriate here, and will strengthen your magickal working.

4. When your egg is completed, bless it with these or other words:

In the names of the Goddess of Spring,
And the ever turning God of the Sun,
By the power of the four elements --
Earth, Air, Fire, and Water,
I do consecrate these eggs.

Then point your athame at each egg and make the sign of the pentagram as you visualize the energy flowing from you through the blade into each egg.

Now do they contain new life.
In accordance with their signs,
And with my will,
So mote it be!

5. Place your magickal amulet in a safe, well ventilated place. I use raw eggs, and it takes approximately a month for the inside of the egg to dry. If it breaks in the meantime, you'll have a smelly mess on your hands. Avoid shaking and excessive handling -- although the egg will need to be turned every two weeks until you are sure it is completely dried. Of course, if you blow out your eggs (AFTER decorating), this will not be necessary. Save the amulets to display each Ostara. They are beautiful, powerful additons to your Ostara altar.
References: Wheel of the Year and Ancient Ways, both by Pauline Campanelli

KRASHANKY

Another Ukrainian magickal egg is the krashanka. Unlike pysanky, krashanky are hard-boiled and intended to be ritually eaten at sunrise on Ostara, while pysanky are kept raw, to preserve their fertility magick.

Krashanky are dyed a single color, usually red, while pysanky are inscribed and dyed with several colors.

Krashanky are associated with a race of spirits called "Blazhenni" or "kindly ones," who dwell in darkness on a distant land on the banks of a river. On Ostara, the red shells of the krashanky were thrown into the rivers to float as messages to the Blazhenni, informing them of the Sun's return. In later Christian times, the Blazhenni were associated with the spirits of children who died before baptism.

Krashanky were also placed on the fresh graves of loved ones at Ostara. The egg here was a symbol of rebirth and resurrection. Krashanky also have magickal applications, mainly healing. A sick person would wear the egg on a string around the neck where it would absorb the sickness. Touching a person with a consecrated krashanka would prevent blood poisoning. Amulets of krashanky and tassels of wheat were hung over doorways of new homes for protection. Rolled in green oats and buried in a field, they insured crop fertility. Placed under a beehive, they increased honey production while protecting the bees. (Of course, these would not be eaten).

The Druids dyed eggs scarlet in honor of the Sun, using furze (gorse) blossoms or possibly madder root. They too, ritually ate the eggs at sunrise on Ostara.

Here's how the ancient craft is done:

1) Bring raw eggs to room temperature. The wax will not adhere correctly to a cold egg.
I like to put them in the oven until they are slightly warm.

2) Make dye baths of various colors. A teaspoon of vinegar may be added to the color baths to set the colors or buy setting powder.

3) Melt beeswax or white candle wax over a continuous low heat.

4) Use a straight pin or nail attached to the blunt end of a pencil to achieve the "drop-pull" method. Professional styluses come in various size nozzles. Don't be mistaken to think that a professionally manufactured stylus is any better than your own homemade version. The old-fashioned way was to shape a little cup out of brass and attach it to a twig.

The tweezer on the right give me very even, narrow straight lines. The stainless steel metal keeps the tip hot and the wax flowing evenly, but it doesn't burn my hand.

5) Heat the stylus or pin head in the flame before dipping in the molten wax. The starburst shown on the black egg is done with "drop-pull" method that is unique to the Lemko people.

6) Apply a pattern on the white egg, dipping the pin in flame and wax prior to each stroke. You may use a rubber band around the egg to help you make straight lines or partition the egg into a pattern.

7) Submerge egg completely in yellow dye for 15 minutes. Turn egg periodically so that the egg colors evenly.

8) Pat dry with paper towel.

9) Dip stylus in molten wax and continue pattern covering only where you want the yellow to remain. The wax will protect that line.

10) Submerge completely in the orange bath for 15 minutes.

11) Pat dry. And continue adding molten wax to egg pattern covering only where you want the orange to show through. Many symbols have meanings:

�?Ribbons or belts - the endless line of eternity;
�?Fish - Christianity;
�?Sun - good fortune;
�?Leaf or flower - life and growth;
�?Grapevines - good fruits of the Christian life;
�?Pine needles - youth and health;
�?Wheat - wealth & prosperity.

12) Follow this technique with each subsequent color: red, green, blue, purple and black dyes. Note: Start with lighter colors and proceed to darker colors or wash off dark colors with mild soap and water before immersing into lighter colors. The wax on the egg will protect the color underneath.

13) When finished with all patterns and bath dyes, pat egg dry and allow to air-dry completely.

14) Some people carefully scrape off all wax with a blunt knife but I find this leaves scratches on my die. A faster way is to hold waxy egg over candle or stove top flame to melt it and wipe repeatedly.

You can place it in a 250° oven and when it begins to shine, remove it and wipe off the wax. If you forget or have the oven too high, you'll hard boil your egg and won't be able to blow its contents out.

The multiple-colored pattern will remain after the wax is wiped clean.

15) Gently shake the egg so its inner contents loosen from the walls. Some people use a wire to "scramble" the egg inside the shell to make it easier to blow out the fluid.

16) Puncture both ends of the egg -- one should be larger than another.
If you don't have a hole punch, you can use a needle or nail.

17) Blow through the small hole allowing the raw egg to come out of the larger hold. Pat dry so that the raw egg doesn't spoil your colors around the holes.

Much simpler is this one-hole blower, called a Blas-fix. It extracts the egg yolk using water pressure.
Some people don't want a hole in their egg. and will let it rot inside until it is completely gone. Just don't crack the egg until then or you'll have a putrid smell. You can varnish them after they are done to strengthen the walls and protect the dyes.

18.) Your pysanky are ready for presentation. Practice with food quality dyes. When you become an expert at handling the stylus and applying the wax, you'll want to buy permanent, unedible dyes which give you deep saturated colors on the solid areas of your pattern. You'll then select the most perfect egg for your work of art. No two pysankys are ever the same. Here are some lovely intricate patterns to practice with.

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