Ostara

Jen Blaxall.
Mar 15, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Mar 19

The spring Equinox occurs on March 20th and is celebrated as Ostara in the wheel of the year. Ostara is linked to the Goddess Eostre, who embodies vibrancy and fertility. She is no longer a Virgin but not yet a Mother, symbolising fertile land and renewal. Eostre's youthful and adventurous spirit was known for its promiscuity, mirroring the natural changes at this time of year. Symbols associated with Eostre include hares and eggs. Hares, ancient symbols of fertility and rebirth, are seen at pasture edges where wildflowers begin their cycle of rebirth from the fertile soil. Birds also lay their eggs during this period, and in ancient mythology, it was believed that all of creation originated from an egg.

This might seem somewhat familiar, as Christianity incorporated Eostre's symbols to signify the resurrection of Jesus, naming it Easter. This is where we associate with the Easter bunny and engage in decorating and searching for colourful eggs.

During last month's celebration of Imbolc, the Goddess Brigid appeared youthful and beautiful, embodying innocence and curiosity, with her fiery spirit and magical wells. These elements are essential for creating new life. In contrast, Eostre is abundant with fertility, her whole being teeming with new life. The energy associated with this is one of movement, focusing on planting seeds not just for life, but for ideas, and it involves clearing out the old to make way for new ideas, energies, and intentions.

You can honour the energy of Ostara with a sunrise or sunset ritual. This doesn't have to be grand and flamboyant, it can be simply sitting in nature and opening your senses fully to the sights, sounds, smells and feeling of the change from night to day, or day to night. You could paint eggs, this is a great one to get the children involved with and allow them to connect to nature as they listen to the garden birds singing in this time of nesting and breeding, who are producing eggs of their own.

This is the period when we feel the urge to tidy up and declutter, and it's not by chance. The seasons, nature, and energy encourage us to align with the Universal energies to clear the path for new beginnings. Stagnant energies can linger in our homes, making this the perfect time to restore flow in your space. Decluttering and spring cleaning can achieve this by organising cupboards, discarding unnecessary items, and moving furniture to dust and vacuum. You can also open windows and clap your hands in corners or around furniture that isn't often moved to break up the energy. Envision the stale energy being wafted out of the open window, allowing energy to shift and flow. (Remember, everything is about intention.) After cleaning your house both energetically and physically, create a space for springtime intentions. Bring daffodils, tulips, and willow into your home. Add decorated eggs and burn some citrus incense.

Don't forget to purify your energy as well. You can achieve this by spending time in nature and grounding yourself during your sunrise or sunset ritual. Additionally, you can set a heartfelt intention to return any energy that isn't yours with love and kindness, and to call back your own energy. Burning sage or mugwort is another way to cleanse your energy, as is consuming seasonal, organic food. Currently, wild garlic is filling ancient woodlands with its scent, and young nettle leaves are emerging. Why not forage and make a delicious and health-boosting garlic and nettle soup? This is an excellent method to cleanse both your energy and body for the seasonal renewal, and enjoying this nutritious soup allows you to indulge in hot cross buns and chocolate eggs guilt-free!

Wild garlic and nettle soup recipe.

You will need;

foraged wild garlic leaves
foraged nettle leaves
onion
leek
potato
Vegetable stock
butter
seasoning
cream (optional)
Chop and fry the onion and leek and potato in butter. When the vegetables have softened, add some vegetable stock.
wash your foraged leaves. (You can plunge the nettles into hot water to remove the sting.) Make sure you remove any tough stalks.
When the stock is simmering well and your vegetables have softened, add the garlic and nettle leaves, only for one minute before removing the soup from the heat.
Add seasoning and blend the soup smooth.
Add some cream if you desire, and enjoy!

To conclude,

honour Ostara with a sunset or sunrise ritual
Decorate eggs with your children.
Declutter and spring clean
Create a flow of energy in your home by clearing out stale energies.
Create a space for springtime flowers, your decorated eggs and burn some citrus incense.
Spend some time in nature to ground yourself, and to cleanse your own energy.
Set the intention to call your energy back to you and to release any energy that is not yours.
Forage some seasonal plants to eat and detox your body.
Indulge in hot cross buns and chocolate eggs!