The Spring Equinox and Ostara Magic: Correspondences to Celebrate the Return of Life

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

The Pleasures of Lughnasadh

Many wishes for a pleasurable, blessed, and abundant Lughnasadh to those observing this precious and divine celebration this weekend! The holiday of Lughnasadh, which is celebrated at the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox, tends to be overlooked. I think some people may not be drawn to it because at first glimpse it is not as sensual as Beltane or mystical as Samhain. But for me, it is a bountiful day, a pleasing time of year, and just as valuable of a gateway within the Wheel of the Year calendar as any other Sabbat celebration.  

 

Lughanasadh is honored as the first harvest holiday of they year, where we welcome a season of plentifulness. Sweet peaches, tempting tomatoes, satisfying squashes, inviting blackberries, luscious figs are just some of the fruits and vegetables that are abundant in our August gardens and orchards. The decadence and variety in flavors available at Lughnasadh make for a feast that is a delectable experience, where we can share our offerings with those we love. At Lughnasadh we also reflect with graciousness and gratitude for the sacrifices made by the land and seasons for our continued wellness and strength. The crops must be cut for our sustenance and the sun's strength weakens as we advance towards the cooler and darker seasons. But, the cold is not with us quite yet.

August is the hottest time of the year, where our desire for relief from the heat and humidity can be at the forefront of our minds. To honor the tangible passage of time at Lughnasadh, swimming feels like a fitting magical and sensual ritual. I have these deeply magical memories of swimming through the cool wooded creeks in my hometown of Glastonbury, Connecticut. And, now I live by the ocean, which I try to visit every evening to swim under the sunset alongside the dolphins. For me, the experience of the warm waters at Lughnasadh bring me comfort and offer healing on a spiritual level. The power of nature is also clearly expressed at Lughnasadh, as is apparent in the abrupt emergence of thunderstorms and brewing hurricanes. The energy is literally electric at times.

 

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August signifies the waning weeks of summer, a finale to a season of bright and long days often enjoyed outdoors. For those who are in school, August could feel like a countdown, where students must savor the final few days of calendrical freedom before returning to classes. Lughnasadh offers astronomical events worth honoring as well. The Perseid Meteor Shower is visible for many in the Northern Hemisphere between mid-July and mid-August. The star Sirius, located in the constellation Canis Major, also reappears in the heavens as it rises  in the pre-dawn sky in late summer. The reappearance of Sirius, the brightest star in our sky, is where the expression "dog days of summer" emerged. Ancient Greeks believed the heat generated by Sirius aided in the sweltering heat at this time of the year. Ancient Egyptians celebrated the rising of Sirius, as it marked the season of the flooding Nile. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the flooded waters of the Nile were connected to Isis' tears, who mourned the loss of her husband Osiris. In this way, we see the sacrifice of the land and the perpetual motion of life, death, and rebirth in season of Lughnasadh.

 

There is a liminality in the dog days of summer. Lughanasadh is drenched in the magic of water, the magic of the shifting heavens, the desire for release and relief, the celebration of bounty and sacrifice, and the opportunity to enjoy the many earthly delights that are so prevalent this time of year. For me, it is a time I am aware of a magical connection between my body and the abundance of life in the world around me. I may look ahead and understand that at this time I begin my walk towards the gates of autumn, where my focus shifts inwards again to the psychic world and the theme of "the thinning Veil." Yet, for now, I will relish in the temporal sensations I associate with Lughnasadh and the bountiful month of August.

 

If you are looking for activities to enjoy today or throughout the month of August, consider the following:

  • Spend time at or engage in ritual at a natural body of water

  • Watch the Perseid Meteor shower

  • Admire the rising of Sirius before sunrise (for 2021 this can be observed around August 11th)

  • Safely watch a thunderstorm

  • Visit a local farmer's market and make a healthy "farm to table" meal

  • Enjoy a picnic with friends

  • Watch the Olympics

  • Go swimming

  • Make preserves from handpicked fruits and berries

  • Perform an abundance spell in your garden or kitchen

  • Admire blooming August flowers like Passionflower, Cornflower, and Queen Anne's Lace