"Ostara" Goddess of Easter: Return of Light and Visions for a New Dawn Ritual
Lessons from “Ostara” Goddess of Easter: Return of Light Plus Visions for a New Dawn Activity
Spring is a time when the light and sunshine return. It’s a time of hope, expansion, and rebirth. New plant and animal life begin to emerge. The days get longer. Growth is happening! We are blessed with a sense of optimism as new life and new opportunities present themselves. Ostara (or Eostre) is the Germanic Goddess of fertility and springtime who helps us usher in this changing of seasons with grace.
As the Holiday this weekend approaches, I hope to offer some insights into spiritual meanings and myths surrounding this time and introduce the Goddess of Easter herself - Ostara.
“The words East and Easter were both named after Ostara, because of the reference to the sun rising in the east, and the increase in sunlight beginning in the Celtic springtime.” – Doreen Virtue, Goddess Guidance.
Ostara represents a time of rebirth and manifestation. A time of growth and balance. The upcoming Holiday of Easter is influenced by the mythology of this Goddess. She was connected to eggs and rabbits - traditional symbols of this holiday. Eggs, and rabbits because of their rapid rate of reproduction, are both symbols of fertility.
Not just fertility in the literal sense, but in the metaphorical sense of birthing new ideas and visions for the future.
“According to a legend, a rabbit laid some sacred eggs and decorated them as a gift for the fertility goddess Ostara. Ostara liked the beautiful eggs so much that she asked the rabbit to share them with everyone throughout the world.” – Skye Alexander, Find your Goddess. This gives us a sense for where the tradition of egg decorating began. Eggs are symbolic of rebirth and new life. This is a time for planting new seeds and creating new visions for the future.
When Ostara is mentioned in the book Witch it is said, “Little is known about this goddess, except that her festival was celebrated at the Spring Equinox, which became Easter; that she was a goddess of fertility; and that she was connected with hares and eggs.” – Lisa Lister.
Even though today’s traditions do not often mention this springtime goddess, her influence and roots in this holiday are not forgotten.
Ostara is also known as the goddess of the dawn. Symbolically, the dawn offers us a fresh perspective with the sunrise of a new day, brings a sense of clarity and new beginning.
Honoring Ostara Ritual Activity
I created this ritual activity to be “Quarantine friendly” so no real eggs needed, and only a few supplies. Easter egg decorating meets vision boards. We honor this return of light through creative activities, and welcome Ostara’s gifts of birthing new ideas and clarity.
Materials:
Piece of Paper
Drawing utensils (I prefer colored pencils for this but use whatever you have available)
Candle *optional (I prefer a white or light-colored candle for this ritual)
Ritual:
Begin by taking a few deep breaths, sense the breath moving freely through the central channel. Start by observing the natural ebb and flow of your breath. Then, inhale through the nose draw in light and clarity, as you exhale open the mouth clearing out stagnant energy. Continue to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth for 3-5 more breaths.
Now that you have cleared stagnancy through the channels and focused the mind. Let us begin!
Light your candle with the intention of clarity and new beginnings. A white colored candle is symbolic of a blank canvas where you can paint your new visions (*this step optional).
On your piece of paper, draw 3 – 5 outlines of an egg shape. Big enough to color and write inside but small enough to cut out. Use your intuition.
Inside the center of each egg, write a vision you hold for the future. This can be a specific goal, a feeling-based goal (how you want to feel), or an intentional word or phrase. Anything that you want to birth into the next season. Anything that you want to plant seeds for to grow.
After writing your visions, color and decorate your eggs. Be creative! As you color and decorate each egg visualize and sense what each intention feels like. When we feel into our desires and visions – we more easily draw them into our experience!
Cut out each egg and place it somewhere you will see it for the next few days around Easter. You can put them on your mirror, tape them in your planner, set them on your desk. Hide them in your sock drawer, so whenever you open it you will be reminded! Maybe set one on the fire place or bookshelf. Use one as a book mark! Get creative, spread the eggs around your home like you would for an Easter egg hunt.
If you’re into it, every time you see an egg you can say “Thank you, Ostara, for guiding me in the direction of my visions with faith and clarity.” Or, just trust that your intentions and visions have been heard by the cells in your body.
Leave them out for as long as you’d like! I recommend for a few days after Easter. When you’re ready to move them feel free to do whatever you wish with your eggs!
Hope you enjoy this activity!
If you’re looking to learn more, I am hosting a yoga class dedicated to Ostara!
ONLINE EASTER GODDESS YOGA CLASS on Sunday! April 12th at Noon.
Join for more ways to honor and embody this potent and creative time! I hope to see you there!
With love,
Brooke Shakti