Spring Equinox Renewal, Rebirth and Growth Celebration and Ritual
Ahhh- Spring! This is absolutely my favourite season. There is something about everything coming to life after the winter hibernation that stirs some magical energy in me. Although I make an effort to get outside throughout the winter, my feet long to be barefoot on the ground, and to touch the new leaves on the plants in my garden and local forests. For me, Spring is a time of renewal, rebirth and growth. I honour this time of year with a small celebration and ritual of greeting the spring flowers.
There is so much wonderful energy at this time of year that builds excitement and momentum for the months to come. Although the vernal or Spring Equinox falls on approximately the 20th of March in the Northern hemisphere and it marks the day of equal daylight and nightfall, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the exact amount of day and night may not be exactly 50/50 because of the amount of time for the sun to rise and set. One thing is for sure though, from here on, the days get longer. Hooray!
This time of year is known as Ostara, acknowledging the Germanic Goddess of spring and dawn (also called Eostre or Eastre). As described on the Northern Paganism website “She is the first warm spring winds, the birds that return, the trees that bud and curl forth leaves and flowers. She is the awakening earth, rabbits and hares, the eggs that appear after a winter of no light.”
The popular signs of spring include the return of birds that have migrated for the winter, spring bulbs popping out of the soil, new leaf buds appear on the trees and of course animals mating, now that the winter thaw has passed and food shall soon be available to feed the young.
You can harness the energy of nature and plant your own seeds for what you would like to sow in the coming months through a spring celebration or ritual.
Here is a beautiful simple ritual or spring celebration that you can do on your own to honour the earth and the magical time of spring:
Create a simple altar with a potted spring bulb or fresh spring flowers, candle and an egg (real or Easter egg) and have a notebook and pen handy.
Light the candle and acknowledge the fire: “I light this fire to acknowledge the longer days, and welcome more light into my life.”
Acknowledge the Mother Earth and the nature coming to life. Touch the flower or plant or soil and say: “Thank you Mother Earth for all that you provide for us. I am excited for the delicious bounty you will share in the months to come and the rebirth of our world from winter’s slumber.”
Acknowledge the Fertile energy symbolized through the egg. “I honour the magic and sacredness of this fertile time and embrace this time of new beginnings in my life.”
Pause and be present to the energy of the objects. If you are outside during this celebration, take in a deep breath in and enjoy the freshness of the season.
Open your Notebook and make note of what is being born, renewed, or springing up in your life. If you are planting seeds of new ideas, acknowledge them here and set an intention of what you are creating.
Continue writing any wonderful insights you get around the day or the energy of the celebration.
When you are complete, end the celebration by giving thanks to Ostara and Mother Earth and safely blowing out the candle.