Ostara
Ostara celebrates the spring equinox, when day and night stand in perfect balance before light overtakes darkness. This sabbat marks nature’s full awakening, with new life bursting forth everywhere. It’s a time of fertility, renewal, and balance, celebrating the young Sun God’s maturation and the Maiden Goddess’s blossoming. Magic performed now focuses on new beginnings, growth, and manifesting goals planted during the dark months.
History & Origins
The festival takes its name from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring and dawn, from whom modern Easter also derives its name. Ancient peoples celebrated the spring equinox as a time of renewal and rebirth, marking the definitive end of winter and welcoming the growing season. Many modern Easter customs, including eggs and rabbits, originate from these pagan celebrations of fertility and abundance. The equinox was also significant in many ancient cultures as a time of astronomical importance and agricultural planning.
Modern Celebrations
Contemporary practitioners celebrate by decorating and blessing eggs, planting gardens, and performing rituals of renewal. Many create altars with spring flowers, colored eggs, and symbols of fertility. Cleansing rituals, seed blessing ceremonies, and spells for growth and abundance are common. Some traditions include meditation on balance, as represented by the equal day and night, and working with the energies of air and fire elements that become more prominent as winter recedes.
Correspondences
Deities & Their Domains
- Eostre (Spring, renewal)
- Ostara (Fertility, dawn)
- Flora (Flowers, springtime)
- Persephone (Spring’s return)
- Green Man (Nature’s rebirth)
- Freya (Love, fertility)
- Aphrodite (Love, beauty)
- Artemis (Young animals)
- Horus (Young sun)
- Blodeuwedd (Spring flowers)
- Kore (Spring maiden)
- Dionysus (Nature’s vitality)
Botanicals & Meanings
- Daffodils (New beginnings)
- Tulips (Perfect love)
- Crocus (Youthful joy)
- Iris (Faith, wisdom)
- Lilies (Purity, fertility)
- Violets (Love, protection)
- Honeysuckle (Prosperity)
- Dandelion (Divination)
- Jasmine (Love, dreams)
- Rosemary (Remembrance)
- Lily of the Valley (Return of happiness)
- Clover (Luck, prosperity)
- Cherry Blossoms (New love)
- Forsythia (Anticipation)
Crystals & Meanings
- Rose Quartz (Love, harmony)
- Clear Quartz (Clarity, power)
- Aquamarine (New beginnings)
- Green Aventurine (Prosperity)
- Moonstone (New growth)
- Citrine (Success, abundance)
- Amethyst (Spiritual growth)
- Moss Agate (New beginnings)
- Amazonite (Hope, renewal)
- Yellow Jasper (Confidence)
- Peridot (Growth, abundance)
- Fluorite (Balance, clarity)
Colors & Meanings
- Green (Growth, abundance)
- Yellow (Sun, joy)
- Pink (Love, gentleness)
- Purple (Spirituality)
- White (Purity, clarity)
- Light Blue (New horizons)
- Orange (Energy, creativity)
- Pastels (Spring renewal)
Tarot Associations
- The Empress (Fertility, growth)
- Ace of Pentacles (New opportunities)
- Two of Cups (Partnership)
- The Sun (Joy, vitality)
- Page of Wands (New ventures)
- Four of Wands (Celebration)
- Queen of Pentacles (Abundance)
- Knight of Cups (Romance)
Timing Correspondences
- Day of Week: Sunday
- Time of Day: Dawn/Sunrise
- Moon Phase: Waxing Moon
Altar Decorations
- Colored eggs
- Spring flowers
- Seeds
- Rabbits (symbolic)
- Green candles
- Feathers
- Butterflies
- Bird nests
- Spring branches
- Painted stones
- Fresh grass
- Egg tree
- Spring water
- Growing plants
- Seasonal fruits
Foods & Beverages
- Hot Cross Buns
- Deviled Eggs
- Spring Vegetable Soup
- Honey Cakes
- Sprout Salad
- Seed Bread
- Fresh Dairy
- Spring Herb Tea
- Flower Cordials
- Lamb Dishes
- Spring Punch
- Egg Dishes
- Fresh Greens
- Sprouted Foods
- Spring Wine
Animal Correspondences
- Rabbit (Fertility)
- Hare (Rebirth)
- Robin (New growth)
- Butterfly (Transformation)
- Snake (Renewal)
- Lamb (Innocence)
- Deer (Gentleness)
- Dove (Peace)
- Chicks (New life)
- Bee (Productivity)
Intention Keywords
- Balance
- Growth
- Renewal
- Fertility
- New Beginnings
- Love
- Manifestation
- Abundance
- Creativity
- Transformation
- Success
- Healing
- Hope
- Joy
- Awakening
Magical Practices
- Egg Magic
- Seed Blessing
- Garden Magic
- Balance Rituals
- Love Spells
- Growth Spells
- Fertility Magic
- Dawn Rituals
- New Beginning Rites
- Prosperity Work
- Color Magic
- Flower Magic
- Spring Cleaning
- Solar Rituals
- Air Element Work
- Fire Element Work
- Manifestation Magic
- Nature Connection
- Abundance Spells
- Renewal Rituals
