Ostara Cleanse

As cool winds sweep down the mountainside and wildflowers appear in the fields, spring dawns in southern Alberta. I hear the crackle of thin ice over rivulets as winter run-off cascades down the peaks of the Rockies, spreading far and wide into the foothills. It's a time of circulation and rejuvenation, balance, and new beginnings, and an invitation to invoke the maiden aspect of the triple goddess. So begins the season of Ostara.

Wiccans have long-since heralded the changing of the seasons as a time of celebration and recalibration, and in this context, spring cleaning takes on greater significance. It's not about sweeping out the garage, but about clearing any stale energies and emotions after wintering for months. The Spirits of the East and the element of air are associated with this sabbat, represented in the Tarot by the suit of swords. A feeling of unity, connectedness, compassion and empathy, pervade during this six week period, and psycho/spiritual gifts are heightened. Ostara is an occasion to envision, find clarity or insight, and/or instigate something new.

Corresponding with the planting season and the return of the light in the Wheel of the Year, fertility and conception are celebrated during Ostara. Darkness and light are in equilibrium. The goddesses Ostara, Astrea, Astarte, Ashoreth, Ishtar, Isis, Venus, and many more celestial bird-archetypes are associated with this season, closely aligned with the Christian holiday, Easter, as well. The colour green and shape of a circle are symbolic, and herbal infusions might include cleansing lemongrass and healing spearmint. Ritual purification may be practiced in preparation for rebirth, or the resurrection of life (as in Lent), and we are encouraged to assess our inner state and find equipoise in all things. Search the dark corners of your mind through meditation and contemplation, and let go of what no longer serves you. A simple technique is to breathe in love, breathe out pain, or fill in the blanks: breathe in ___, breathe out ____.

"Egg Magic" is practiced at this time of year. The common custom of colouring Easter eggs began with "egg magic" many moons ago. Wiccans believe, "As above, so below", meaning anything you can conceive of, you can manifest, and can invoke this magic through simple rituals. Try creating your own by writing, whispering, or singing your intentions into an egg, adding a six-pointed star by intersecting two opposing triangles (representing the universal and the individual), then burying the egg so it is protected and nurtured by Mother Earth. Alters are often decorated in bright colours such as red for vitality, and feasts may feature rabbits, known for reproducti0n, and lamb, along with spring tonics and honey cakes to celebrate this auspicious turn of the wheel.

Wiccans acknowledge Ostara at the full moon closest to the spring equinox, whereas Easter is generally celebrated after the first full moon. Astrologically, the sun moves out of Pisces into Aries as warm breezes start to blow. Pisces, a water sign connected to male and female energies, gives way to Aries, a fire sign and the first sign of the Zodiac, bringing renewed strength and direction. Ostara is about engagement and exuberance, taking charge and changing your perspective. A solar festival, the year is waxing, brimming with potential, inviting play and revelry!

The landscape shifts as green sprouts grow and light breaks over the majestic peaks in the distance from my home. Rivers swell and rivulets overflow as I hike through the foothills, reminding me of our pregnant potential and nature's perennial power to renew itself. During the season of Ostara, breathe deeply and allow the wisdom of the Wiccans to clear your mind and cleanse your soul. Blessed be.