OSTARA: SPRING/ VERNAL EQUINOX MARCH 20, 2022
Today we celebrate the sun moving into Aries in the Northern Hemisphere and Libra in the Southern Hemisphere, an Astrological New Year, Ostara, the Spring Equinox, and the Vernal Equinox.
The Vernal/ Spring Equinox is when the sun hits its zenith – the point directly over the equator on the celestial sphere – causing day and night to be the same length.
Our ancestors honored the dawn of spring because the warmer days increased the likelihood of survival after a long winter. They spent this time happily, filled with hope, and gladly kept themselves busy preparing for the growing season.
Ostara’s energy brings hope, playfulness, joy, celebration, and reverence for life's light and dark times.
Ostara is a time to start taking action towards the goals you made around Yule and Imbolc. Whatever you plant during Ostara will be ready to be harvested in the summertime.
Major Themes:
Birth & Rebirth – New Life – Resurrection – Fertility – Balance – Youth – Change – Growing in Strength – Rejuvenation – Renewal – Light – Love – Self-care – Play – Beauty
Ostara, also known as:
Eostre – Bacchanalia – Gwyl canol gwenwynol – Lady Day – Albaneiler
Decorating Your Altar Items:
Dyed Eggs – Baskets – Seeds – Spring Flowers – Feathers – Seeds – Shamrocks – Painted Eggs – Daffodils – Gingham Cloth – Tulips – pastel colors – Lilies – Crocus – Green Grass – Photos of Loved Ones – Bumble Bees – Butterflies – Ribbon – Candles – Crystals
Goddesses:
Eostre (Germanic)– Aphrodite/ Venus (Greco-Roman) – Athena (Greek) – Eos (Greek) – Blodewedd (Welsh) – Epona (Celtic) – Flora (Roman) – Freya (Norse) – Gaia (Greek) – Guinevere (Welsh/ Arthurian) – Libera (Roman) – Maia (Greek) – Persephone (Greek) – Rati (Hindu) – Renpet (Egyptian) – Umaj (Russian) – Vila (Slavic) – Isis (Egyptian) – Artemis/ Diana (Greco-Roman) – Cybele (Greco-Roman) – Lady of the Lake (Celtic)
Gods:
Cernunnos/ Herne (Anglo-Celtic) – Aengus MacOg (Irish) – The Dagda (Irish) – Eros/ Cupid (Greco- Roman) – The Green Man (European/North American) – Kama (Hindu) – Mabon (Anglo-Welsh) – Osiris (Egyptian) – Pan (Greek) – Thor (Norse) – Thoth (Egyptian) – Adonis (Greek) – Pan (Greek) – Mars (Roman) – Mithras (Greco-Roman)
Magical/ Spell Focus:
Abundance – Balance – Fertility – Change – Growth – Lust – New Beginning – New Love – Passion – Prosperity – Purification
Colors:
Pastels – Gold – Green – Pink – Red – Yellow – Blue
Animals:
Rabbits – Hares – Chicks – Robins – Lambs – Snakes – Unicorns – Dragons – Pegasus
Incense:
Orris Root – Violet Flowers – Benzoin Vervain – Cinquefoil – Lemon Balm – Jasmine – Myrrh – Geranium – Chamomile – Lavender
Oils:
Jasmine – Strawberry – Geranium – Lavender – Rosewood – Violet
Food and Drinks:
Leafy Green Vegetables – Dairy – Sunflower Seeds – Flower Dishes – Sprouts – Eggs (hard-boiled, deviled eggs, etc.) – Honey – Cakes – Fresh Fruits – Fish
Herbs:
Celandine – Crocus – Dandelion – Daffodil – Dogwood – Easter Lily – Ginger – Honeysuckle – Jasmine – Jonquils – Iris – Irish Moss – Peony – Violet – Usnia – Nettles – Meadow Sweet – Rose – Sage – Lavender – Lotus – Magnolia – Lemongrass – Chamomile – Cinquefoil – Lemon Balm – Acorn – Hyssop – Linden – Narcissus -
Crystals:
Amethyst – Aquamarine – Rose Quartz – Moonstone – Lapis Lazuli – Jasper – Red Jasper – Citrine – Bloodstone – Garnet – Moss Agate – Rhodonite – Unakite – Pink or green tourmaline – Sodalite
Ways to Celebrate:
Decorate your altar – Painting or Carving Runes to represent new ideas or qualities you want to bring into your life – Plant seeds/ Start a garden outdoors and Indoors – Decorate your home with Spring Flowers – Decorate your home with images of hares – Spring Cleaning – Make egg-based dishes and desert – Spend time in nature – Host a springtime themed party – Meditate – Journal – Create a bird feeder – Bonfires – Creating outdoor sacred spaces and altars – Purifying and protecting the home, the people and animals who reside in it – Volunteering to assist with the homeless or community gardening and farming – Perform Manifesting Spells and Magic.
Tarot Cards:
The Magician – The Hermit – The World – Suit of Pentacles
Element:
Air
Zodiac:
Pisces – Aries
Runes:
Berkana – Dagaz – Inguz – Laguz – Wunjo – Gebo
Ostara Journal Reflections:
What do I love most about myself?
What areas of my life do I want to expand the most?
What goals and desires am I working toward right now? How do I feel about them?
How can I bring more play and happiness to my day-to-day life?
How might more play affect my ability to be more balanced in my life?
Ostara Tarot Spread:
What is being awakened or reborn within me?
What areas of my life should I work on expanding?
What can I do in this area to create growth?
What is out of balance in my life?
How can I honor my beauty and gifts?
What will be my main theme this spring time?
