Ostara is one of the eight celebrations in the Wheel of the Year. This festival is preceded by Imbolc and followed by Beltane. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of the spring.
When is Ostara?
Ostara occurs on the spring equinox , around March 21 in the Northern hemisphere, and around September 23 in the Southern hemisphere.
The Meaning of Ostara
The word āOstaraā shares its origin with the word Easter. Both come from Old English Äastre, and related to Äostre or Äastre, a Germanic goddess whose festival was celebrated at the spring equinox. The word āeastā is also related as it represents the direction in the sky where the sun rises.
Meaning of Ostara in Wicca and Paganism
The book Eight Sabbats for Witches by Janet and Stewart Farrar describes the time around Ostara as the meeting of the Goddess with her consort, the Sun God, who is coming back to life after the winter. Other variations include the young God gaining strength after his birth in Yule and the Goddess returning to her aspect of the Maiden as a symbol of fertility.
~Ā°- ā¢ ~ā ~ ā¢ -Ā°~
Ostara is a time of renewal and rebirth. The days and nights are of equal length and as the land begins to warm up it become a green paradise for animals to begin their mating rituals and flowers to blossom. Everything is a symbol of fertility, a feast of joy and romance.
What to do during Ostara?
Fertility and Growth Spells
This is a wonderful time to cast fertility spells in any sense: for physical fertility and also to promote growth and fruitfulness in any project. A few spell recipes:
- Road Opener Spell
- Attract Wealth with Basil
- Attract Good Luck with Salt
- Spells and Chants to Bring a New Love
During the Full Moon of March, cast spells and rituals for reconciliations.
Embrace Nature
Take some time to celebrate all life that sprouts around you, walking along the beach, a park, or through the forest. Admire the beautiful creation of Nature, take off your shoes and connect with its grounding enery. Pick wild flowers for your altar on the way back.
Video: Spiritual Fertility Spell
This is a guided Ostara ritual with candles, eggs and Wiccan prayers. We will cast a circle and plant spiritual seeds of fertility and growth for the season that begins.
Click here to Watch the Video Ritual
Create an Ostara Altar
Use a green or white altar cloth, add water, eggs, and two candles: one for the Goddess and one for the God. Decorate it with wild flowers and pastel colors. See more ideas and correspondences below.
Decorate Eggs
Paint eggs to symbolize your rebirth and that of Nature. Watch this video to learn how to decorate hard-boiled eggs. You can them eat them, sharing them with friends and family, or bury them as spiritual seeds.
Make an Egg Basket
This video shows how to make a basket with paper in a fun step-by-step tutorial.
Spring Cleaning
Open windows, dust out cobwebs and Get rid of old furniture and things. Let go of that old energy and allow yourself to sprout new leaves and grow. If you have a green thumb, plant seeds or start a Magickal Herb Garden.
Ostara Correspondences
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Herbs/Flowers: Sage, Rose, Freesia, Lemon, Jasmine, Acorn, Saffron, Nutmeg, Eucalyptus, Violets, Sunflowers, Honeysuckle, Daffodils, Lilies.
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Incenses: Frankincense, Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Orange, Sage, Apple, Honeysuckle.
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Colors: Green, Yellow, Pink, Gold, Silver.
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Stones: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Red Jasper, Bloodstone.
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Foods: Eggs, honey cakes, the first fruits of the season, seeds, leafy vegetables and salads, chocolates, lamb, bread.
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Drinks: Water, Juice of seasonal fruits, Wine.
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Deities: Eostre, The Maiden, Astarte, Aurora, Eos, Kore or Persephone (as the maiden), The Green Man, Ares, Mars, Attis, Adonis, Osiris, Narcissus, Hyacinth, and Dionysus.
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Other Holidays: St. Patrickās Day (Christian-Mar. 17), Eostara (first full moon after equinox), Easter (Christian-first Sunday following Spring Equinox and full moon), Ides of March (Roman New Year March 15), Hilaria or the Day of Joy (Roman-March 15), Festival of Astarte (Mar 17), Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Passover (Judaism).
However you choose to celebrate, the main ingredients to this holiday are renewal, transformation, balance, and rebirth.
Have a Blessed Ostara!