Ostara: The Joy of Spring & Balance

Ostara is all about renewal, balance, and the return of the sun after a long, dark winter. If you’re feeling the urge to clean, plant flowers, or just soak up some fresh air, that’s the spirit of Ostara calling to you. ☀️

The origins of Ostara
Ostara (also called the Spring Equinox) happens around March 20-23 in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s the day when light and dark are in perfect balance, but after this, the days start getting longer and warmer. This Sabbat is named after Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring, fertility, and dawn. (And yes, her name is where we get the word "Easter" from!)
Ancient cultures all over the world honored this time of year. The pagans of Europe celebrated it with feasts, fertility rituals, and honoring the land’s rebirth. The Saxons had festivals for Eostre, the Romans had Flora, and even the Egyptians celebrated spring’s renewal with their own deities. All cultures celebrated it in their own way, but the theme is universal: rebirth, fertility, and the return of life after winter.

Symbols of Ostara
Ostara is packed with symbols you probably already associate with spring. That’s because a lot of Ostara’s traditions have been absorbed into modern Easter celebrations.
Eggs: The ultimate fertility symbol. They represent new life, potential, and balance.
Hares/rabbits: Another fertility symbol (we all know how fast rabbits multiply). These animals were sacred to Eostre.
Flowers & seeds: Representing growth, new beginnings, and the power of nature waking up.
Butterflies: Symbolizing transformation and rebirth.
Sun & balance: Because the Equinox is all about equal day and night, we honor both the light and dark within ourselves and nature.

Colors of Ostara
Think of a spring meadow—those are Ostara’s colors!
Pastels (light greens, pinks, yellows, blues, lavenders): These soft colors represent new life, fertility, and warmth.
Bright greens: Symbolizing nature’s renewal and abundance.
Gold & yellow: Honoring the sun’s return.
White: Representing purity, balance, and fresh starts.

Herbs & flowers for Ostara
If you love working with plants, here are some Ostara herbs and flowers to bring into your space:
Daffodils: A classic spring flower that screams renewal and joy.
Tulips: Representing love and fresh energy.
Lilies: Purity and rebirth.
Lavender: Great for calming energy and setting peaceful intentions.
Rosemary: A protective and cleansing herb, perfect for clearing away winter’s energy.

Crystals for Ostara
If you love working with crystals, here are some great ones for Ostara energy:
Rose quartz: Love, renewal, and heart-healing energy.
Citrine: A little sunshine in crystal form, bringing joy and abundance.
Amethyst: Balance and spiritual clarity.
Green aventurine: Growth, prosperity, and fresh starts.
Clear quartz: Amplifies energy and clears out old, stagnant vibes.

Ways to celebrate Ostara
Now that we know what Ostara is all about, let’s talk about how you can celebrate it! The best part? You don’t have to do anything big—just tuning into the energy of the season is enough. But if you’re looking for ideas, here are some fun, simple ways to honor Ostara:
Create an Ostara altar
Gather some fresh flowers, pastel-colored candles, eggs, and crystals, and set up a little altar space to welcome spring’s energy. You can add anything that reminds you of growth and renewal!
Dye eggs
Dyeing eggs isn’t just for Easter—it’s a traditional Ostara activity. You can use natural dyes from plants (like beets, turmeric, and spinach) to keep it eco-friendly and it’s just better for your health. Eggs represent fertility, potential, and new beginnings, so you can even write wishes or intentions on them before dyeing them!
Plant seeds
Whether you have a full garden or just a windowsill, planting seeds is a perfect way to celebrate Ostara. As your plant grows, it symbolizes the intentions and goals you’re setting for the coming season.
Have a sunrise ritual
Since Ostara is all about balance and the returning sun, greeting the sunrise is a beautiful way to honor it. Find a quiet place, light a candle, and set some intentions for the season ahead.
Spring cleaning (with a witchy twist!)
Clearing out old energy is a perfect Ostara activity. Open the windows, burn some rosemary, lavender or sage, and sweep away the old to make room for the new. You can also charge some moon water and use it to bless your home.
Make an Ostara feast
Celebrate with fresh, light foods that honor the season. Think eggs, honey, fresh greens, fruits, and herbal teas. Baking bread in the shape of a sun or a hare is a great and fun way to honor the holiday too!
Balance & meditation ritual
Because Ostara is about equal day and night, it’s a great time to reflect on balance in your own life. Light a black candle (for the dark) and a white candle (for the light) and meditate on what you need to bring into balance.

Ostara is such a beautiful time of year—everything is coming back to life, and there’s this buzzing energy of possibility in the air. Whether you go all out with rituals or just take a moment to appreciate the changing season, the important thing is to connect with the energy of renewal and balance.
So, how are you celebrating Ostara this year? Whatever you do, may it bring you joy, growth, and a little bit of springtime magic!

Blessed Ostara! 🌷