Earth-Centered Equinox Traditions for Wiccans As Wiccans, we honor and celebrate the changing seasons with various rituals and traditions. One of the significant events in the Wiccan calendar is the equinox, which occurs twice a year - in March and September. During these times, we embrace the Earth-centered spirituality by connecting with nature and the cycles of life. The equinox is a perfect time to acknowledge the balance between light and darkness, as day and night are of equal length. This harmony is reflected in our rituals, where we strive to find balance within ourselves and the universe. It is a time of renewal, growth, and the awakening of Mother Earth.
5. If you’re repotting your own plant, this is the time to do so.
Among points raised There is a stigma to being Wiccan in many areas and among many people, partially related to the mistaken belief that Wiccans practice animal sacrifice. Among points raised There is a stigma to being Wiccan in many areas and among many people, partially related to the mistaken belief that Wiccans practice animal sacrifice.
It is a time of renewal, growth, and the awakening of Mother Earth. One of the core traditions during the equinox is the creation of an altar. This symbolic space serves as a focal point for our rituals and allows us to gather items that represent the essence of the season.
Spring Equinox & Ostara
A little history on the celebration of Spring, light and life….
March 20th marks the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and if you still have snow on the ground like I do, you’re probably ready to think about sun, Spring and flowers instead of shoveling, ice and cold. Now is the perfect time to celebrate the tiny buds, later nights and sun that is right around the corner (or if you’re lucky already there). If we welcome Spring, it will come… so how does a witch celebrate?
The short answer is however we want. That’s the best part about Witchcraft, you get to do what you feel called to do so. It’s a craft, a belief system where you create your own rules - not a religion that expects you to follow their rules, without much choice.
Spring (Vernal) Equinox is often called Ostra by Witches. Full disclosure, I choose not to celebrate the Spring Equinox as Ostra because it does not speak to me or my craft. I understand while people do and that is a beautiful choice if it speaks to you! Every year around this time I see a lot of misinformation about the history of Ostra online so I wanted to write a post with some facts about Spring Equinox and Ostara to help us all make educated choices about our practices.
So let’s break it down… The Spring (also called Vernal) Equinox has been celebrated all over the world by different cultures in different ways, by different names since humans gathered together. While each culture had its own customs and celebrations they were and are mostly centered around creativity, fertility and renewal. Some yearly planting rituals would be performed around these times to help ensure successful crops for the season. No matter what your belief, religion or craft was/is this is an important seasonal shift and in ancient times it was even more important as it was the start to the hunting, gathering and/or growing season - if they didn’t have a successful season their people could suffer or even worse die during the long winter season. Many things have changed since ancient times - organized religion, science and our general understanding of how things work are vastly different than how our ancestors experienced life so modern day traditions and rituals for Spring Equinox tend to be centered around celebrating the shift and welcoming in the new energies.
Ostara is a celebration of the Spring Equinox but it is a fairly MODERN celebration created in 1954 by the wiccan religion. In the 1950s the wiccan religion made up the “the wheel of the year” and holidays to celebrate with it. While the wheel of the year and those holidays have been adopted by some Witches, they aren’t necessarily part of the old ways or pagan beliefs. Please also note that Wicca is a religion and is not Witchcraft. It is often confused with Witches and Witchcraft but there are many WItches (like myself) who aren’t wiccan. Just like with christianity or Jewish religions you can practice your religion and be a Witch or not.
During Passover the egg symbolizes the beginning of life and Passover celebrates the beginning of Jewish national existence and reflects on the precise position of the Jewish people during the time of the Exodus from Egypt.
It is said that Ostara is based on the Germanic goddess, Eostre but Eostre is a goddess exclusive to the Anglo-Saxons. Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic tribe that conquered parts of Britain and it’s important to remember that one tribe is not entirely representative of Germanic pre-Christian faith. Eostre is also said to be linked to eggs, rabbits and other eastery type things but this really conjecture because the one documented mention of Eostre in history reads:
"Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated 'Paschal month, and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honor feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honored name of the old observance.” Recorded by English monk named Bede in 725 C.E.
You may have also heard that Easter gets its name from Ostara. That is correct. The record quoted above was found by the Anglo-Saxons in the 8th century, however they had already converted to christianity in the 6th century meaning the record was found 200 years after they converted to christianity and many of their holidays and traditions had just been recently syncretized. Remember that Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic tribe that conquered parts of Britain - in the process helping create the English language. The name “Easter” came from that language and a celebration that they celebrated (as christians) at that time. There is no record of what Easter traditions came from the Anglo-Saxons however we do know what Easter traditions that christians “borrowed” from the Jewish religion - during Passover the egg symbolizes the beginning of life and Passover celebrates the beginning of Jewish national existence and reflects on the precise position of the Jewish people during the time of the Exodus from Egypt. It is important to highlight that egg symbolism is not unique to pagan beliefs and that many christian traditions come from Jewish traditions, as well as pagan traditions. It is often insinuated that christianity “borrowed” everything from paganism and that is simply not true. It is dangerous not to acknowledge and erases Jewish traditions and their relation with christianity.
Many Germans believed that the new year started on the first full moon after Yule, it seems that in “folk culture” the new year started later on the Spring Equinox in March.
Now that we’ve learned that Ostra coming from pre-christianity Germany is a myth let’s talk about how German pagans likely celebrated the Spring Equinox. The Germanic peoples divided the year into two parts - Summer and Winter. Summer would start when the warm season came and varied upon a tribes location. Many Germans believed that the new year started on the first full moon after Yule, it seems that in “folk culture” the new year started later on the Spring Equinox in March. This day is now known as Todaustragen. Todaustragen traditions would have varied by region and name. So while many Witches celebrate Ostara which was created in 1954 by wiccans, I choose to celebrate Todaustragen like my German ancestors would have. This German folk tradition literally means “carrying out death” and is derived from pre-christian beliefs. It is a ceremony that symbolically drives out winter (death) so that summer can come. It is a pre-christian belief that spring is unable to start until winter has been driven out and I love the symbology of that in modern day life. After the introduction of christianity and their calendar the christian holiday “Laetare” “absorbed” Todaustragen rituals in the Germanic/Slavic regions.
As a Witch it is important for me to learn about my ancestors and their pre-christian beliefs, rituals and traditions. I am and was raised as second generation Cuban, Lebanese (maternal side) and German (paternal side) American and a way of connecting to my cultures, heritage and ancestors is to learn as much as I can about how they would have lived and what they would have believed in pre-christian times. Connecting with my German ancestors by singing with my family, making poppets and pretzels the way my ancestors might have feels right to me, especially during the New England spring. In Western Massachusetts the weather is unpredictable and it is not uncommon to get snow in April so driving out winter in order to welcome in the spring feels like hope at the end of a long winter season.
I wish I could include more knowledge of different celebrations in different cultures but I don’t know very much about them yet. Take some time and research what your ancestors may have done for the Spring Equinox. Start with what you know, even if it’s just an area or country or idea. Each step will narrow it down and just remember - just because you read it on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true. I have spent decades researching, reading and fact checking. I do my best to only write about what I have researched and has been backed up by historians, documents and oral history but even that could turn out inaccurate as we learn more over time. It is important to keep an open mind!
Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, marks the first official day of spring, when night and day are of equal length. The return of spring is celebrated all over the world – from the Christian Easter to Jewish Passover to the Iranian New Year, known as Nowruz. For witches, the Spring Equinox is known as Ostara, named after the Germanic lunar goddess, an embodiment of the great Goddess who gave birth to the Sun God at the Winter Solstice. As an Equinox, Ostara is a time of balance and equilibrium.
The altar may include offerings of plants, flowers, and crystals to honor the Earth's abundance and fertility. During the equinox, many Wiccans perform a ritual known as "Calling the Quarters." This practice involves invoking the presence and guidance of the four elements - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. By connecting with these energies, we invite their qualities into our lives and rituals, fostering a deeper connection with nature. Another Earth-centered equinox tradition is the practice of meditating outdoors. By immersing ourselves in the natural surroundings, we align our energies with the Earth and its cycles. We can listen to the sounds of nature, feel the energy of the changing seasons, and embrace the stillness within. Additionally, Wiccans often choose to participate in community gatherings or rituals during the equinox. These events provide a sense of unity, allowing us to share our experiences and connect with like-minded individuals. By joining together in celebration, we strengthen our bond with each other and the Earth. Finally, the equinox is a time for introspection and setting intentions. Many Wiccans use this opportunity to reflect on their goals, dreams, and desires. Through meditation, journaling, or divination practices, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our connection to the Earth. We then set our intentions and work towards manifesting our desires during the coming season. In conclusion, Earth-centered equinox traditions for Wiccans revolve around honoring nature, finding balance, and connecting with the cycles of life. By embracing these traditions, we deepen our spirituality and strengthen our bond with the Earth and its energies. Whether through creating altars, performing rituals, meditating outdoors, participating in community gatherings, or setting intentions, Wiccans celebrate the equinox as a sacred time for growth and renewal..
Reviews for "The Role of Meditation and Reflection in Equinox Celebrations for Wiccans"
1. John - 2 stars
I was disappointed with "Earth Centered Equinox Traditions for Wiccans". The content felt repetitive and lacked depth. As someone who has been practicing Wicca for years, I was expecting more insightful and practical information on how to celebrate the equinox in an earth-centered manner. Instead, the book mostly consisted of generic descriptions of the equinox and basic rituals that are common knowledge among Wiccans. I was hoping for a fresh perspective and new ideas, but this book fell short in delivering that.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I cannot recommend "Earth Centered Equinox Traditions for Wiccans" at all. The book is poorly organized and poorly written. It seems like the author did not put much effort into researching or presenting coherent information. The content was confusing and contradictory at times, which left me feeling frustrated and uncertain about how to approach celebrating the equinox in an earth-centered way. The lack of clear instructions or detailed explanations made this book a waste of my time and money.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I found "Earth Centered Equinox Traditions for Wiccans" to be underwhelming. The book did cover some basic rituals and traditions related to the equinox, but it lacked depth and substance. It felt like a compilation of generic information that I could find in any beginner's guide to Wicca. I was hoping for more specific guidance on how to incorporate earth-centered practices into my celebrations, but this book just scratched the surface. Overall, it was a decent introduction for beginners but left me wanting more.