The Spring Equinox celebrates rebirth, balance, and the return of life. Nature begins to bloom at the Spring Equinox: green is reappearing in nature, birds are singing in the morning again, spring flowers blossom, and trees begin budding. The ground thaws out with the warming weather and early crops start to appear, while garden beds are prepared for a season of growth and cultivation.
Wiccans who observe the Wheel of the Year revere the Spring Equinox as the celebration of Ostara. Ostara’s namesake comes from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of the spring. Unfortunately, there is very little information on Eostre, though the Venerable Bede makes mention of her in the 8th century, saying Easter was named after her. Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind that the name Ostara is a modern Pagan creation, one which Aiden Kelly adopted for the Spring Equinox in the 1970s. As writer Jason Mankey explains, “There aren’t any tales of Eostre throwing eggs to all of the good little Germanic pagans, or her riding a giant rabbit, so it’s hard to say with certainty that she existed and is the source for the word ‘Easter.’” So, while Ostara is a modern interpretation of ancient celebrations, it is still a valuable seasonal marker that indicates the awakening of life and invites us to perform fertility, manifestation, and rebirth magic.
At the Winter Solstice we learned to hold onto the hopeful promise that the light would return, and the sun would go strong again: at the Spring Equinox this promise is fulfilled. The Spring Equinox must have been a time of anticipation in ancient civilizations: at the dawn of spring the cold spell of winter was broken. After months of uncomfortable weather, there must have been a feeling of relief to be able stretch out of hibernation, go outdoors, and even add greens back into the diet after depleting food stocks. There must have also been an inspiring feeling to witness the sun lingering in the sky longer, motivating people prepare gardens and plan for the commencement of the year’s growing seasons. Today we may not be so connected with the land or the cycles of growing seasons. Strawberries are available all winter at the local grocery store and heat is not a scarcity if you keep up on the electric or gas bill. Consider how much more precious the return of warm weather would be during a time without modern conveniences!
For witches and Pagans, the symbolic value of Spring’s return asks us to consider what seeds we wish to plant in our metaphorical gardens. We can consider what projects and goals we wish to initiate and grow over time, and even work our magic into these goals to encourage the manifestation of good things. The Spring Equinox season also invites you to reconnect with nature: take time to go on a nature hike and explore the spring wildflowers or spend time in your garden. You may find that edible flowers decorate your salads and early-spring herbs are collected and dried for magical workings throughout the year. Depending on where you live, Spring can herald in showers and severe weather: these weather events invite you to deepen your appreciation for all aspects of nature, both calm and wild, as there needs to be a balance of both sunshine and rain to grow an abundant garden. The metaphor in this is useful, even for modern Pagans, who may not rely solar calendars for their livelihood as their ancestors did.
Correspondences for Magic and Celebrations at the Spring Equinox
Names: Ostara, Spring Equinox, Vernal Equinox
Date of Celebration: Celebrated on the Spring Equinox (which usually falls between March 19th and March 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere and between September 19th and September 23rd in the Southern Hemisphere).
Deities Honored:
Bloduwedd
Cernunnos
Dagda
Eostre
Freya
Hrethra
Mithris
Persephone
Sita
Springtime Animal Allies:
Bears
Bees
Chicks and Chickens
Chipmunks
Deer
Fox
Frogs
Groundhogs
Hedgehogs
Lambs
Rabbits and Bunnies
Skunks
Squirrels
Magical Focuses:
Awakening from slumber
Balance
Communication
Fertility
Growth
Inspiration
Love
Manifestation
Motivation
New beginnings
Potential
Purification
Rebirth
Suggested Activities:
Begin a new project
Create a vision board of goals you wish to grow in the next few months
Decorate eggs and/or do magic with eggs
Do yoga poses that promote balance (such as the Tree Pose)
Gift egg and chocolate baskets to friends
Go bird watching
Go for a hike
Have a tea party in a garden
Host or participate in an egg hunt
Practice spring cleaning and purification magic in your home: remove clutter, donate unused items, open windows to let fresh air in, and clean your altar with Florida Water
Watch the sun rise
Work in your garden
Altar Decorations:
A jar of collected rain water from spring showers
A “Pot of Gold” (a bowl or cauldron full of coins and pyrite)
Animal figurines (such as chicks, rabbits, or robins)
Decorated or painted eggs
Easter-themed candy like Chocolate Bunnies, Peeps, or Cadbury Eggs
Found four-leaf clovers
Seedlings in a small planted pot
Spring flowers such as daffodils, lilacs, and/or tulips
Food and Beverages:
Apricot
Artichoke
Arugula
Asparagus
Avocado
Bean Sprouts
Beets
Broccoli
Carrots
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chicken
Chocolate and Sweets
Eggs
Fish
Green Onions
Ham
Honey
Horseradish
Hot Cross Buns
Kale
Lamb
Leeks
Lemon
Maple Syrup
Mushrooms
Oranges
Radishes
Seeds
Spinach
Plants, Herbs, Flowers, and Incense:
Broom
Chickweed
Chives
Cilantro
Cinquefoil
Clovers
Crocus
Daffodils
Dandelion
Dill
Gardenia
Geranium
Honeysuckle
Hyacinth
Jasmine
Lemon Balm
Lemongrass
Lilac
Lily of the Valley
Mint
Narcissus
Parsley
Phlox
Thyme
Tulip
Vervain
Violet
Crystals:
Amethyst
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Chrysoprase
Fluorite
Jade
Moss Agate
Pyrite
Rainbow Moonstone
Rose Quartz
Colors:
Light Green
Pastels
Pink
Spring Green