Ostara/Spring Equinox Altar 2023

Ostara or the Spring Equinox celebrates the dawning of Spring and the return of life. It is first and foremost a fertility holiday, honoring the reappearance of flowers, birds, and rabbits. Snow is beginning the melt and flowers force their way through the frozen ground, dotting the landscape with their bright blooms, a symbol of hope and new life. As the Sun grows in strength in the sky, the air warms, bringing with it animals previously hiding during the colder Winter months. March and April mark the mating season for many birds and small mammals, which will culminate in a bushel of cute babies. This is also the time of balance, as an equinox is a balance between day and night.

Recently, Georgia has experienced a severe cold snap, that resulted in many of the flowering plants to wither. I unfortunately lost some of my vegetable plants in the process and will have to repurchase my losses in the next couple of weeks. As such, I wasn't able to put any spring blooms on my altar, so I went with some dried flowers instead, as well as some crystals that symbolize balance, harmony, fertility, and strength.

1. Dried Yarrow and Roses- The Spring Equinox marks the first day of spring in many cultures across the world. It is characteristized by growth, fertility, strength, and balance as life returns to the Earth. Yarrow is associated with the Sun, who is reborn on the Equinox, as well as love, beauty, and release. Yarrow reminds us to let go of the past so that our future may grow. Wild roses are also associated with love and beauty, as well as fertility, from which life is reborn anew. (Where did I get it: Found; Cost: Free)

2. Gold and White Rabbits- One of the most prominent symbols of Ostara or the Spring Equinox is the rabbit, representing fertility and new life. Rabbits begin breeding this time of year and are extremely prolific, hence their association with fertility. In fact, rabbits can be pregnant with more than one litter of babies at a time! I've included two rabbits on my Spring Equinox altar to represent fertility, but I have included two to balance the altar as the equinox represents balance. The golden rabbit represents the Sun while the white rabbit represents the Moon which is in perfect balance during the equinox. You will see that I have matched them with their respective symbols on the plaque in the center of my altar. (Where did I get it: Hobby Lobby 2017; Cost: $3 each)

3. Carnelian, Serpetine, Moss Agate, and Moonstone- To futher represent this sabbat, I placed a number of crystals on my altar. The carnelian, which is placed in front of the golden rabbit, represents the Sun and the spark of life. The moonstone, which is placed in front of the white rabbit, represents the Moon, balance, and fertility. Serpentine and moss agate, which are placed center on the altar, represent confidence, new beginnings, transformation, transition, fertility, abundance, nourishment, and stability. I picked an even number of crystals for this altar to further symbolize balance. (Where did I get it: Metaphysical Stores & Subscription Boxes; Cost: $6)

4.  Marble Egg- The blue, marble egg is the ultimate symbol of fertility and new beginnings. As Spring begins, the birds flock back to their mating grounds, building nests and laying eggs that will give birth to the next generation. I placed it in the center of my altar as fertility is the predominant theme of Ostara. The blue color represents healing, calm, and femininity, something I believe is currently lacking in the world right now. (Where did I get it: Marble Egg: Gifted; Cost: Free; Egg holder: Target 2018; $1)

5. Pink Candles- The Sun continues to grow in strength at Ostara, with it finally being equal tonight for the first time since the Fall Equinox. From this point on, day will continue to grow in length, as night slowly decreases until the Summer Solstice in June. The pink candles are to sympathetically strengthen the Sun so my new seedlings may flourish and my flower garden bloom. I chose pink candles this year to represent the soft, nurturing energies of the Equinox and the joy of Spring. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree 2021; Cost: $2.00)

TOTAL COST: ~$12

Like my other altars, most of the items I use are found, made, or purchased for around $1, although if the items must be purchased by you, then the cost will be higher. I hope you find this sort of breakdown helpful, especially for those of you looking to create Instagram-perfect altars on a budget!

Did you do anything special for Ostara this year? Let me know in the comments below!

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Book Review: Black People Breathe by Zee Clarke

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Last year, I participated in Bettie's Pages Challenge Your Shelf where she encouraged her followers to expand their worldview by reading books by and about Black, Indigenous, other peoples of color, and other marginalized groups. Broadening your reading list exposes you to the life experiences of others, developing empathy and understanding for the lived experiences of those different from you. I wanted to continue this journey by reading more spiritual and witchcraft books written by marginalized authors and the first of which is Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing by Zee Clarke.

This amazing guide to breathwork takes a research-based approach to handling the psychological and physiological stress due to racism. Clarke notes that the book is specifically for Black people in the United States and those of similar experiences, as it is written about her experiences as a Black woman in the US and how she has used breathwork to combat systemic racism. She calls upon her white readers, like me, to educate themselves about the Black experience and to think about the role they might place to accelerate change.

Each chapter addresses a specific issue faced by Black people in the US, from witnessing police brutality and being accused of shoplifting while shopping to racism in the workplace and the mispronunciation of names. Clarke lays her heart bare, sharing story after story after story of personal experiences of overt and covert racism and what breathing techniques she used and uses to get through moments every Black person has experienced. She mentions in the very beginning that she never felt breathwork and meditation or spiritual wellness was for people like her until she attended a retreat for Black women and made a trip to India where she learned the opposite is true. Meditation, breathwork, and spiritual wellness are for everyone. Everyone. Period. 

Coupled with her personal stories, Clarke backs up her claims with scientific evidence, citing multiple sources regarding the health problems associated with different types of racism and how different breathing techniques work. I am always fascinated by the research and the science of why, and was thankful this information was included. She outlines each breath technique, how she uses it, and includes pictures outlining how to perform the technique for those who struggle to visualize the process. As a visual learner myself, I appreciated the beautiful illustrations, even the ones used to highlight specifics from her stories. Furthermore, these techniques can be used anywhere to every situation you find yourself in, making them accessible and practical. 

Each chapter ends with a "Key Points to Remember" and "Mindfulness Practice Toolkit" so you can easily find the breath technique you are looking for without having to read through all the stories and research. I appreciate the quick reference guide, which is also visually set apart from the rest of the chapter with a peach-colored tab. To accompany the book, Clarke offers free resources which can be found on her website and YouTube channel.

I highly recommend Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing by Zee Clarke not just to my readers of color, but also to my white readers as this is an opportunity to learn about the Black experience in the United States. To my white readers, I also encourage you to continue your journey toward anti-racism by following BIPOC creators and books such as White Rage, The Color of Law, Stamped From the Beginning, and An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States.

Black People Breathe: A Mindfulness Guide to Racial Healing by Zee Clarke is set to publish today, March 14, 2023, and can be found wherever books are sold.

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Magical Properties of Rhodochrosite

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Embracing Renewal with the Worm Moon: A Ritual for Personal Growth

I know I missed February's full moon, but I do not plan to miss March's and what a moon this is expected to be. March's full moon goes by many names, including Worm Moon, Crow Moon, Lenten Moon, Chaste Moon, and Sugar Moon, each of which is so named after the signs and symbols of the coming of Spring. The March's full moon is all about transformation, renewal, growth, and fertility, which this ritual capitalizes on. This is a time of change and therefore the perfect opportunity to plant seeds for future success, the benefits of which you shall reap in the coming months. This ritual also pairs well with my Worm Moon worksheet.

What You'll Need

• 1 white or green candle with a candle holder
• Match or lighter
• A small bowl of water, preferably full/waxing moon water
• Piece of paper
• Writing utensil
• Sunflower seed or bean
• Small pot with soil or somewhere outside to plant the seed

What to Do

During the Worm Moon, begin by cleansing and consecrating your space using your preferred method. If you wish, cast a circle and invite any spirits or deities.

When ready, light the white candle and place it in front of you. Sit quietly for a few minutes, focusing your attention on the candle's flame. Breathe deeply, feeling your mind and body relax.

Take the bowl of water and swirl it clockwise with your finger while saying, "Healing waters imbued by the moon, wash away negativity and old patterns. Bring strength and wisdom, renewal and rebirth to my life." Anoint your forehead and heart while saying, "May I be renewed and transformed, by the power of the Worm Moon, and may my intentions be set in motion. I release what no longer serves me to make room for new blessings."

On the piece of paper, write down your intention for the upcoming months. What skills, attitudes, habits, behaviors, knowledge, or personal qualities do you wish to develop? How do you want to grow personally? Fold the paper three times toward you. Place the seed on top of the folded paper and place your hand on top. Feel the seed warm under your hand, filling with your intention. Visualize yourself achieving your goals, and growing to become the person you wish to be.

When your visualization is complete, light the paper on fire, visualizing the flame igniting your intention and sending it out into the universe. Plant the seed in your desired location and sprinkle the ashes of your petition over top. Gently cover and water with some of the moon water while saying, "May my transformation blossom with this seed. As this seed grows, so shall I. So I will it, so it shall be." 

Lightly water the seed daily repeating the above affirmation, or creating a new one. Talk to the seedling once it begins to sprout, letting it know of your successes. As you nurture the new plant, so too shall you nurture your own personal growth and success.

Why You Did It

Understanding the why's of a spell are just as important as performing it. It helps you understand the process so you can modify the spell or ritual to suit your needs and helps guide you to write your own. It's my intention that by providing these explanations, you can build a better understanding of how spells are written and executed so you can modify and build your own spells (the goal of my Spellcrafting Series). 

This spell begins with a light meditation designed to ground and center you in the moment. This is a time of great change and you have likely been feeling stressed or out of sorts. Grounding and centering through light meditation with a candle flame helps combat this feeling and focus on the task at hand. A white or green candle is used in this spell to represent either a clean slate/new beginning (white) or growth and success (green), as well as transformation as Fire is the element of change.

Next, the bowl of water, which symbolizes the element Water, was used to wash away the past, leaving room for the future. Water also helps nourish and replenish, aiding in your personal growth. You anointed your head and heart with the water to heal the past, nourish your future goals, and help you focus on the future. This same water was later used to nourish the seed, which represents new beginnings, life, transformation, growth, and success. Sunflowers and beans are both associated with growth, abundance, success, and prosperity. Full or waxing moon water is best for this spell as these phases are associated with growth and success.

Finally, the petition was burned in the flame to release your intention into the universe and the ashes were fed to the seed to help feed the spell. As mentioned earlier, Fire is associated with transformation and is capable of burning away obstacles, barriers, and other hindrances to your growth. Fire is also life-giving, as the ashes left behind help regenerate the soil.

Much like all magic, this spell requires constant work. You must continue to water the seedling, just as you have to actively work toward your personal growth goals. The seedling is to act as a reminder of your intentions.

Wish to break this spell? Thank the plant for its service and transplant it outside where it can grow freely.

Remember to record this ritual on your ritual/spell worksheet or in your Book of Shadows for reference later.

***

Remember, the Worm Moon is a time of transformation, rebirth, abundance, and success. No matter what you decide to do this full moon, I hope it's full of magic!

Interested in learning more about the full moon, Worm Moon, or Spring Magic? Below are some resources to get you started.

March Worm Moon Ritual Planning Worksheet

Moon Phases

Monthly Magical Moons

Seed Blessing Ritual

Egg Prosperity Spell

Deep House Cleansing Ritual

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Book Review: The Green Witch's Garden Journal by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

With spring right around the corner, most of us with a garden have begun planning our gardens for this year, from sketching out ideas to planting seeds to mulching and fertilizing. So what better time than now to introduce you all to The Green Witch's Garden Journal by Arin Murphy-Hiscock?! 

This fantastic journal is a follow-up to Murphy-Hiscock's The Green Witch's Garden which was released in December 2021, but it can be used as a standalone. This journal contains three sections: basic gardening tips, a weekly journal, and plant profiles. The basic gardening tips are very basic, meaning if you are new to gardening, they are enough to point you in the right direction to find more information, but not enough to rely on as your own gardening advice. Murphy-Hiscock also offers some magical gardening advice, which you will not find in other gardening journals. However, the heart of the book is the journal pages themselves, not the information in the introduction.

Murphy-Hiscock provides both weekly logs where you can detail everything going on in your garden as well as plant profiles where you can document all the mundane and magical details about the plants you are growing. The weekly logs include sections for astrological events, rainfall, temperature, moon phases, and garden sitings. As Murphy-Hiscock says in the introduction, recording what is going on in your garden helps you plan in the future as you are not going to remember everything that happened the year before. It also allows you to identify patterns, especially those that may be occult in nature, so that you can look for signs, messages, and spiritual meanings that arise during the gardening process. My favorite section, however, is Section Three which contains plant compendiums, where you can record detailed information about each of the plants you are growing including magical properties, folklore, uses, planting history, ideal growing conditions, and pruning and fertilizer schedules. As someone who adores plants and tracking their uses and growing details, this final section won me over in a heartbeat. Finally, the journal ends with a couple of pages of graph people where you can sketch out gardening plot ideas or jot down additional notes.

The combination of magical and mundane aspects is perfect for any witch that currently grows a garden or is looking to start one of their own in the future. There truly is nothing on the market quite like this garden journal, and Murphy-Hiscock has done a great job filling a void in the magical gardening market. I highly recommend picking up a copy of this journal, at least once, to get you started on your magical gardening journey or to help you better track your garden over a season. This journal will act as an excellent reference, a sort of gardening grimoire if you will, for years to come. You can pre-order a copy of The Green Witch's Garden Journal by Arin Murphy-Hiscock now wherever books are sold.

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