Pagan Holly

I must admit that Ostara snuck up on me. I wanted to go all out for the holiday that marks the important transition from winter to spring, but I just didn’t realize it was coming until it was upon me. This is partly because there’s no Google Calendar option for Pagan holidays, which tripped me up as a person who relies on Google Calendar but which actually makes sense for a few reasons: not all Pagans celebrate the eight sabbats, not everyone who does celebrates them on the exact same days, and not all astronomically significant events fall on the same dates each year. I’ve since created a personalized calendar of Pagan holidays that extends for the next five years or so. (But hey, Google, if you happen to be reading my blog: a solstice and equinox calendar would definitely be helpful!) Because the beginning of spring feels like a big deal to me and I didn’t want it to pass unremarked, I hastily hung my handmade Ostara banner, put out a bowl of colorful eggs, and got to researching. ...

The spring equinox is approaching in the northern hemisphere, but if you’re like me and live somewhere fairly far north, it’s still winter and it seems like spring might never arrive. Although I believe in appreciating each season for what it is, sometimes it’s good to remember that spring really is on its way, even when we can’t feel it in the weather just yet. Here are five signs of spring that careful observers can discover even when there’s still snow on the ground and an icy chill in the air. The days are lengthening. The sun may not be visible when gray clouds blanket the sky, but pay close attention to the cycle of day and night and you’ll notice that the days, which have actually been lengthening since the winter solstice, are starting to be noticeably longer. How much light is in the room when you open your eyes in the morning? What does the sky look like when you leave work or step outside in the evening? Paying attention to this subtle change over the coming weeks ...