Ostara - or the spring equinox - is one of the eight sabbats observed by neo pagans and Wiccans. It stems from the celebration of Ēostre, a west Germanic goddess of spring, fertility and regrowth.
If you’re thinking that Ostara sounds a lot like Easter, that wouldn’t be a coincidence. The pagan celebration serves as the foundations for the Christian holiday of Easter and you’ll find that a lot of the themes and traditions overlap.
Think pastel colours and bunnies – after all, both Ostara and Easter are about celebrating the arrival of spring and all the new life that comes with it. Here are a few suggestions on how to celebrate the spring equinox.
Nature’s Calling
However you prefer to do it, spring is all about new beginnings and helping nature to start anew can be really rewarding. Planting flowers or plants and getting into the nature around you is one excellent way. But if you live in a city or can’t access nature easily, have you thought about buying a houseplant to nurture along your journey? You can still breathe new life into something natural, from the comfort of your home – and you can get with the trend of slowly turning your house into a jungle.
Chicks, Crafts & Chocolate
If you observe Easter in your country, why not celebrate a little early in the name of Ostara. If those fluffy fake chicks in the supermarket have been calling for you or you’ve seen some Easter-themed crafts online, now is the perfect time to grab them and get started! Just think along the lines of pastel colours, baby animals, and eating your bodyweight in chocolate, and you’re good to go.
Spring Altar
Talking of Easter products in stores, they’re an excellent way to decorate your altar for the Sabbat. There’s some beautiful items available for a while before Easter and you can stock up for this year and the years to come. Flower garlands, bunny decorations, and wicker baskets are just a few starting points for what to look out for, but the possibilities are endless! Make sure to check out our post on secretive witchcraft if an altar isn’t possible for you.
Manifest Magick
As we’ve mentioned, Ostara is a Sabbat all about new beginnings. So why not take on some spellwork focused on a new start? It’s a perfect time to do rituals and practices that you might otherwise do on a new moon. Spells to bring abundance, luck, and love would all work well, and colour magick with the pastel hues that you’ll see all through the Easter season is another easy way to incorporate the mundane.
Get Baking
We can’t mention Ostara – or any sabbat – without recommending some baking! Hot cross buns are an obvious classic for the season, but dairy products including milk and eggs also tie in very well with Ostara. If you don’t eat dairy you can easily find lots of substitutes, and they’ll work too. Another suggestion is Easter recipes: try your hand at edible bird’s nests or a Mini Egg-themed cake (and make sure to tag us on our socials!)
These are just a few suggestions, but there’s no limit to how you can celebrate the Sabbats, Ostara included. Have a blessed holiday and let us know on our socials what you’re planning to do to celebrate!