Ostara 2023: Springing Into Action
The time we have been waiting for has finally arrived, my witchy lovelies. Heavy grey skies are about to give way to pale blue. The cold breezes will soon be transforming into warm ones to envelope us as we begin to venture back out to embrace nature anew. Springtime is quickly approaching and the energy is palpable!
No matter how much excitement we may have for this turning of the wheel, we must first honor our journey to get here. The cloak of winter darkness we have been under these months was necessary; we needed it to help shield us as we delved deeper into self discovery and it also afforded us the opportunity to replenish our energy at our own pace. We leave this period of solitude with gratitude as it has served us well and greet the light as it filters back in; illuminating our way to glorious rebirth.
A Time for Action
Like the title says, now is your chance to start shaking off the cobwebs and getting down to business! Ostara is synonymous with rebirth and renewal and signals the beginning of the planting season, with many building some type of gardening into their ritual practice to celebrate the sabbat. In a less literal sense however, this is a perfect time of year to start sowing the seeds of change within many facets of your life.
Just like at the outset of any great garden, before you break ground, a planning phase should come first. Below, we created a step by step exercise that you can use to help you highlight your most important goals for this season and achieve clear pathways towards putting those goals into action.
Step One : “Pull up the weeds”
One of the most positive ways i’ve found to begin any journey like this is to really clear out your mind of the clutter. We all have so much rattling around in our brains on the daily and the chaos of it all can hinder any forward movement or momentum. Worse yet, some of this noise is from outside influences and is in no part there by our own fault. So step one is all about finding your center and sweeping away any negative, self limiting thoughts. Think of it like a spring cleaning for your mind, body, and spirit. You can use this time do some deep, cleansing breathing exercises, journal about the things you want to expel, or even scream and cry it out if that is what will shake it all loose. Whatever way makes you most comfortable is the best way for you.
Step Two : "Till the soil”
Now that your mind is cleared out of any junk that no longer serves you, it is time to fill it back up with positive energies to prime and enrich it it for all of the goals you want to attain. Once again, how you do this is a personal choice. Cooking a meal to enjoy with loved ones is one of my favorite ways to replenish my positive energy reserves. Maybe blasting some of your favorite music and dancing and singing along is what it looks like for you or perhaps communing with a deity, ancestor, or spirit guide for wisdom and guidance would be what gives you most strength back. Whatever method you choose, be sure to enjoy the process and go forward with delight.
Step Three : "Pick the seeds”
Up until this point we have just been focused on clearing and refreshing ourselves, however now is when the real planning begins. This is the stage in the exercise where you have to start making some decisions about what goals you truly want to nurture. It’s okay if this is difficult for you since you might not know what direction to go in. I recommend at this point grabbing a journal and sitting with yourself to ask some questions that will help you to start pinpointing areas where you might want to begin with your goals, such as the ones below:
What areas of your life do you think have been thriving in?
Are there any that you think could be improved?
What are some things that make you happy with path you are currently in life?
Are there paths that you have been hesitant to explore? Why?
Where would you like to see yourself this time next month? In six months? Next year?
What does success look like to you at this moment in time?
Are there notions or thoughts that could be holding you back from attaining this vision of success?
Step Four : “Plant and water the seeds”
Once you have answered some of the above questions or your own set, you should have a clearer idea of what goals are most vital for you to focus on at this moment in time. Once you do, it’s time to commit to them. Commitment is a big word and a scary one for some, I get it! However, you deserve to commit to yourself and your happiness and now is the best time to do it.
You can choose to write out your goals and keep them handy in the notes on your phone or by your bedside. You can speak them outloud daily in the form of affirmations. Create a vision board to hang in your room or at your office so your goals are always in your line of sight. If you feel drawn to, you can even choose to share them with loved ones and ask for help to achieve them.
Whatever method you choose, the most important part of all of this is to believe in the things you want and deserve. Often, we have to prioritize our energy on the things we need to survive, which makes sense since survival is obviously extremely important. This steadfast focus often doesn’t leave a lot of room for wants and inevitably they have to fall by the wayside, at least for a while. That survival instinct has served you well; you’ve come this far and have made it through so much. Much like how we show gratitude for each season that passes, we are grateful for these lessons, but you deserve to take this as the season to finally allow yourself to dream and manifest those dreams into your reality.
Some days it might seem easier to throw in the towel completely because your goals don’t seem any closer to your grasp than they were the day before. These are the times to go back and take a look at how far you’ve already come. Some of our achievements come to us in inches and others in miles, so be sure to celebrate the milestones as you pass them, because they all add up to the end result. This is truly how you honor this season of renewal; by embracing who you are becoming every single step of the way and nurturing your dreams.
