While witches are most commonly associated with autumn and Halloween, the Wheel of the Year keeps turning all year long! On the spring equinox (or the first day of spring), the pagan calendar lands on Ostara. Based on the same root word as Easter, a lot of the secular imagery associated with Easter actually comes from Ostara celebrations! It’s a date to celebrate, growth, fertility, renewal, and change. Use it as a springboard to discover ways to celebrate spring.
This blog post draws from various sources, among them the fantastic book The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms by Fiona Cook and Jessica Roux. I recommend checking it out for inspiration all year long!
Indoor Witchy Rituals for Spring
Create an Ostara Altar
In this case, the alter doesn’t signify worshipping a deity so much as honoring the symbols of the season! Crafting an altar in a calm place in your home can help ground you in the spring, and give you a moment of peace in a time of transition. Choose things that evoke new life, growth, color, and optimism.
Ideas of things to include on your Ostara altar:
- Early blooming spring flowers like daffodils, crocuses, tulips, and hyacinths
- A nest crafted from twigs, feathers, and dried plants
- Seeds and grains to signal new life
- Objects in the soft pastel hues of spring, like pink, yellow, and lavender (ribbons and cloth are lovely additions)
Spray Rejuvenating Scents
“There will come soft rain/and the smell of the ground” – Sara Teasdale
Taking a deep breath of fresh spring air after a long winter is one of life’s most joyous small wonders. Thanks to the fresh growth all around, spring is alive with many, many scents. Take advantage of this growth with a room spray to inject fresh energy into your space.
The best time to spray this mixture is right after cleaning and airing out your home, to invite fresh new energy in. Sweet red clover, citrusy lemon verbena, and musky cedarwood combine beautifully in a triple-threat.
Recipe for Rejuvenating Rosemary Spray:
You’ll need:
- Small spray bottle
- Scissors
- Label
- About 2 Tbs of dried rose buds
- A pinch of salt
- Red clover essential oil (fragrance oil, not hair oil)
- Lemon verbena essential oil
- Cedarwood essential oil
- Witch Hazel
Instructions:
Combine the rose buds, salt, and a few drops (5-7) of each of the essential oils into the small spray bottle. Agitate gently to mix. Smell and adjust the amounts of each oil to suit your taste. Fill to the top with witch hazel. Shake and spray around your bedroom or altar.
“Burp” Your House
Okay, this is such a silly way to put it, but hear me out! Many of us shut up our houses tight in the winter (especially in snowier climes). By the spring, indoors can feel stuffy and musty regardless of how much you clean. Called lüften by the Germans, all you need to do is open all the windows in your home for 5-10 minutes a day to create a cross-breeze and refresh the air in your home. As a bonus, it’s a great way to prevent mold, too!
Spring Journal Prompts
- What comfortable habits or relationships are no longer serving me?
- What areas of my life show the biggest opportunity for growth?
- What challenges I’m facing present the best possibilities?
- What relationships in my life show the most promise for promoting community?
- How can I encourage others around me to bloom?
Outdoor Witchy Rituals for Spring
Plant Fresh Herbs
Even if you live in an apartment, exercising your green thumb goes a long way towards honoring the season. Fresh herbs in particular are easy to care for, easy to grow, and easy to use. I like to grow:
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Mint
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Lavender
Make a Butterfly Feeder
As crucial parts of the ecosystem, butterflies are as useful as they are beautiful. Attracting more of these wonderful creatures to your local area help both butterflies and your local flora. You can do it relatively cheaply and easily for a fun afternoon craft!
Materials for a Butterfly Feeder
You’ll need:
- A plate (around 7 inches wide is best)
- A plate hanger (the same width as your plate)
- 4 pieces of string approximately 12-18 inches long
- Beads and silk flowers to decorate your string
- An S hook
- 2 Tbs granulated white sugar
- 1 1/4 c plain water
- A small sponge
- Vaseline (optional)
- Cucumber (optional)
Instructions:
Attach the plate hanger to the back of the plate. Tie one string on each corner of the plate hanger. If desired, string beads and flowers onto each strand. Tie all 4 strings together at the top, and hang from an S hook. Add 2 Tbs of white sugar to 1 1/4 c water, and heat over the stove until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Place a small sponge on your plate, and drizzle with sugar water until it’s wet, but not dripping. Hang your feeder outside for butterflies to enjoy!
If you’re worried about garden pests, spread vaseline on the rim of the plate to prevent ants, and place a cucumber slice on the sponge to deter wasps. If you’re a visual person, check out this tutorial.
Visit Your Genus Loci (Take a Nature Walk)
Genus Loci refers to the belief around the world that certain natural landmarks are imbued with their own spirits. From sea nymphs to rusalka, bodies of water typically attract the most stories, so if you can get to even a pond or creek, try to do so. However you get outside, spend the time in quiet appreciation of your surroundings, unencumbered by smartphones and other technology as much as possible. Journaling and physical media are highly encouraged!
Find an Outdoor Cleanup Near You
In the spirit of engaging with your community, outdoor cleanup has many benefits! Besides the immediate benefit to the area, you contribute to the respect of the earth and your community when you agree to roll up your sleeves. Professor Google is great for finding organizations near you (may I suggest: city parks and recreation, the forest service, or a local Audubon society). You can also just head out with a trash bag, work gloves, and a disposal plan to beautify your neighborhood.
What will you be doing this spring to honor the world around you? Let me know in the comments!
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