What is Ostara?
What is Ostara?
If you’re part of the Wiccan community, you may be wondering what exactly Ostara is and how you can celebrate this important spring holiday. It’s one of the eight Sabbats on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, and it celebrates the spring equinox as the time when the sun reaches its maximum point above the equator, symbolizing the coming of Spring and the balance between light and dark.
While the origins of this ancient pagan festival are varied, it is generally recognized as a celebration of fertility and the return of life to the earth. As such, it is a time to prepare for the new season by planting seeds and taking steps towards renewal.
In medieval Europe, this celebration was associated with the goddess Eostre (Ostara), who was known to be a powerful female deity. She is credited with the power of fertility, new beginnings, and rebirth.
She is also associated with the cycle of the moon, and with nature in general. This is why she’s often depicted as a youthful maiden.
Despite her somewhat elusive nature, Ostara remains a popular figure in modern Pagan and Wiccan belief systems.
There are several things that you can do to celebrate Ostara in a way that’s meaningful for you and your community. You can spend time in nature, honor your power animal, meditate, and practice spiritual cleansing.
You can also decorate your home with symbols of the season. This can include flowers, eggs, baskets, and other items that represent the fertility of spring.
This is a great way to bring the spirit of spring into your home without breaking the bank. You can even make some fun crafts that will keep your little ones entertained while you’re celebrating!
During Ostara, you can also make rituals that focus on cleansing and rebirth. These rituals will help you cleanse your home, body, mind, and soul in preparation for the coming year.
The best thing about these Ostara rituals is that they’re easy to do and can be done solo or with a group. Whether you’re celebrating on your own or with friends and family, these simple rituals will help you to prepare for the coming of Spring.
Start With Your Power Animal: It’s believed that all pagans have their own power animal, and this can be an especially powerful way to connect with the energy of Ostara. It’s also a good idea to have a conversation with your power animal before you begin any ritual work.
Another great way to connect with your power animal is to go shamanic journeying. It’s a great way to connect with the natural world and your power animal, so be sure to check out our article on shamanic journeying for more details!
Use Crystals: As a pagan, you’ll probably want to carry some gemstones with you while you’re doing your magic. These include citrine, aventine, clear quartz, rose quartz, and amethyst.
Gather a Group of Friends: It’s always a great idea to have a group of people involved in your magical work. The energy of the group is bound to boost your own, and you’ll find that sharing the celebration with other people helps to create a feeling of unity.
