Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox, is a festival of awakening and sprouting and Goddess Ostara returns to us once again. And I’m sure you have felt this energy in the past few days and even weeks. Since Imbolc, the days got longer and nature has been waking up more and more. You can hear the busy bees humming and collecting the fresh nectar from the very first flowers that are blossoming. Birds are chirping from early in the morning to greet the Sun as soon as she arises. Maybe you were also lucky and you already saw 2 butterflies dancing around each other to celebrate this new fresh energy.

The Spring Equinox marks the time of the year where everything is waking up ready to present itself to the world. The energies start moving again, everything is growing towards the sky with great strides. So this festival is a beautiful reminder of the cyclical nature of life and the constant renewal that each season brings. The first flowers, green buds, colorful eggs, small newborn animals like lambs, young rabbits are all signs of budding life. The Ostara festival is filled with the impetuous power of youth and beginnings.

It is the time to celebrate the victory of light over darkness and the beginning of the blossoming season, of Spring. The days are longer and the nights shorter and the warming energy of the Sun now continues to rise until it reaches its peak at the summer solstice.

The term spring awakening (in German: Frühlingserwachen) perfectly encapsulates the energy and vibrancy of this season. As the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, we find ourselves drawn outdoors. It's as though nature herself is inviting us to witness her grand spectacle of rebirth and renewal.

The world outside our windows transforms into a canvas of vibrant colors, each stroke painted meticulously by the blossoming flowers. The air buzzes with the harmonious symphony of wildlife, reminding us of the cyclical rhythm of life. It's during these longer days and warmer nights that we reconnect with the earth, immersing ourselves in the wonderment of nature's rebirth.

Spring Equinox is also considered the beginning of the astrological New Year. The Sun moves into Aries, which is the first of the 12 zodiac signs in Astrology. The firey and passionate energy of Aries is the perfect energy to connect to this time of the year. But keep in mind that everything needs balance! Too much of this firey energy could be tiring, so Ostara reminds us to find balance.

Journal questions to ask yourself for the Spring Equinox

1. What needs balance in my life?

2. Where in my life is too much or too little?

3. What is it that I want to birth throughout this year?

4. Where can I focus my energy to help my intentions grow?

5. What would help me to move forward?

6. Where in my life do I already life the abundance that I now see all around me in Spring?

7. Where do I experience a lack of abundance and why?

Simple Ritual & DIY Ideas to celebrate Yule

Ostara Morning Routine

I connect the energy of Ostara to the Solar Plexus Chakra. It is the chakra that represents our own inner light, our identity. And just like the Sun that is getting stronger by the day, we too can strengthen our inner Sun in simple ways.

• If it is possible for you, try waking up in alignment with the rhythm of nature. Open your eyes with the first beams of the Sun (natural light).

• Doing some Yoga in the morning, stretching or simple exercises that honor your individual body help you to get the energies flowing again through your body and to strengthen your inner Sun.

• Make yourself a warming elixir made with ginger, cocoa or turmeric as it is a beautiful way to stimulate further circulation in the body.

• Dress up in vibrant colors to embody the new energy of nature! Light green, pastel colors, yellow, pink, light blue - all of these colors are representing Ostara and are perfect to dress up like a Spring Witch that is ready to explore the Spring meadows and forests. :)

Spend time outside

Experience the victory of light over darkness! Ostara marks the point of the year where there is this magnetic pull - for animals and humans alike - to spend time outside. So an easy way to celebrate Ostara is to spend time outside to experience the victory of light over darkness firsthand with all of your senses.

• Soak in the warmth of the sun on your face, and the coolness of the shade under the newly budded trees and how they balance each other out.

• Feel the warm moss under your feet and hands and be present with all the new live in nature.

• Allow the gentle breeze to caress your skin, bringing with it the sweet and intoxicating scent of the newly blossomed flowers and breath in the fresh smells of flowers that have just started blossoming.

• Listen to the sounds of nature: the sound of the rustling leaves, the harmonious song of the birds and the subtle hum of the insects, all coming together to create the perfect orchestra of nature.

• Take a closer look and soak in all of the beautiful colors that you can see. Marvel at the vibrant hues of blooming flowers, the lush green of new leaves, and the clear blue of the sky. Immerse yourself in the symphony of spring, and let the beauty of the season inspire and rejuvenate you.

Let each of these sensations fill you up and be present in the moment. Let the nature around you draw you in, allowing you to experience a deep connection with the earth and all its inhabitants. This is the magic of Ostara, a time to celebrate life and the beauty that comes with the changing of the seasons. Let this be a time of renewal and rejuvenation, a time to embrace the new beginnings that spring brings.

You can also bring your journal to draw flowers, birds, butterflys and anything else that you see to capture these beautiful moments.

By spending time outdoors and heightening all your senses, you gain a deeper understanding of the plants and animals that surround you as they awaken from their winter hibernation. You begin to recognize the delicate balance and interdependence in nature, which strengthens your respect and appreciation for all forms of life.

Garden makeover

Another beautiful way to celebrate Ostara is doing some gardening. Gardening is so calming and helps you ground yourself. If you don’t have a garden you could also simply make some flower arrangements for your balcony or even just your windows!

Depending on the space and budget you have, you can put a bird bath in your garden to help your bird friends stay hydrated. Use lots of flowers to make your garden especially colorful to invite the fairies (if this is something you want!) and show them that they are welcome. Wind chimes, crystals, fairy lights or solar-powered lanterns can add a magical touch to your garden as the sun sets, illuminating your flowers and the shiny objects meant for the fairies.

For me gardening is like painting art with a brush on a canvas. And whether it's adding a splash of color with beautiful flowers or creating a cozy corner with some fairy lights, the possibilities are endless. And I feel like there is nothing more beautiful than sitting in your garden or on your balcony until late, when the nights get warmer, see the sun set and the stars and the moon rise.

Make Ostara flower arrangements for your home

Making an Ostara flower arrangement is another beautiful way to invite spring and its passionate fiery energy into your home.

Make a flower garland

I have been loving doing simple DIY and craft ideas. Using simple materials brings me back to my childhood and allows me to enter a part of me that is full of unlimited creativity. I remember using this kind of crepe paper all the time as a child and I thought a colorful flower garland would be a beautiful idea to create something for Ostara.

All you need is:

• colorful crepe paper (for example pink, green, white, blue, purple, yellow)

• Some cord or ribbon

• a wool needle

How to make the flower garland:

• Start by cutting circles out of the crepe paper. You can use one color or combine different ones to make it even more colorful

• To give it the typical tulip shape I tied natural cord around the paper and secured it with a knot. You can create as many as you want, depending on how long your garland should be.

• I used a wool needle to connect all of my paper flowers together and give it the garland aesthetic.

This is such a beautiful and relaxing low cost diy activity that brings the colors of spring into your home.

Decorate your home and Altar

Decorate with spring colors and with symbols that represent Ostara!

1. Baby animals like chickens, lambs, rabbits

2. Eggs: They symbolize fertility, new beginnings, and rebirth. The tradition of decorating eggs during springtime has ancient roots and has been adopted by various cultures and religions.

3. Hares & Rabbits: The hare is an ancient symbol of fertility and the cyclic nature of life due to its high reproduction rate. The association of rabbits with Ostara comes from folklore and pagan traditions.

4. Flowers: Fresh blooming flowers represent the Earth waking up after a long winter. Daffodils, crocuses, and other early spring flowers are particularly linked to Ostara.

5. Seeds: Seeds symbolize the promise of future harvests and the continuation of life. Planting seeds is a common tradition during Ostara, symbolizing the potential growth in the coming months.

6. Butterflies: These creatures undergo a significant transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, symbolizing rebirth and renewal, both central themes of Ostara.

7. Bird’s nest

8. Willow catkins. They look like tiny fluffly rabbits in my opinion and there is no other plant that represents the Spring Equinox more ;)

9. If you love using crystals you can display all of your rosequartz. With its gentle beautiful pink color, it is perfect for the Spring Equinox. It's a crystal of love and harmony, assisting in fostering relationships and encouraging love and reconciliation.

   Citrine, has a sunny and bright aura and is often associated with the spring equinox as well. It's known for its ability to clear away old, stagnant energy and usher in the new.

   Green aventurine is another spring equinox crystal, often associated with growth and fresh beginnings. This crystal is believed to help create a sense of calm and balance which is one of the themes of Ostara.

   Clear quartz is also linked with the spring equinox. Its clear, luminous form is said to symbolize the purity and newness of the spring season.

Start a (new) project

The Spring Equinox is the perfect time to embark on new journeys and projects. It's a time to channel the vibrant energy of the season into your intentions for the year ahead and to plant seeds of your dreams and aspirations. So start any project you have been sitting on the past few months or start something completely new!

A seed ritual is perfect for that! Watch my full Witch’s Guide on YouTube to find out how I made mine!

Bake delicious Ostara bread

All you need for 1 loaf of bread is:

• 500 g flour

• 1 package of dry yeast

• 250 ml soy milk

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 60 g margarine

• optional: 100 g raisins & cinnamon

One tip from my mother is to keep your ingredients outside of the fridge until they have room temperature!

• Mix all the ingredients except the margarine and raisins in a bowl

• Now add the margarine and knead everything into a loose dough

• Optional: Add the raisins and knead everything again

• Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and leave it for at least 30-60 minutes (the dough should have doubled in size by then)

• Take the dough out of the bowl and knead it again

• Now comes the fun part! Divide the dough into three equal pieces, make dough sausages and braid them into a plait

• Place the plait on a baking tray (baking paper) and put a little bit of water on your plait using a brush to prevent the dough from drying out

• Cover the plait again with the kitchen towel and leave everything for about 30 minutes

• For a last time brush some water on your plait again

• Bake the plait for about 30 minutes with 180° C top and bottom heat.

It is really so simple and delicious and you can invite your friends and family over to share that fresh warm Ostara bread together!

This is the original recipe! https://www.eat-this.org/veganes-osterbrot/

⬇️ You can watch my full Witch’s Guide to Ostara on YouTube! :) ⬇️

I hope this expanded Witch’s Guide to Ostara offers you a deeper understanding of this magical time of year. I hope it can help you to understand the energy behind this Sabbath a little bit more. Remember to embrace the energy of the season, set your intentions, and celebrate the beauty of nature's renewal.

And let me know which idea you liked the most and how you will celebrate the Spring Equinox this year!
all my love, Bebea