Ostara -- The Spring Equinox

Eggs have long been associated with fertility so it is natural that eggs have a place in Spring celebrations.The history of dying eggs dates back to ancient pagan times. Eggs were decorated and then gifted to friends and family to encourage fertility in the coming year.

Egg hunts, too, have pagan origins. When the early Church clashed with pagans, the tradition of giving eggs went underground. Pagans instead hid the decorated eggs for their like-minded friends and neighbors to find.

For a simple Ostara ritual, dye an egg with a light shade of yellow, green or pink. Light a candle, again using the colors of yellow, green or pink, and hold the egg in both your hands. Spend some time thinking about what you want reborn in your life in the coming year.

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Bunnies draw their association with Spring from the March hare. After a long winter's rest, the March hare literally springs into action busily breeding during the month of March. The bunny's association with fertility make it an important symbol in the nature-based practice of Wicca.

While having a live bunny in the house is not practical for most, you can still get into the cute and fuzzy Ostara cuteness of bunnies. Decorate with the stuffed animal version of this symbol of Spring to bring Ostara into your home.

Spring symbolizes a new start and your Ostara ritual can reflect that. Use the outdoors and a simple spell to harness the power of Ostara for a new project. Gather paper, a pen, a spade and any other ritual elements you care to use and arrange them in a good spot outside. Cast your circle and do your normal preliminaries. Then bless your pen and paper. Use them to write down your hopes and aspirations for a new project in your life. When you are finished, fold the paper in half three times. Finally, dig a small hole and bury the paper in the earth. Just as seeds grow in the ground, sowing your wishes and hopes during Ostara will result in a crop of success.