SABBATH SERIES: OSTARA/SPRING EQUINOX
My wxtches in the Northern Hemisphere indulge me. Take a moment and head to your closest window. Hopefully the sun is shining and you feel it’s warmth on your face. If the window is open maybe there is still a touch of coolness to it, or maybe theres a stagnant warmth to the air. Now breathe and see, really observe nature. Is she showing her soft pastels? Are the trees budding? Has the ground started sprouting it’s green lush? How about the birds, are they singing for you? Is there a hustle and bustle of people outside enjoying the shift in season? Or a buzzing of a nearby bee? These are the gentle reminders that Spring is finally upon us!
I have to admit, I cannot be more grateful that Ostara is upon us. It felt as though The Green Man was going back to the Holly Man, and saying “nah, you can have the crown a little while longer” (wipes sweat from brow), but here we are amongst the cherry blossoms, lush green grass, and gardens full of heavenly scented hydrangeas (sighs in relief). Although the Spring Equinox is still a tempermental time of year (weather wise), The Wheel of The Year assures us that Spring is here. Although, Mother Nature may not be ready to grant us Springs divine pleasure at the exact time Ostara arrives, we sure can do some spell-work to help encourage her along.
The Wheel of The Year and Ostaras Importance Within It
Ostara is one of the four Major Sabbaths of the year the other three being Mabon, Yule, and Litha or Midsummer. You can also track the Major Sabbaths by the Equinox or Solstice days that can be seen on the Gregorian calendar. Ostaras importance within the Wheel of theYear is to mark the time that Winter is “officially” over, and Spring has solidified it’s place in time until the next Major Sabbath, which would be Midsummer/Litha. Ostara is a time for celebrating innocence and fertility; passion filled energy that inspires us in our work, relationships, creativity, health, and self growth! It’s a time to start planning for our future, or to bring those already established plans to action. We finally see the sun more, and begin to say goodbye to winters chill that clings in the air. It may be too soon to hang up our winter coat, but Ostara shows us that brighter, warmer, and more fruitful days are ahead.
Goddesses, Gods and Mythical Creatures OH MY!
Eostre, and The Reason We Honor the Hare
If you’re thinking “This word looks a lot like Easter” you’d be absolutely correct! The Catholics took Eostre from the Germanic Pagans and spun it into the Jesus story. Now you can absolutely be a wxtch and a christian who celebrates Eostre whichever way you prefer! But on this blog we cover the Pagan traditions and lore, so lets talk about the Germanic Pagan wxtches. Eostre is an Anglo-Saxxon goddess who ruled over the month of April- which she was named after in German Ēosturmōnaþ (please don’t ask me to pronounce that). This Goddess came long before the 8th century, and her story was adapted in multiple forms. One of the beautiful stories that inspired the modern day Easter is the tale of The Bird and the Hare. It is said that Eostre, amidst a winters storm, comes across a poor bird whose wings are covered in ice and snow, unable to fly to get home. It’s little heart growing cold, and likely on the brink of death. Distraught Eostre tries to keep the bird alive, but her magick cannot combat this wicked cold. So she thinks quickly “I must give it fur!” and with that she turns the little bird into a hare. Full of vigor, and covered in warm fur the now grateful hare survives! As the storm dies down, and the two make it through, the hare, in his grateful mood, begins to lay eggs of beautiful colors as gifts to Eostre. It is here that we get the symbols, the magick, and the tradition of painting colorful eggs, hiding and seeking them, and honoring the hare for Easter.
Persephone Rising
Ahh, my dear Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Spring. Her story is the epitome of transformation, and how we are all not one thing, but a complex creation of all things. Persephone, the daughter of Demeter (Goddess of Harvest, Agriculture, and Fertility), was sheltered in her childhood, protected and also left to her own devices. She was always wanting more, escaping into worlds in her mind that were far from the grasp of her smothering mother, and into a life of adventure. As many of you may know, Hades takes Persephone to the underworld, marries her, and holds her there until one day when Persephone is warned that her Mother is willing to destroy the world (letting all the crops, plants, and foliage die), unless her daughter is returned. Persephone, now in love with her dark husband, is unsure what to do and forced to choose between them. But our Persephone is much smarter than that; instead she eats six pomegranate seeds thus striking an unworldly contract where six months will be spent in the Underworld with her husband, and the other six months is spent on the Earthly Crust for the other six months with her mother. Thus making her the Goddess of Spring, ascending to our plane on Ostara to be with her mother Demeter until descending back to Hades arms upon Mabon. For those who have had a troubled coming of age, a tempestuous relationship with their mother, an uneasy transformation to girlhood/womanhood (especially trans individuals) I highly recommend you consider working with Persephone. She has changed my life and Craft as a wxtch.
Freyja
I couldn’t forget our beloved Norse Goddess on this abundant and fertile occasion! Freyjas presence is called upon this day for many reason; love, sexuality, fertility, abundance (mainly wealth). Although this isn’t all she is known for, her prophetic abilities and magick can be requested in helps to foresee the new year ahead, to enhance desires, passions, and increase spell-work especially in the areas previously mentioned. Why her presence is so important to Ostara is quite simple- The Spring Equinox is one of four major turning points in the wheel of the year, it is the solidification of a new season, and this season in particular asks for us to ramp things up, get the fire going, and feel inspired! Freyjas chariot is a symbol of her speed, her swiftness in decision making, and one that is forward moving. Those looking for love, or to enhance their love or sexual energy are highly encouraged to call upon her, and even moreso on Ostara.
Unicorns
It is no stretch of the imagination to see the correlation between Unicorns and Ostara. When the forest, meadow, or glen is quiet in the early breaks of dawn, when the streaks of sunlight are gently breaking through the trees, you are very likely to catch a glimpse of a Unicorn. After the harsh winters wain, and the snow droplets turn to drew, you may see a baby unicorn suckling the petals of a daffodil tasting the spring sprinkles of water. Growing up I always felt that Unicorns were real, I didn’t need to see one in order for it to be true. I understood their fleeting energy, their innocence, and transformative magick. When we think of Ostara we think of innocence, of renewal; the spring equinox. Much like the transformative magick of unicorns (I highly recommend reading up on The Hunt of the Unicorn) Ostara reminds us of our own internal transformation, and how we are seasonal beings- that we are not meant to be one thing for too long. With this magick we can become whatever we want, we must simply believe it so. Like many wxtches who have doubt in our spell-work, this is a great time to call upon the Unicorns to encourage confidence, and fight off that imposter syndrom.
Wood Nymph -Josephine Walls
Choose Your Own Adventure: Ostara Activities
“Don’t change a thread till April is dead”, a long time family tradition that I stick by, but once Ostara is upon us I know I can begin to pack up some heavy sweaters and jackets to put away come May/Beltane. Until then, and while contemplating changing too much, here are some activities that evoke the energy of warmer days ahead, the swiftness of the Hare, and the renewal of our Craft.
Spring Cleaning!!! Reorganize your space(s) maybe try fengshui by placing a money spell jar at the South & East corner of your home
Refresh House Wards, and sweep away stagnant energy from Winter by saying thank you of course
Paint Eggs look up some fun designs, or use multi-media to transform the egg into art
Visit a Farm or Botanical Garden to welcome in the new babies and blooms
Weave a basket and pick wild flowers, or forage for herbs
Join a walking, jogging, or running club bonus points if the route goes through a park!
Plant some seeds either a garden of flowers or vegetables, a tree or two, or spell seeds for manifestation
Try Scrying in your closest river, creek, or stream beware the water nymphs!
Honoring the Spring Equinox Ostara:
This is a great place to start, it’s more about the energy your invoking and less about the action. Remember when I talked about this being the time of planning, later will be a time of action? You can very easily start that intention at your alter. Here is how:
Creatures: Hares & Rabbits, Chickadees, Robins, Lambs, Butterflies, Squirrels
Colors: Yellow, Pink, Green, Blue, Purple
Food items: Eggs, Rabbit Stew, Mimosas, Lemons, Chives/Green Onions, Carrots, Turnips
Crystals: Clear Quartz, Fluorite, Bumblebee Jasper, Green Aventurine, Moonstone
Flowers & Herbs: Allium, Daisies, Lilies, Nettle, Lavender, Lemongrass,
The way to celebrate this Sabbath is endless, given that wxtchcraft is found across all cultures, all continents, and therefore can look different from practitioner to practitioner. Make Ostara your own, whether in a coven or along as a solitary wxtch, it’s always more important as to what your intention is, not the tools you are using (although they can definitely add to its potency).
Being a wxtch should be fun! The Craft is about action, it’s a practice like a sport or a hobby and the more you do it the better you’ll become and the less you’ll worry about “doing it right”. So use these articles as a guidepost, not an absolute.
Until next time, stay spooky darklings xx
White Rabbit on Blue and White Plaid Textile by Cottonbro Studios
