I know I'm late on posting this one, but better late than never!
The second Sabbat of The Wheel of the Year is Ostara, meaning it's officially springtime!
What is Ostara?
Ostara is the spring/vernal equinox, which marks the day in which the day and night are of equal lengths. The days are growing longer as we move towards summer and Ostara marks the halfway point between winter and summer.
Ostara is the celebration of rebirth, renewal, and balance. The sunlight is returning from the dark days of winter and it's beginning to make an impact on our landscape. Bulb flowers are beginning to sprout from the ground, the birds are singing again, and tiny leafy bulbs can be found on the trees. These are all signs of Ostara.
History + Folklore
Ostara/Eostre/Eastre is the old Germanic goddess of spring and the dawn. There are a few different folklore stories that surround Ostara, a hare, and a bird, but none seem to have strong ties to ancient pagan folklore. Nonetheless, there is an undeniable connection between Ostara, hares, eggs, and springtime. It is believed that these are the origins of the symbols for Easter, a Christian day of resurrection, and the Easter Bunny.
Correspondences
- Symbols: Bulb flowers, eggs, hares, rabbits, snakes, sparrows
- Themes: Renewal, birth + rebirth, balance, fertility, love, growth, light
- Colors: pastels of yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink
- Herbs: jasmine, lemongrass, lily, violets, honeysuckle, daffodils, rose, seeds, tansy
- Crystals: amethyst, aquamarine, moss agate, moonstone, rose quartz, selenite
- Food + Drink: Eggs, seeds, sprouts, soy beans, hot cross buns, quiche, sweet wine, honey sweetened drinks, dandelion wine
- Activities: planting seeds, egg dying, spring cleaning, walk in the sun
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