Ostara

Ostara is a springtime celebration that has roots in ancient witchcraft and paganism. It marks the end of winter, when days become longer and warmer, and nature starts to come alive again. This sabbat is held around the March equinox, usually on or near the 20th or 21st day of the month. The name itself comes from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess associated with fertility and rebirth.

During Ostara rituals, people often honor the changing of the seasons by planting seeds for their gardens and bringing in new life during this time of change. Witchcraft practitioners will also do spellwork that focuses on growth and renewal. Some symbols used include eggs (which represent fertility), bunnies (representing fertility and abundance), flowers, and colorful decorations.

Celebrating Ostara is a way to honor the shifting of seasons, whether you're a practitioner of witchcraft or not. It's an opportunity to reconnect with nature and celebrate new beginnings. By embracing this time of change and rebirth, we remind ourselves that life is ever-evolving and full of beauty.

Ostara is more than just a springtime ritual — many witches consider it an incredibly powerful time of year when magic is at its strongest when deities cross the lands and sew the seeds of life into the Earth. As days become longer and warmer, we can use this extra energy in our spellwork for growth, renewal, and abundance.

The power of Ostara lies in its ability to bring hope during times of change. By celebrating this sabbat, practioners honor their connection to nature and celebrate new beginnings.

How to Celebrate Ostara

Ostara is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the season of rebirth. It's a great time to learn new skills, clear out the old and prepare to begin a new chapter in your life. Here are some fun ways to celebrate Ostara:

- Decorate your home or sacred space with symbols of Ostara, such as decorational eggs, spring flowers, pastel bunting, and any spring decorations that fill you with joy.

- Take part in a spring clean - clean out any items that are no longer serving you. We can often get overwhelmed by clutter and mess that serves little purpose. In a consumerist age we can end up accumulating junk that we simply don’t need and brings us little joy. Even just a simple swift around to clear some dust is enough to have a positive impact.

- Take part in an Ostara ritual or ceremony. Dance around in a field wearing flower crowns, or even dance around in the comfort of your own house. Bring a bountiful picnic if it’s a sunny day with fresh fruits and sweet delicacies to enjoy alone, with a partner, or with friends.

- Create crafts inspired by Ostara themes. Paint egg shells, make paper flowers, or draw designs on stones.

- Make an offering to nature in honor of Ostara. This could be placing flowers in a stream, leaving food for the birds or burying an egg into the earth (or for vegans, a paper egg).

- Use incense or Smudge sticks to banish negative energies and purify your home.

- Spend some time outside, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the fresh air. Meditate for a few minutes in the sun, breathing in slowly through the nose while thinking about all the positive changes you want to bring in to your life, and breathing out through the mouth all the negative emotions in your body.

Eostre

Eostre is an ancient goddess of the pagan Anglo-Saxon tradition. She is believed to bring new life and fertility to the world, with her symbol being a hare or rabbit. This goddess has been linked to modern Easter celebrations, as it is said that her name was adapted by Christians as they spread their religion in Britain. It's thought that Easter was named after Eostre due to how early spring is a time for new beginnings and renewal - something which this goddess represented. As such, many pagan traditions were blended into modern Easter celebrations during this period of transition.

Though Eostre is not widely celebrated today, understanding her story can give us insight into past beliefs and a renewed appreciation for the season of rebirth. Many witches still worship this Spring goddess during Ostara as she is the emblem of Spring, life and renewal. Many witches make offerings to Eostre during Ostara by placing butter or eggs in an offering at their door or altar.

Ostara Spells and Rituals

Writing a spell for Ostara is an excellent way to tap into the power of this Sabbat and create something magical. As you craft your spell, take time to focus on what it is that you wish to manifest in your life—whether its productivity, abundance, or new beginnings. Before beginning any witchy work, always be sure to set an intention and call upon the elements for help.

For example:

“I call upon air and fire

Earth and water alike;

Bring magic and blessings my way

On this ostara night!”

Fertility Ritual

One popular fertility spell is to draw a face on an egg (or any vegan alternative with biodegradable materials) while imagining a child you wish to bring into life. Bury the egg and call upon a fertility deity of your choice. Eostre, Freyja, Venus Aphrodite, Isis, Ishtar, Parvati, Chandra, Gaia, Artemis, Haumea and the Mother Goddess are just a few examples of fertility Goddesses and deities from various cultures.

New Beginnings Ritual

On your alter or sacred space, gather herbs, stones and essential oils associated with purifying, cleansing, courage, transformation and welcoming in postive energies such as from the list below:

Herbs: Rosemary, Sage, Ginger, Mint, Bergamont, Lavender and Chamomile

Stones: Labradorite, Citrine, Malachite, Green Aventurine and Rainbow Moonstone

Essential Oils: Rosemary Oil, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon Balm and Orange

Candle: White candle or Green, Purple and Yellow (the colours of Ostara)

Herbs can be placed in a bowl in your sacred space, while you can rub the essential oils on your wrist and hold your stone to channel your intentions.

Light your candle (or candles) and some Incense and meditate on all the good things you wish to achieve or bring into your life. Call upon a diety to guide you if you wish. Breathe in slowly through the nose, and as you breathe slowly back out through the mouth, feel all the negative energy built up in your body release from your belly, then your chest, and out of your mouth. The smoke from the incense will carry away and banish the negative energy, which will eventually flow back into the earth to be renewed.

Cleansing Ritual

It is vital as a witch to cleanse and charge your sacred tools once in a while. Over time, your tools begin to soak up energy like a sponge, which can interfere with your spellwork or ritual. There are many ways witches do this, and all witches have their own preferred methods. Witches often cleanse, recharge and consecrate tools during Spring and Ostara and the energy from the earth is at its peak during this time.

A simple way to cleanse and charge your tools:

• In a basin, put a pinch of sea salt or Himalayan salt into lukewarm water and gently wash your tools (Be sure to do your research and make sure that your tools can withstand a salt water bath, as not all tools are appropriate for this step. If not, simply leave this step and head onto the next step)

• Leave your tools out in a garden or on a windowsill to soak up sunlight during a sunny day, charging your tools. Some witches prefer to charge their tools under the moonlight during a full moon

• Smudge your tools with cleansing herbs such as rosemary, sage or lavender, wafting smoke over the tools to purify and banish any unwanted energies (be careful of any flammable materials).

• Consercrate your tools by placing them on a circle or pentacle. With an athame, wand or your finger, draw a circle around the tools. Hold them to your chest, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in and out, feeling the connection between you and your magical tool. You may also wish to call upon a diety to affirm this connection.