How to Celebrate Ostara as a Spiritual Yoga Witch
Welcome back! Lets talk about the magick of this season and how we are emerging from the darkness into the solstice with Ostara and the Spring Equinox around the corner. I don't know about you all, but I am REALLY looking forward to the light half of the year and the SOLAR energies. I am a leo sun and this girl is ready to get into these playful and vibrant energies.
We're about to infuse the world with color, light, and positivity—quite literally, as Ostara is a festival that celebrates the balance and the welcome of longer days as earth rebirths itself into new life. Buckle up buttercup, because we're about to explore the many ways how this traditional Pagan celebration can enrich the lives of spiritual seekers, yoga enthusiasts, and the witch community.
The Reawakening of the Earth
The vernal equinox, known as Ostara, marks one of two times in the year when day and night are of equal length. It's a cosmic event echoing the timeless rhythm of life, symbolic of the duality and the balance in the universe. This celestial dance is not just a spectacle for your eyes, but a poignant reminder that our lives, too, should strive for equilibrium.
The Historical Roots of Ostara
Ostara takes its roots from ancient Germanic cultures, named after the Germanic fertility Goddess, Eostre, (it sounds practically like easter)! The festival symbolizes the cycle of life, equating day and night as well as the waxing and waning phases of the Moon. It continues into the growth and renewal associated with the coming of spring.
Preparing for the Spring Equinox
Before we jump into the festivities, it's crucial to prepare the internal and external space for the harmonizing energies the equinox brings with it. Start by setting intentions for the season—think of areas in your life that need a spring clean, physical or mental!
The Nature of a Cleanse
Spring cleaning isn't just about dusting the cobwebs in your home; it’s about revitalizing your life by shedding the stagnant...and honestly, quite dark energies of winter. This involves both physical and spiritual de-cluttering. Out with the old—closet spaces aren’t the only places that need a good clearing; mindsets, practices, and relationships need pruning too. Sounds like loaaaads of fun right? Well, if you want to live a fulfilling and spiritual life it's time to put in the work my friends.
Spiritual Clearing Rituals
Engage in practices that help clear negative energy such as smudging, meditation, or sound baths. Find whatever method works for you and your energies. Each room of your house can have its own intention for the clearing. The kitchen, for example, can be cleared of not just physical dirt but also of negative energy to foster healthier eating habits.
Connecting with Nature
Ostara is all about nature's reawakening. Engage with the land, as well as with flowers, fresh air, and wildlife. Go for a little "Ostara Scavenger Hunt" in nature to find one piece of each element in nature and then have a meditation with those elements before returning them to nature.
Flourishing in the Season
Find your local park that has always sparked something inside of you but you never had the chance to go before, and host an Ostara picnic! Maybe overlooking a meadow, but you get the picture. Engulf yourself in nature. This not only connects you with your surroundings but supports your community and provides an opportunity to practice gratitude for nature's bounty.
The Sounds of Spring
Take time to listen to the sounds of the season—the patter of rain, the chirping of birds, and the rustle of awakening leaves. It sounds cheesy, but there is something that just sparks joy in my heart when I hear the baby birds singing in spring. Record the sounds and play them back during meditation for an immersive and grounding experience.
Conservation of Nature Spirits
The celebration can also focus on conservation in action! Plant a tree, or volunteer in your community garden. Living close to the beach means it's super easy for me to organize a beach clean up over the years, which has always been a beautiful version on how to celebrate Ostara. These acts of nurturing the earth are rituals themselves, imbued with the energy of the spring equinox.
The Whispering of the Trees
They said pagans were tree huggers--right? So go hug a tree! Maybe not literally, but connect with the mind and spirit of trees. They are not just silent observers of the turning of the season but are deeply rooted in the Earth's cycle of birth, death, and re-birth.
The Wisdom of Woodland Walks
Set out on a woodland walk and meditate upon a tree that draws you. What wisdom does it hold for you about endurance, growth, and transformation? Remember, each tree, like each person, has a unique story to tell. Bring your journal and create a tradition of these meditations and journaling them as a new Ostara tradition.
Communing with Your Chosen Tree
Place your hands upon its bark and feel its energy. Say a silent prayer or affirmation, dedicating your intention for the equinox into the tree's spirit. This simple act not only connects you with the earth but also forms an enduring, supportive bond with a being of nature. Don't worry who is around and who may be watching you, live in the moment and connect during this equinox.
The Art of Egg Decorating
Egg decorating is one of the most popular Ostara traditions. Though fun as it may be, it's not just child's play; it's a deep spiritual practice with roots in history. Let's dive into it!
The Symbolism Within
Each stroke of paint, each dye that colors the egg has a story to tell. Red can represent the fire of life, white the purity of spirit, yellow the warmth and growth of the sun. Delve into the history of patterns and their meanings to craft a deeper connection to the practice.
Culinary Magic of Hard-Boiled Eggs
Incorporate hard-boiled eggs into your diet not only for their physical energy but also for their magical ones. Cook them mindfully, maybe add some of your latest moon water to the boil, infusing them with the essence of the season. Season them with herbs that resonate with the spirit of spring, like dill, and enjoy them as a part of your Ostara feast!
Harmonizing Your Home
Your home is your haven, but it can also be a reflection of the changes you wish to make in your life. Infuse it with the magick of the season:
Decor in Tune with the Season
Swap out winter decor for spring items—lighter fabrics, brighter colors, and floral patterns. This not only changes the aesthetic but the energy flow in your environment.
Organize Your Haven with Intention
Take organizational actions within your space, aligning its order and structure with the new life you're invoking. Arrange closets and bookshelves, organizing not haphazardly but with a clear intent to bring in the new while acknowledging the old.
Sharing Celebration with Community
Festivities are often better celebrated with a community. Share your guided meditations, learnings, and aspirations for the season with your spiritual circles.
Honoring the Equinox with Rituals
Rituals are the soul of spiritual practice, and Ostara offers many ways to engage in meaningful ceremony. Check out future blogs coming out this month to see all the ways you can work Ostara rituals!
Make Rose Water or Floral Water
One of my favorite things to do on Ostara is to make Rose Cleansing Water. I like making it in a nice clear bottle, then either bathing in it the night of Ostara or in the past my coven has used it as the cleansing water before our rituals. Add in your favorite oils for an extra umph!
Crafting an Ovate Altar
Decorate an altar with symbols of the season—spring flowers, seeds, and images of hares and eggs, which are both symbols of fertility. Place a candle in the color associated with spring—the light represents not just warmth, but the awakening and growth. Sit with this candle throughout the Ostara season and at the last end of it, do a meditation with it to see what spirit is trying to tell you this season.
Best Herbs and Oils for Ostara
Obviously locally grown is always going to be the way to go, but in case you are a little overwhelmed with the options here is a list of great herbs and oils to use during the Spring Equinox:
Lemon and Lemongrass
Rosemary
Dandelion
Lavender
Roses
Jasmine
Sandalwood
Honeysuckle
Hosting Seasonal Sittings
Plan and host a seasonal ceremony; if you're inclined toward the creative, make it a performance or an art event. Share stories and experiences that connect you to the essence of the season, uniting you through a shared spiritual language and understanding. One of my favorite Ostara celebrations I went to was at my moon sister's home, she had different seasonal teas set up at each directional point in her home. We went out side and toasted to each quarter and then had a tea party!
The Power of Communal Intention
Communal rituals are powerful. The energy raised together can be harnessed to manifest change, furthering each participant’s goals and intentions for the equinox. It doesn't matter whether you're in a big group or a small one—the power is in the collective energy. Use it!
Expanding Your Spiritual Toolkit
Learn and incorporate new forms of divination or magic into your practice. Using the balance of the Equinox to empower your skills in divination, try your hand at reading the runes or harnessing the elemental powers. This too can become another new tradition you create for yourself at the equinoxes.
Deepening Your Practice
Don't just celebrate Ostara—immerse yourself in the season. Study up on folklore and mythology; try out new practices, and allow this time to be a period of growth, not just for the earth, but for you.
Keeping the Flame of Spring Alive
Ostara isn't just one day—it represents an entire season. Keep engaged and active, make every single day an opportunity for growth. It sounds exhausting putting in all that work, but trust me it's worth it. If you celebrate the Sabbath outdoors, spend time regularly among nature. Make a pact with yourself to preserve the environment for the generations to come, thus letting the flame of Ostara burn long past the equinox.
With this guide, hopefully you are all set to celebrate Ostara in the most invigorating and mindful way possible. The season beckons us all to not just observe but to partake in its renewal and reawakening. Now, go forth and spread the joy of spring as a living embodiment of the season’s promise of growth and new beginnings!!
Thanks so much for checking out this blog post on How to Celebrate Ostara, I have a whole multi-part extravaganza on my Youtube Channel if you want to really dive deep into the magick of this season with me. Thank you for subscribing to the season of Anya: Yoga Magick and Witchcraft. One love.
