14 Ostara Rituals to Celebrate the Spring Equinox

As the Earth begins to awaken from winter’s slumber and the days grow longer, pagans and nature lovers alike celebrate Ostara, the Spring Equinox. Falling around March 21st, this pagan holiday on the Wheel of the Year focuses on themes of fertility and growth. Ostara rituals are also a celebration of life bursting forth—flowers blooming, seeds sprouting, and the promise of abundance on the horizon.

Ostara continues the themes that were celebrated at Yule and Imbolc.

Bunnies and eggs are two important symbols of this holiday as both represent fertility, and both are easy to incorporate into your rituals. Decorating eggs, planting seeds, and performing a balancing ritual or meditation are just a few ways to welcome the first day of Spring. The goddess Eostre is also sometimes honored at this holiday.

You’ll find more ideas below to help you celebrate this magical time of year.

Ostara Rituals and Traditions to Celebrate the Spring Equinox

1. Decorate Eggs

Decorating eggs is an easy Ostara ritual to take part in. Eggs are a symbol of fertility and you can use real ones or wooden ones if you’re vegan or just aghast at the price of eggs these days.

To decorate real eggs, consider getting creative with natural dyes, such as onion skins to create a warm golden hue, or beet juice for a deep pink shade. Once they’re decorated, you can place the eggs on your altar as an offering and symbol of the season or share them with friends and family to represent new beginnings.

2. Plant Seeds

Planting seeds on the first day of Spring is a way to invite new beginnings and growth into the season. You could plant flowers and herbs that correspond with the holiday such as violet, honeysuckle, clover, catnip, lavender, or rose. As you plant each seed, set an intention or wish for what you hope to grow in your life during the coming months.

3. Spend Time in Nature

I do realize that I sound like a broken record since I mention the idea of spending timing in nature for every sabbat. But, a big part of these holidays is being in connection with nature’s ebbs and flows and to observe the cycle not just of the wheel of the year but of nature, on which it’s based. One simple Ostara ritual is just to connect with nature.

So, whether you go on a hike, open your window and listen to the birds and sounds of spring, or sit on your balcony or porch and enjoy the cool breeze that’s soon going to become much warmer and have you aching for a fan and some relief from the hot sun, I encourage you to do so. If you live in a city and aren’t close to nature, consider going to a nearby park or garden and spending some time there for a few moments if you can. Even spending time on quiet streets observing the trees was a pleasant respite from the bustle of city life during my time in New York City.

4. Decorate Your Altar for Ostara

If you like changing your altar for the seasons and sabbats, your Ostara altar should reflect the themes of balance, rebirth, and renewal. You could add fresh flowers such as daffodils or tulips, as well as symbols of fertility, such as eggs or rabbits.

You can also light green and pastel-colored candles to invoke the soft, growing energy of the season and incorporate crystals like amethyst or rose quartz to support emotional growth and balance.

5. Make Crafts

Crafting with eggs or making rabbit-shaped decorations is another way to celebrate Ostara. Consider making air dry clay rabbits or cutting paper garlands in the shape of rabbits.

For your egg crafts, in addition to decorating or dyeing eggs, you could make paper egg garlands, painted wooden egg ornaments, or even egg-shaped candles. Use natural materials like dried flowers, twine, or beads to decorate the eggs and make them into beautiful decorations for your home or altar.

6. Drink Dandelion Tea

Bright dandelions bloom with their yellow flowers in early spring, signaling the return of light. Brew a cup of dandelion tea to connect with the season’s energy.

You could also enjoy a cup of tea made from herbs that correspond with Ostara such as lavender, chamomile, and mint. Sip slowly and meditate on your intentions for the season and the turning of the wheel.

7. Cook with Early Spring Produce and Eggs

Ostara is a time to celebrate fresh, new growth, and there’s no better way to do that than with early spring produce. Bake a vegetable frittata with spring veggies like asparagus or a salad with tender greens like spinach and arugula dressed with olive oil and lemon.

Add eggs, which are a symbol of new life and fertility, and enjoy a meal that honors the season’s abundance. Here are 50 recipes to consider making for Ostara.

Other foods that correspond with Ostara:

• Eggs
• Honey
• Lemon
• Sprouted Greens
• Spring Greens
• Asparagus
• Violets
• Lavender
• Mint

8. Host an Ostara Feast or Spring Tea Party

Gather your loved ones and host a feast or potluck with seasonal foods and share intentions, well wishes, and begin the new season in joyful community.

If you feel inspired, you could also turn that feast into a spring tea party. Serve herbal teas, light finger sandwiches, and spring-themed treats, like flower-shaped cookies or cakes decorated with violets and other edible flowers.

9. Spring Clean

Spring cleaning is a way to physically and energetically clear space for new beginnings. Take this time to declutter your home, organize your surroundings, and literally cleanse your space. You can also perform a symbolic ritual, like wiping away old energy to make room for the fresh, vibrant energy of spring.

Donate or sell any items that no longer serve you and create a space that feels welcoming and energetically peaceful. Having a calm atmosphere will make it easier for you to ground and tap into your magic for rituals, spells, and manifestations.

10. Go on a Hike as a Moving Meditation

Hiking is a wonderful way to connect with nature and practice mindfulness. As you walk, focus on your breath and the rhythm of your footsteps. Allow yourself to be fully present in the beauty of the natural world, and let your hike be a moving meditation that helps you embrace the spring season.

11. Observe the Sunrise or Sunset

Ostara is not just the first day of spring, it’s also the Spring Equinox, which means there’s about the same amount of day and night.

By taking the time to observe the sunrise or sunset that day, you can honor the balance between light and dark and reflect on how that shows up in your own life.

12. Make a Floral Cocktail or Mocktail

Celebrate the scents and flavors of spring with a floral cocktail or mocktail. Try a lavender lemonade (with or without gin), a chamomile iced tea, or a cocktail made with rose syrup and garnished with rose petals. These beverages make a perfect addition to your Ostara feast or tea party.

13. Do an Ostara Tarot Card Reading

If you have a deck that focuses on the theme of the season, such as the Ostara Tarot deck, use it to give yourself a tarot reading. Tarot Dreams created this five-card Ostara spread for the holiday that might speak to you:

1. The Soil: Your past — Where have you grown? What lessons have you learned?
2. The Weed: Obstacles — What is holding you back?
3. The Seed: Immediate Future — In which area of life will you see the first sign of growth?
4. The Sun: Focus — What do you need to keep in mind to help yourself grow?
5. The Rain: Blessing in Disguise — What is coming up in your life that is a blessing in disguise?

14. Balancing Spell or Meditation

Ostara, like Mabon, is the perfect time for spells or meditations centered on balance and growth. Try a simple balancing spell or meditate on where you need more balance in your life—whether in your relationships, work, or personal goals—and envision yourself stepping into it.