Ēostre & the Spring Equinox
“Absorbing, mysterious, of infinite richness, this life.”
Spring is nigh—so say the birds, the bees, and whisperings of the sabbat, Ostara. Around March 20th, Pagan and Earth-centric communities in the Northern Hemisphere will host rituals and gatherings for the Spring Equinox. In the Southern Hemisphere, people light candles for Mabon and the return of autumn.
Traditionally, equinoxes are markers of time, symbolizing balance, unity, and change. They are invitations to turn inward and ask where we're supported. Are we happy? How do we feel (emotionally, physically, spiritually)? Do we desire more alone time, space, or community? What feels overbearing, out-of-sync, and keeps us separated from our dreams?
Because no matter the season or the setbacks, we must remember our dreams. For many humans, these visions of what-could-be keep us moving, motivated, and inspired to be a little better, a little wiser, and a little kinder than the day before.
Ostara is sometimes referenced as a type of “Pagan Easter,” when families celebrate the turn of the wheel by decorating eggs, engaging in floromancy (divination with flowers), and revisiting their favorite seasonal folklore.
While the origin of Ostara will forever be elusive (like all good stories), there’s a springtime story popularized by the Brothers Grimm about a Germanic goddess with the same name – sometimes spelled Ēostre.
Ostara, Johannes Gherts
The Story of Ēostre and the Hare
Once upon a time, in the days just before spring, Ēostre spotted a bird. The bird wasn't in a nest or perched on a tree but shivering on the ground, nearly frozen. A goddess of the dawn, Ēostre noticed the creature's light growing dim. She knew she needed to do something drastic, so Ēostre transformed the bird into a hare…
