Spring is such a lovely time of year! The earthy scents, bright green buds on the trees, and the sounds of chirping birds are all welcomed indications that nature is awakening from a frosty slumber. Slender grass tendrils poking through melting snow and that first day when mittens are no longer a necessity serve as a promise that those blustery winter days are slowly waning into the warmth and splendor of spring.
I've noticed people who love fall tend to consider spring a close second to their favorite season. It makes sense, really. It's basically fall in reverse, nature yawning to life instead of preparing for slumber, as if someone hit rewind on the DVR.
If you’ve been following the blog for a few years you’ll know spring in the Southwest wasn't nearly as exciting as in other parts of the country, mostly because cacti are pretty stagnant. They'll spear you any time of year, really. They're just so reliable like that.
Fortunately, I’m back in my beloved New England where I once again get to enjoy the vibrant colors of a bourgeoning earth and the blissful fragrance of revitalized nature. And I’m extremely grateful for such an experience because spring is one of my favorite seasons. Easily in the top four. ;)
Plant something
In many parts of the country the ground is still frozen on Ostara, if not covered in snow. But that doesn’t mean you can’t welcome the (painfully slow?) arrival of spring by planting something indoors! Treat yourself to a pot of tulips, a countertop herb garden, or whatever plant makes you smile and enjoy a little spring essence on your windowsill.
Treat the bunnies
Rabbits are a symbol of the Goddess, particularly during the spring. Seeing them is always a treat in my household, mostly because I live for anything covered in fur, but it’s also considered a blessing to encounter these lovely little lagomorphs.
Ahhh alliteration!
Give a sacrifice to the blossoming Goddess and her fertile earth by leaving some romaine lettuce* or berries for the bunnies.
Prepare your garden
If the weather permits, start clearing out your garden and preparing the soil for spring-time planting. If you're reading this while glancing out your window at a foot of snow on the ground, why not plan on paper? Make a list of what herbs, vegetables, and fruits you'd like to grow once the ground thaws. It's a nice way to tackle the winter blues!
Brew a spring tea
Just as nature refreshes and revitalizes, now is a good time for us to address natural detoxification approaches.
But, you know, easy. Because that's how this blog rolls.
Brew yourself a warm mug of spring tea to help your body transition from the long nights of winter to the budding days of spring. Choose herbs like nettle, rose petals, lemon peel, cornflower, calendula, or dandelion to aid in detoxification as well as celebrating spring with an herbal brew! Interested in specific herbal purposes? Check out my absolute favorite go-to herbal medicine reference book: The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine by Brigitte Mars.
Make an omelette
You gotta eat, right? Start your Ostara with a simple celebratory omelette (or egg scramble if you haven't mastered your diner skills). Use spring vegetables and herbs, like asparagus or chives, and a little fresh goat cheese to make a tasty—and sabbat specific— Ostara feast.
Bonus—veggies and herbs are detoxifying, so it's kind of a 2-in-1 celebration. Score!
Eggs aren't just treats from everyone's favorite oversized, home-intruding bunny. They also represent growth, fertility, and potential, all important aspects of this vernal sabbat! So whether you like your cackle fruits wrecked, on a raft, or flopped, eggs are the perfect way to celebrate the commencement of spring.
Too much diner talk? A thousand apologies. I've been enjoying myself some Do or Diner. I'm a sucker for a good cozy mystery! In fact, if you also love cozy reads please help a reader out and leave your favorite titles in a comment below!
Hope you all have a flower-picking, chocolate-eating, pastel-colored kind of Ostara!
Happy spring, everyone! 🐰🐣
*Some lettuce varieties, such as iceberg, can be dangerous to rabbits. For more information, check out this list of safe bunny fodder.
What's your favorite part of spring?
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