Ostara and the Spring Equinox

Spring draws near, and with the vernal equinox comes Ostara, goddess of the dawn and the symbol of the season’s fertile energy. She comes with her totem spirit, Rabbit, to bring light and renewal to our inner and outer worlds. The spring or vernal equinox is a point of perfect balance on the Wheel of the Year – when the Sun crosses the equator, and night and day are of equal length. This equality reminds us of the natural balance between darkness and light and masculine and feminine energies. Get ready to greet Ostara and the spring equinox – where everything begins. 

This year, in the Northern Hemisphere, we’ll celebrate the first day of spring and Ostara on Sunday, March 20, 2022. It’s time for the hopes of Imbolc, fueled by the fire rekindled during Yule, to become action. We now prepare to give life to the ideas we’ve been cultivating inside all winter – to give thanks for the solitude, self-reflection, and wisdom the dark time of dreaming brought us. And to sweep away old patterns, emerging with the spring as our most enlightened selves.

History of Ostara and Spring Traditions

The native pre-Christian Germanic tribes of northern Europe worshipped a goddess of spring called Ostara. The Saxon tribes of old Britain called her Eostre, and she is known for giving her name to the Christian Easter. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the vernal equinox, much like the modern Easter. Ostara is the goddess of the dawn and awakening earth. She embodies growing light and fertility.

Eggs are sacred to Ostara, symbolizing the renewed cycle of life and staple source of food. Chickens kept in natural light quit laying in winter, resuming in the spring with peak months March and April. In the Western tradition, we’re all familiar with “Easter eggs,” which date back to ancient times, as a symbol of fertility and rebirth. In Persia, eggs have been painted and colored for over fifteen hundred years as part of the spring celebration of Nowruz, the Persian and Iranian New Year.

All around the world, ancient and indigenous cultures hold rituals, feasts, and celebrations at the vernal equinox. Ancient Roman followers of the goddess Cybele believed she had a consort who died and was resurrected on this day. The ancient Mayans honored many sacred days associated with celestial events, especially the equinoxes. As the Sun sets on the day of the equinox, the western face of the Mayan pyramid El Castillo is fully bathed in sunlight. This pyramid was intentionally designed to work with the lengthening shadows, giving the appearance of a diamondback snake descending the wall.

In Closing

When we celebrate the equinoxes, we timelessly connect with our ancestors who have participated in ritual and ceremony on this occasion for millennia. Honor this time by cleansing, healing, and regenerating your vital energy. Activate spring’s energy of light, hope, fertility, growth, and new beginnings with the return of the Sun. Take a moment to pause during the brief balance between light and dark – day and night  – and reconnect with your own harmony and wholeness, in perfect proportion.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Do you want to work directly with me and learn more about astrology, metaphysics, spiritual leadership, and personal growth; plus enjoy free personalized readings from me in a group setting? Join my Sage Goddess Soul Shift program to find your authentic voice, discover and develop your spiritual gifts, understand your soul’s purpose, reclaim your sovereignty, and expand your consciousness.

Do you love harnessing the energy of the Moon in all her phases? Join my Full Moon Ritualists community on Facebook where we share educational tidbits on working with moon energy, learn about astrology, and engage in lively, wild conversations with other like-minded people.

Are you curious about the medicine of gemstones and crystals? Join my Gem Haven community on Facebook where we share tips and tools on harnessing the magic of gemstones and crystals, educate you on the properties of the most popular stones available on the planet today, and engage in lively, wild conversations with other like-minded people.

Are you a perfume lover like I am? Do you know the healing magic of the oils that are used to make all of our perfumes? Join my Perfumery community on Facebook where you can learn about the properties of certain essences, how to work with certain blends to manifest your intentions, and engage in lively, wild conversations with like-minded people.

I absolutely love and encourage all magical feedback from my readers! However, I do not regularly moderate comments on the Sage Goddess blogs. So if you have a specific question or query that you’d like us to answer, please contact us via our Facebook page.