ostara intentions.

Spring is coming.
(Some days, spring already feels like it’s here.)

I’m not Wiccan, but as part of my craft, I like to recognize the Wheel of the Year, to observe the changing of the seasons and the way it affects the everyday. This is my first year of actively observing the Sabbats, rather than simply putting them in my planner and doing a little mental acknowledgement when the day rolls around, so I thought I’d share my particular plans and activities for this Spring Equinox.

Plant Seeds
We’re moving soon, but I don’t want that to stop me from doing things I love, even if I might have to adjust the way I do them. One of the first things I plan to do on the Equinox is start planting some seeds for my herb garden. The nice thing about focusing on an herb garden this year is that it’s easier to transport than, say, a vegetable garden might be as we’re between houses. Planting seeds is a good way to acknowledge the birth and renewal aspect of the season, and I’m looking forward to getting my small selection started.

Spring Clean
This is a two-for-one activity because it’s a way to celebrate while also being a necessity as we get prepped for moving. To be fair, I spring clean every year (and not just in the spring), but the difference is that this year I plan to do so with the intention of a fresh start, a new animation of our space. If that just so happens to include an entirely new space altogether, well, that’s just taking it to the extreme. I am okay with that approach.

Go for a Walk/Forage
Lately, when Finn and I are out and about on a walk to the library or to the grocery store, I find myself peering down at the sidewalk and finding the occasional “nice stick.” That’s what I tell Dan when we get home. “I found another nice stick!” My current collection is intended for a pentagram craft, but in general they’re nice to have around as a way to bring the outdoors inside without being terribly overwhelming or in the way. The plan is to take a walk with Finn—weather permitting—to collect any stones, sticks, flowers, or feathers that I might come across and feel a connection to. They’ll go on my shelf of other witchcraft items and be saved for crafts or spells later on.

I also intend to do a little baking—hot cross buns, maybe, or a small lemon-honey cake—but for the most part, the above are my main plans for the day. I especially think they’ll be fun with Finn, because he may not be able to appreciate planting seeds, exactly, or the greater experience of spring cleaning, but he’ll get to be outside (weather permitting), which is always nice, and I think the energy flow between him, the plants, the house, and myself will be a huge positive for the both of us. I see us falling into bed with a good day behind us and a bright spring ahead.