Ostara and the Spring Equinox
Equinoxes happen twice per year in the spring and in the fall. The spring or vernal equinox typically happens around March 21 each year but may vary and it's a time when the sun crosses north of the celestial equator and the time of light and dark is exactly the same. The word equinox is Latin meaning 'equality of night and day'. Many traditions people celebrate today that stem back 1000s of years in mystic and Pagan traditions to celebrate Ostara. Ostara or Eostre is the Germanic Goddess of Spring. She represents rebirth after winter, renewal, opportunity and new potential. The word Ostara means 'movement towards the rising sun' and this is when creative energy is at its strongest! This is a time on renewed energy, balance, hope and warmth. Like nature and the earth, we will be soon awakening from the slumber of winter. With the return of the sun the ground will be fertile, everything will move from a more passive energy to more active and new life will spring forth! So just as Mother Nature, her creatures and everything with roots get ready to bloom so shall we! Here are some tools, celebrations, rituals & resources for you to celebrate Ostara and the return of spring!
One way to celebrate is to set up your spring altar. This can be done anywhere in your home to help welcome in spring. I like to set mine up on the night before the equinox and do my first celebration early in the morning. Morning bonfires are a way to honor Goddess Eostre or Ostara. You can use many of my tools of the trade to create your altar and choose many Goddesses to honor as well.
Check out my blog on how to set up your spring altar here.
Check out my blog on how to set up your spring altar here.
Symbols of the season
Eggs-Eggs have long been sacred to represent fertility, renewal and growth. Ancients used to say the earth itself watch hatched from an egg and that the egg carried the power of creation.
Butterfly-complete transformation & rebirth
Rabbits & Hares-signs of good luck and abundance
Lamb-purity and new potential
Flowers-lilacs (home cleansing), tulips (good luck/prosperity), daffodils (happiness & cheer), daisy, pansy, honeysuckle
Goddesses-Eostre or Ostara, Flora, Gaia, Freya, Persephone, Venus, Dionysus, Aphrodite
Old balance scale-symbolizes the perfect balance of light and day, finding balance
Other Elements
Stones-aventurine, celestite, clear quartz, moonstone & bloodstone (all for balancing). Amethyst, emerald, pink topaz (all for spring). Rose quartz (fertility)
Colored candles-yellow (sun/solar plexus), green (fertility), violet (spirituality), pink (household peace), blue (tranquility), brown (earth), silver (Goddess)
Essential Oils-honeysuckle, rose, ylang ylang, lavender, bergamont, jasmine, orange blossom
Eggs-Eggs have long been sacred to represent fertility, renewal and growth. Ancients used to say the earth itself watch hatched from an egg and that the egg carried the power of creation.
Butterfly-complete transformation & rebirth
Rabbits & Hares-signs of good luck and abundance
Lamb-purity and new potential
Flowers-lilacs (home cleansing), tulips (good luck/prosperity), daffodils (happiness & cheer), daisy, pansy, honeysuckle
Goddesses-Eostre or Ostara, Flora, Gaia, Freya, Persephone, Venus, Dionysus, Aphrodite
Old balance scale-symbolizes the perfect balance of light and day, finding balance
Other Elements
Stones-aventurine, celestite, clear quartz, moonstone & bloodstone (all for balancing). Amethyst, emerald, pink topaz (all for spring). Rose quartz (fertility)
Colored candles-yellow (sun/solar plexus), green (fertility), violet (spirituality), pink (household peace), blue (tranquility), brown (earth), silver (Goddess)
Essential Oils-honeysuckle, rose, ylang ylang, lavender, bergamont, jasmine, orange blossom
Rituals & Traditions
Use one or many to welcome the spring season
Home Blessing-set up your spring altar and open up the windows in your home. Light a sage bundle or stick of palo santo and smudge the rooms of your home, offering new blessings and energy into your space. Set stones in and around the home for balance and prosperity. It's important to clear out the old to leave room for the new, a perfect time for spring cleaning!
Plant and herb garden, indoor or out. The weather in early spring is fickle, so choose your herbs and plants wisely. Good herbs to grow in early spring are said to be dill (prosperity/protection), cilantro, basil & lemon balm. Other magickal herbs and plants connected to Ostara and spring are valerian, dandelion, violets, lavender, thyme, sage, rosemary & chammomile. Some great resources for gardening & herbs are any book by Ellen Dugan such as Garden Witch's Herbal, Cottage Witchery or Garden Witchery. Also the Ostara book by Llewellyn has many amazing crafts and Ostara history and traditions.
Use one or many to welcome the spring season
Home Blessing-set up your spring altar and open up the windows in your home. Light a sage bundle or stick of palo santo and smudge the rooms of your home, offering new blessings and energy into your space. Set stones in and around the home for balance and prosperity. It's important to clear out the old to leave room for the new, a perfect time for spring cleaning!
Plant and herb garden, indoor or out. The weather in early spring is fickle, so choose your herbs and plants wisely. Good herbs to grow in early spring are said to be dill (prosperity/protection), cilantro, basil & lemon balm. Other magickal herbs and plants connected to Ostara and spring are valerian, dandelion, violets, lavender, thyme, sage, rosemary & chammomile. Some great resources for gardening & herbs are any book by Ellen Dugan such as Garden Witch's Herbal, Cottage Witchery or Garden Witchery. Also the Ostara book by Llewellyn has many amazing crafts and Ostara history and traditions.
|
Egg Dying, Egg Hunts and Cascarones-Old traditions include dying eggs, marking them with a white crayon before dying with words of wishes and prosperity. Decorate the home or hide plastic eggs for either children or adults with little trinkets, treats or words of wisdom hidden inside. Make a festive Cascarone, a Mexican Easter tradition filling up hollowed chicken egg shells with confetti, glitter, lavender and sage. The tradition is to bless someone by 'cracking' the egg over someone's head! You may also make specialized Cascarones for your altar filling them with items of intention such as prosperity, money, fertility, etc.
|
|
Feasts!
This is a great reason to get together with loved ones to celebrate the season. Dishes you can feast upon can reflect the springtime such as eggs (think quiche), mead (honey wine), lamb, honey cakes, potatoes with dill or rosemary, deviled eggs, mint tea cake, honeyed carrots and more. Check out recipes in the Ostara book mentioned above and on the website Raven and Crone.
Stay tuned for more rituals and traditions!
This is a great reason to get together with loved ones to celebrate the season. Dishes you can feast upon can reflect the springtime such as eggs (think quiche), mead (honey wine), lamb, honey cakes, potatoes with dill or rosemary, deviled eggs, mint tea cake, honeyed carrots and more. Check out recipes in the Ostara book mentioned above and on the website Raven and Crone.
Stay tuned for more rituals and traditions!