March 20th (or sometimes 21st) sees the start of the vernal or Spring Equinox for the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of Ostara for those of us who celebrate the pagan sabbats.
The word ‘equinox’ comes from the Latin word meaning ‘equal night’ and the sabbat of Ostara celebrates the light that was re-ignited at Yule, balancing the darkness of winter, and then overtaking it, breathing new life back into the earth.
The word Ostara comes from the name of the goddess of the dawn, Eostre, whose name means “East from where the sun rises”. During her celebration she is said to reunite with her love, the horned god Pan, who has been reborn.
Ostara is all about fertility and a celebration of life, of planting the seeds of our intentions and fostering their growth.
Feasting and merriment are a big feature of this sabbat, and the raising of our energy as the warming of the earth’s energies begin to rise.
Symbols of fertility are abundant, with rabbits, eggs, lambs and daffodils among others.
To get into the Ostara spirit, here’s a few things you can do to enjoy the festivities:
1. Create a spring-themed alter space
A small table, cabinet or shelf can be turned into a magickal alter space to bring Ostara energy into your home. You can decorate with fresh daffodils, lilacs, crocus or violets. Burn yellow candles anointed with lavender oil, or in a burner/diffuser. Colours can be yellow, green or lilac/lavender. Some crystals to use are peridot, moss agate or sunstone along others, and other natural elements.
2. Plant seeds
Think about what you would like to grow and begin new life in your home by planting some seeds. These can be anything that can be planted indoors at this time of year.
As you plant them, hold your intentions for this year in your mind - any new ideas, something new you’d like to try etc., then as the seeds grow, so too will your intentions, enabling you to take actions to achieve them.
3. Pick some fresh wild dandelions
Dandelions are a powerful herb and a potent symbol of spring. Go out and pick some wild dandelions, bring them back, give them a rinse in cold water, and then make them into an energising tea. You can eat all parts of the dandelion - the flower heads make a wonderful and very healthy and medicinal tea, and the leaves are great in salads or cooked as you would spinach, and lightly salted. The root can also be chopped, dried and roasted in the oven until it’s brittle. This can then be ground into granules and used as a coffee, which has a chicory coffee-like flavour, but without the caffeine.
4. Make a crown or garland out of spring flowers
Wear it while writing down your intentions for your own growth and renewal.
There are so many ways to welcome back the light and to celebrate the rebirth and growth that the equinox brings. However you celebrate, feel rejuvenated and feel your energy rising from its slumber.
The time to kick start that new idea or project is now!
Ostara blessings to you all.
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