Ostara

Photo by Antonio Janeski on Unsplash

At the edge of almost-warm,
the world holds its breath—
still cool at dawn,
not yet flowering,
but the earth stirs,
and the sunlight expands;

day and night sit side by side
like old friends,
while inside,
something unfurls gently—
a reminder that I am alive;

winter has been long,
yet I have been waiting for rebirth,
and I’ve been planting
seeds of intention;

this is my moment of balance—
where past and possibility
stand evenly in my hands;

when I notice
that I am no longer still,
that something in me
has already turned towards the light;

and that—quietly, stubbornly—
I am ready to grow.

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Ostara is the festival of the spring equinox, and commonly thought of as the origin of the Christian Easter. It marks the beginning of astronomical spring, when day and night are perfectly balanced.

Named for the Germanic goddess Eostre, Ostara is a festival of fertility, renewal, and planting both literal and metaphorical seeds. Eostre is an enigmatic goddess, who remains a mystery due to the lack of historical documentation. Mentioned primarily by the 8th-century monk Bede, she symbolises renewal and the return of light after winter. She is commonly associated with eggs and hares, though these connections were solidified by 19th-century folklorists rather than early historical texts. According to Bede, feasts in her honour were eventually replaced by Christian celebrations of Easter.

Whether she exists or not, Eostre has been embraced by modern day Wiccans and pagans as a symbol of spring’s awakening. She’s one of my favourites, but I just love spring.

Blessed Ostara!

Jo xo