Ostara | Spring Equinox | 19th - 21st March

Ostara is a celebration of the start of spring, when day and night have become at perfect balance with each other once again on the journey through the Wheel of the Year. At this time the light begins to take over the darkness and signs of spring are starting to show - new life and growth are appearing all around us. It's a time for fertility, new growth and the birth of animals and insects too. The sun is slowly awakening with it's light becoming warmer and stronger to its full potential.

Ostara often takes the form of a hare or a rabbit as they are known for their energetic breeding, symbolizing fertility.

Motivation is high now and it is a great time to get started on any goals that you would like to complete this year!

Easter, the traditional Christian holiday that is widely celebrated, has been adapted from the Pagan sabbat Ostara. As you may know, Easter is named after the female hormone Oestrogen, necessary for fertility, which is one of the main aspects of the celebration for Ostara. As Easter has evolved from Ostara, there are actually quite a few similarities between the two holidays.

If you are familiar with Hot Cross Buns, this might be interesting to you; the pagan Saxons would bake cross buns at the beginning of spring in honour of the goddess Eostre – which is widely believed to be the origin of the name Easter. Hot cross buns are linked to paganism because the cross is a symbol of the rebirth of the world after winter. Two Equinoxes crossed by the two Solstices, the four seasons, the four directions of North, East, South and West and the five elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water with Spirit at the Centre!

Activities/ways to celebrate:

- Plant seeds.

- Start a magickal herb garden - Small pots and plants in appropriate places can work just as well! ☽ Take a walk in nature, notice all the sights and sounds of nature and what's around you. -Open windows while you spring clean your home to cleanse any negativity and allow fresh energy to flow through. - Burn candles to represent the returning of the light. - Place seeds on bird feeders outside. - Collect wild flowers and press them (be sure not to take too many, as pollinators, insects & wild animals need them more than we do) - Bless an egg with a property of your choice and eat it. - Have an Ostara egg hunt (if you are doing this with children, have coloured eggs with a basket match so they can hunt for their own colour and will all get an equal amount)

Food/Drink: Green vegetables

Seeds

Eggs

Dairy such as cow's, sheep's and goat's cheese and milk, or dairy substitutes Meat such as lamb, ham or rabbit, or meat substitutes Edible flowers on salads, etc. Light breads Fresh juices

Crystals:

Agate - Agate is an excellent stone for rebalancing and harmonising body, mind and spirit Amazonite - Amazonite known as the "peacemaker" stone, is a crystal of peace, truth, harmony, and communication. It gently soothes the nerves, and it’s energies can be felt to the touch. Any environment that Amazonite is placed in will fill the air with positive energies.

Clear quartz - Clear Quartz is known as the "master healer" and will amplify energy and thought, as well as the effect of other crystals and brings the body into balance.

Rose Quartz - Rose Quartz is the stone of universal love. It restores trust and harmony in relationships, encouraging unconditional love. Rose Quartz purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace.

Jasper - Jasper is known as the supreme nurturer. It sustains and supports through times of stress, and brings tranquility and wholeness. Jasper provides protection and absorbs negative energy.

Jade - Jade has been used for centuries to increase vitality, enhance sensuality and improve the overall health of the sexual organs. It helps balance negative emotional states and aids in fertility and childbirth. It's the ideal stone for pregnancy or when trying to conceive. Moonstone - Moonstone is said to be directly connected with the moon and has a reflective, feminine and calming energy. Moonstone is often used for fertility as it is boosts female energy and is used to aid the regulation of a womans menstrual cycle.

Alter Ideas:

- Eggs

- Rabbits/Hares

- Candles with floral fragrance

- One side light (beginnings) one side dark (setting sun gestation)

- Light colored crystals on left side

- Dark colored crystals on right side

- Tulips or any Spring Flowers

- Put a plant at your alter, care for it, watch it grow and flourish throughout the year

- Meditation

Meditation is an excellent way to give the mind – and body – conscious rest. If meditation seems intimidating, simply watch the breath. The mind fatigues from focusing on one type of activity for too long, so a few minutes of simple breath awareness is a welcome break.

Make sure you also refresh yourself with exercise or time outdoors, in order to keep the mind and body in happy harmony. Shifting from the internal focus of winter, let yourself explore outwardly again – step into nature, take a hike, go for a jog out into the country, up to the mountains, or down to the ocean. Breathe in the crisp, fresh air, feel the warm sun on your face, and let every cell be revitalised.

____________________________________________________________ * DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent ailments of any sort - All crystal properties are based on metaphysical beliefs, and should not be used as a substitute for medical care, please always seek the help of a medical professional for any health concerns.

* All information offered is checked to the best of our ability, and whilst every effort has been made to make it accurate, no responsibility will be accepted for errors and omissions.

- Any information displayed on our website is not regarded to be authoritative or certified as the best practice and is only considered to be useful supplementary advice to other certified codes of practice. All information on our website is updated regularly.

Sources:

Wicca - Harmony Nice,

https://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/ostara/