How the most ancient traditions still connect to our 21st Century lives
The Wheel of the Year now turns to Ostara- the celebration of rebirth, where we honour the Goddess Eostre. Here in the Northern Hemisphere this is also known as the Spring or Vernal Equinox. There is, of course, the connection of the name Ostara and the Goddess Eostre to the Christian festival of Easter. We can also trace the European name of the Goddess Eostre back to her names of Ishtar and Astarte, in earlier cultures.
As we turn to this time we joyfully embrace the return of life to the Earth after the long, long darkness of the Winter months. All the times on the Wheel of the Year have their profound connection to the eternal life cycle and to the progression of our own soul journey. For me, Ostara is always the one that lifts my soul and my spirits the most. Light and life return to banish the darkness ...
It uplifts us all to see the bursting forth of new life and for us to go outside and fully embrace it. Glowing daffodils suddenly appear and the birds begin to sing as dawn now arrives earlier. The trees bring forth their buds and blossom.
Ostara is that wonderful reminder that rebirth will always happen, even after the darkest of times and to us this is now even more reassuring and special.
The traditional symbols and images of The Goddess and of fertility are visible everywhere at the moment - in nature and in wider culture. Eggs, new born chicks, March hares and rabbits being the most obvious and visible examples.
If this reads as too Pagan or arcane, we only have to look at he displays in any supermarket or shops and on the now ubiquitous shopping websites at this time on the Wheel of the Year. See for yourselves the abundance of Ostara and Goddess symbols on display. Our ancient roots in the Old Religion are far more deeply planted in our modern world than we realise
One of the most traditional ways to mark Ostara of course, is the Spring Cleanse. At this time I love to de-clutter my home and to give a thorough cleanse with water steeped in fresh rosemary and lemon. Rosemary is one of the most powerful natural plants used for psychic protection for yourself and your home. It's traditionally placed in and around doorways to dispel or ward off bad energy.
Lemon oil is one of the best aromatherapy scents for lifting the spirits. The use of natural beeswax on furniture will also add the most delicious scent, along with the gorgeous natural sheen it will give. We can bring the energy of nature right into our homes with these ways to Spring Cleanse.
I always like to make an energetic ritual of the Spring Cleanse by completing it with a thorough smudging of all the rooms with white sage, to dispel any old, stale energy no longer needed in my home or my life.
Open your windows after you've smudged each room and focus your thoughts on old patterns of behaviour, circumstance or any situations you wish to release. As you then invite in the Spring energy to assist you in birthing the new, you can speak or chant your wishes and affirmations-
It's a lovely energetic touch to light yellow or orange candles around your home. These help to embed the energy of Spring into your newly revitalized surroundings and will also connect to the energy of the solar plexus and sacral chakras of the physical body. Do remember to make sure that sage sticks and candles are extinguished when you've finished your Spring Cleanse
If being a domestic Goddess or God isn't your thing, then there are so many other ways we can embrace the Spring Equinox. It's a great time to 'birth' new approaches.
This is a very powerful energetic time to focus on creating more abundance around you. We can also make this a time to clean up our health and bodies as well as our homes. It's afar more appealing prospect to do this in the light of Spring than in the cold dark January days! Simply getting out into nature and walking is great for you, or maybe going even further visiting the gym or the pool. Even simply getting out into nature is great for your emotional, mental and physical health.
In love, we only have to observe the behaviour of the birds and animals around us to know that this is the most fertile time! If you're single, maybe it's time to think about meeting potential partners in ways you haven't tried before. Get creative about finding romantic connections...
If you're partnered up, it's the perfect time to rediscover things about each other or to try new things together that make you see your partner in a different light. Rebirth your relationship!
Whichever way you choose to embrace the energy of Ostara, remember to look around you on these lighter mornings and observe~ even for just a few minutes. The world is waking up again, reminding us that life is a cycle and there is always the opportunity to embrace rebirth in some aspect of our lives.
Martine Alexis Clairvoyance
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