Ostara - Spring has sprung! (16th March)

The hare - a symbol of fertility, of the moon, and of new energy.

Spring is coming - and we shift into a new equinox - Ostara/Eostra.
During this equinox there is a change of energy and optimism in the air - we all feel it, it awakens our senses and puts a literal spring in our step. After resting and hibernating in winter during the solstice of Yule, awakening during Imbolc - a time to plan and prepare; we can now invest our energies into putting such plans to action and grow the seeds we had sown.

Named after the germanic goddess who had the head of a hare, Ostara/Eostra represents dawn, renewal, rebirth and fertility. She oversees fresh life associated with spring, when bulbs and buds start to bloom, when birds start to lay their eggs, and when animals get into mating season!
This is the time of year where night and day are of equal length, and with that - dawn and dusk are balanced; coincidently, this is when hares are most active.

Eostra is what Easter has evolved out of, along with its symbolism of rabbits and eggs. Folklore has contradicted and changed over the years, but the general theme is that the hare was actually a bird, the goddess transformed it into a hare in order to be more hardy, to withstand the colds of winter. To honour its previous existance, the hare was able to lay eggs to herald in the beginning of spring.
Conversly Eostra is thought to be the origins of eostrogen - a female fertility hormone.

Embracing Eostra - our own inner hare!

The hare carries alot of symbolism - too much to include here, primarily they are linked to the moon and represent fertility (female hares can still conceive when pregnant). The moon is thought to die each morning, yet rises each night - it is reborn. It is believed that the hare is immortal, it holds the energy, vitality, and full moon of life. In dawn and dusk, hares have an ability to be between worlds, and were believed to be magical creatures

• Look up at the moon and stars: The hare symbolises the moon, which has its own energies - the waxing of the moon, the time between a new moon and full moon is marked by Easter. This solstice marks a time of year that is in itself waxing, signs of new life and the fullness of fertility.
  
• Go mad like a March hare! The mating rituals of the hare - the boxing, jumping, hopping and seemingly erratic behaviour can be adopted by ourselves, not neccessarily in order to mate! But to utilise new found spring energy, let loose, get outdoors, dance around your lounge, join a boxercise class, jump around!
• Paint an egg, make a wish! An old tradition most of us did as children. Pierce the egg top and bottom with a needle, make one of the holes larger than the other, using the needle stir the inside of the yolk up, place your mouth (or a straw) against the smaller hole and gently blow so the contents fall out of the bigger one.
  

  - Once the egg has dried, using felt tip pens draw/colour your egg however you want your wish to be represented. Thread through the holes and knot it so it won't fall through, and hang it by your door. If heavy handed like me, hard boil the egg and place it on your window sill!

• Bury a raw egg in your garden: Preferably by your door, to ensure the season brings an abundance of good things, and that the land around you is fertile
• Put plans into action: Whatever your intentions were in Imbolc, now is the time to make them happen. Invest this new energy into whatever it was, big or small. any ideas - run with them, spring yourself forward - like the hare.
• Put your energy into positive relationships: Whether they be romantic, platonic, famillial, business - this is the time to nurture partnerships. Let go of old grieviences, say sorry, forgive if you can. Build upon the relationships you want to go further in, communicate, get involved with your community.
• Bring some green and purple into your life - these represent fertility and the night, they may clash, but you can own it, and rock it!

Some herbs to consider...

Many herbs are starting to peak through, I'm seeing a few come up at work which always brings me joy. It's a reassurance to see them again - and like old friends I often stop and say hello!
Cleavers: Using fresh plant is best, it clears the lymphatic system (where most of our immune cells live), boosts the blood, and supports the kidneys. Cleavers are considered to be a spring cleaning herb
Chickweed: A cooling herb that can be eaten fresh, juiced, or decocted (boiled in a pan of water for at least 30 mins), this is also thought to cleanse the blood and lymphatic system. A poultice can be made and applied topically to the skin where there is irritation. It is also thought to aid in constipation - a clearing herb!
Nettles: A nutritious iron rich herb that again boosts the blood (there is a theme emerging here!), used for anaemia, and which is great for convelescence (or like winter hibernation), it supports the kidneys, can be used to reduce inflammation seen in ailments such as eczema, and osteoarthritis.

*These will all be coming up in more detail in the near future, as always seek guidence from a qualified herbalist/naturopath. Plants may be natural, but they are not always safe*

Make some time to welcome in Ostara/Eostra, in whatever way that may be, even if it is (and I have to add this in most of my blog posts) just taking the time to indulge in a nice cup of herbal tea!

They may have cold feet now, but they'll be feeling the effects of Ostara and mating season in no time!

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