Make some magick for the Spring Equinox with these 13 Herbs for Ostara. From tea to incense to flower crowns, you can call on the energy of plants to bring you fertility and abundance.
The first day of Spring is known a Ostara amongst many witches and pagans. This festival celebrates the fertility of the natural world, and many of its traditions are also found in Easter celebrations.
So while the most common associations with this holiday are eggs and rabbits, there are also lots of plants, flowers, herbs, and botanicals tied to this turn in the wheel of the year. Many flowers are just beginning to bloom as we reach the equinox and days begin to be longer than nights.
Here are 13 herbs for Ostara to help you call in the unique energy of this time of year.
Herbs for Ostara
Just a reminder that "herbs" is a very broad term in the witchcraft community. We really tend to class any plant parts under this umbrella, even though it's not technically correct. So below you'll see trees, flowers, leaves, actual herbs, and even resins. Use the energy of these plants in whatever way is easiest for you to access.
And if you would like to ingest any of these in your spells, always check to make sure they're safe to use, especially if you're foraging for them. Be 100% sure that the plants you have are safe to consume.
- Alder - Used in divination and scrying
- Almond - Brings regeneration, fertility, love, luck, and money
- Anemone - Use it to call in healing, hope, and renewal
- Ash - Associated with rites of passage and initiation
- Cleavers - Good for renewal and purification
- Coltsfoot - Calls in love, money, healing, and tranquility
- Crocus - Brings friendship, love, and peace
- Ground Ivy - Sacred to spring goddesses
- Lemon Verbena - Brings love and attraction and prevents bad dreams
- Mugwort - Commonly used for astral projection
- Myrrh - Used for love, fertility, and rebirth
- Primrose - Used for purification, protection, and attracting love; sacred to goddesses of spring
- Tansy - Associated with death and immortality
How to use your herbs
You're only bound by your imagination when it comes to creating Ostara spells and rituals, but I've got a few ideas to get you started. Again, don't ingest anything unless you know it's safe.
- Create a loose incense blend to call in fertility and abundance
- Decorate your altar with Ostara flowers
- Create a protective wreath from Ostara plants to hang on your front door
- Create a spring tea blend to sip throughout the season
- Craft a dream pillow with Ostara herbs. You could even make one to help you call in your own literal fertility if you're trying to get pregnant.
- Light a fire of sacred Ostara wood for the centere of your coven circle
- Create a spring awakening bath spell using Ostara herbs
Recipes to use your Ostara Herbs
I've shared 100 awesome recipes for your Ostara feast featuring edible plants and other foods associated with the Spring Equinox. Of the herbs mentioned here, almond is really the only one you'd want to eat. Here are a few recipe ideas to help you work with almond energy.
- Almond Flour Cookies
- Almond Pastry Puff
- Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Amaretto Sour
- Bakewell Tart
- Spiced Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Chocolate Mint Cupcakes
I hope you've found some inspiration to help you celebrate this beautiful sabbat of rebirth and fertility. If you're looking for more ideas, check out my post with 3 easy Ostara rituals, or listen to our Ostara episode of The Coven of Awesomeness Podcast.
How will you use these herbs for Ostara in your celebration or ritual? Let me know in the comments.
Sources
- The Heart Witch's Compendium by Anna Franklin
Follow me on Pinterest for more ways to celebrate Ostara.
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