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It’s that time of year! Let’s learn how to celebrate Ostara!
We celebrate Wiccan sabbats, or holidays, on eight occasions throughout the year. Ostara is a sabbat falling within the month of March. It occurs when day and night are equal and signals the departure of winter.
You can celebrate Ostara in many ways! In this time of fertility, plant seeds to create new life or bring greenery into your home. Decorate eggs as a symbol of the fertile womb, and give them as a gifts. And renew your life with new intentions.
In this article we will explain more in depth about the Wiccan sabbats, in particular the sabbat of Ostara. We’ll discuss what it is and how to celebrate Ostara!
Wheel of the Year
Each sabbat represents a spoke in the Wheel of the Year
which is the Wiccan yearly cycle. Both the Wheel of the Year and its sabbats are rooted in storied pagan traditions.
Each sabbat falls on a seasonal marker based on the positions of the moon and sun.
To talk about the passing of time, Wiccans refer to the turning of the Wheel. The occurrence of sabbats, and the turning of the wheel, are used to stay in tune with the Earth’s natural rhythms.
They allow us to reflect on the cycle of life, and express gratitude to the God and Goddess.
The eight sabbats are Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon.
Celebrating Sabbats
You can easily participate in these storied holidays and become at one with the Earth.
Sabbats can certainly be celebrated alone, especially if you are a solitary practitioner. There are many rituals which can be done by yourself, introspection you can perform, and ways you can adorn your altar at home.
Sabbats can also be celebrated as a group. This can your coven or with fellow witches. However it can also be celebrated with friends and family who are not Wiccan.
For example, if you’d like to celebrate the harvest by feasting and showing gratitude, what better way to do that then to assemble some close friends and family!
Even non-Wiccans like to feast regardless of the reason! So for those solitaries whose family doesn’t know that they’re Wiccan, this is a great way to avoid celebrating alone.
How to Celebrate Ostara
Ostara falls on the spring equinox when day and night are equal in length. It occurs around March 21 and often coincides with Lent, Easter, and the Christian holy week.
Ostara is a joyous time because winter is long gone. Nighttime shortens and daytime lengthens. While Imbolc is the very start of spring, Ostara means spring has solidly arrived. It’s the start of the growing season.
The sabbat is named for Eostre, a obscure Saxon goddess of the moon. She represents rebirth, renewal, fertility, and personal growth. Because she represents new beginnings, her symbols are eggs and rabbits just like Easter. The full moon is another of her sacred symbols.
There are many ways to celebrate Ostara!
Plant Seeds
Plant seeds to invoke new life. Planting reenacts the consummation between the Goddess and the God. Planting causes new life to burst from the ground.
Green Your Home
Bring greenery of all forms into your home.
Decorate Eggs
Decorate eggs using bright colors or play egg games. Distribute the eggs in a basket, which creates a representation of a fertile womb.
Set New Intentions
Set new intentions and start new projects.
Observe Nature
Observe all of nature, especially the new signs of spring. Spend time outdoors and note the new appearances of the Goddess that you see.
Bring Balance
Cast balancing spells and invoke the symbolic equal length of darkness and light on this day.
Ostara Correspondences
Color Correspondences
- Pink
- Pastel yellow
- Pastel green
- Pastel blue
Herbal Correspondences
- Daffodil
- Honeysuckle
- Ash
- Rose
- Violet
- Maple
Crystal Correspondences
- Rose quartz
- Pink tourmaline
- Rhodonite
Deity Correspondences
- Ostara
- Aphrodite
- Pan
- Venus
- Demeter
- Gaia
- Osiris
- Iris
- Ishtar
- Isis
- Juno
- Vesta
- Adonis
- Diana
Animal Correspondences
- Sheep
- Sparrow
- Rabbit
Magick Correspondences
- Love, beauty, and fertility
- Balance and grounding
- New beginnings and transformation
Conclusion
I hope this has given you a good background on Wiccan sabbats, the sabbat of Ostara, what it means, and how to celebrate it! Click below to get more helpful information about other Wiccan sabbats.
And for a wider overview of Wiccan sabbats, visit our comprehensive guide to the Wheel of the Year.
