Ostara – Finding Balance as the Light Returns
There’s a moment in early spring where everything feels slightly in-between.
Winter hasn’t quite packed its bags yet, but the signs of spring are starting to appear if you look closely. Daffodils pushing through the grass, blossom buds preparing to burst open, birds getting busier in the hedgerows, and the evenings stretching out just that little bit longer.
That in-between moment is exactly what Ostara, the Spring Equinox, celebrates.
It’s the point in the Pagan Wheel of the Year when day and night are perfectly balanced before the light slowly begins to take over again.
And honestly… balance is something I’ve been needing a lot of lately.
Coming back from Sydney and settling back into my routine has been… an adjustment. My Yule decorations are still sitting on my altar staring at me slightly accusingly, much like winter itself lingering stubbornly through March.
I’ll pack them away soon.
Probably.
As a neurodivergent woman with fluctuating hormones, running a small creative business can sometimes feel like spinning a lot of plates. Most days I absolutely love it. Being a laser cutting artist and jeweller means I get to spend my days creating nature-inspired jewellery that celebrates the seasons, which still feels like a dream.
But March can be surprisingly intense.
There’s Mother’s Day, Easter, planning summer markets, deciding which craft fairs to apply for, dreaming up new designs, figuring out when on earth to post on Instagram… Suddenly nature is waking up and with it comes a whole flurry of possibilities.
Even with careful planning, things don’t always go smoothly. Which is why I’ve had to gently remind myself not to put all my eggs in one basket.
(Pardon the Ostara pun.)
This is exactly why I find the Pagan Wheel of the Year so grounding. It always seems to offer the reflection point I need right when I need it.
And this time of year, that reflection point is balance.
What's the difference between Ostara and Easter?
With Easter on the horizon, it can feel like the shops are already overflowing with chocolate, flowers, and gifts. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying Easter, of course - but like Halloween, its commercialisation often misses the reflective moments these festivals were originally tied to. The focus shifts from slowing down and noticing the seasonal rhythms to overconsumption… and then, for some, guilt.
Alternatively, Ostara is a pagan festival that is celebrated around the time of the Spring Equinox, falling on 20th March this year. It marks the moment when day and night stand in perfect balance, before the days begin to grow longer and the light gradually wins out over the dark.
I personally prefer to lean into Ostara’s gentle, restorative themes. Rather than giving things up as Lent encourages, and then indulging in the ‘eggs’ess which follows I try my best to use time to add in what I need to restore balance - creativity, calm and connection with the people and things that small joys that bring me energy. Ostara reminds me that life is cyclical and that small acts of care, reflection, and intention matter just as much as grand gestures.
The name comes from of the ancient Germanic goddess Ēostre, associated with spring, fertility, and new beginnings. But across many cultures this time of year has long been connected with these themes. Seeds begin to sprout, blossoms appear on branches, and the natural world slowly wakes up again.
Many of the symbols we now associate with Easter traditions actually come from much older spring celebrations. Things like eggs, hares, nests and flowers have long represented new life, creativity and the promise of growth.
Altars for Ostara often include soft greens, pinks, eggs, fresh flowers and other signs of new life emerging.
Nature reminds us that things are growing again… even if we’re still reaching for our coats in the morning.
My Own Ostara Reflections
For me, Ostara is a reminder to rebalance.
When you run your own business it’s very easy for work to quietly expand until it fills every available space. So this year I’m trying to keep things balanced between three things that keep me well:
• Alone time to rest and reset
• Creative time in the studio
• Connection with the people and communities that bring me joy
This weekend I’m planning to mark the equinox in some simple ways. I’ll be dancing with my swing dance community, celebrating my mum with a little garden centre trip, and finally resetting my altar for the new season.
When I refresh my altar I like to include small symbols that gently remind me what I want more of in my life.
A nest reminds me to tend to my space and make it somewhere peaceful and nourishing to land.
Eggs remind me that creative ideas often start quietly. They need time to incubate before they hatch into something real.
Flowers remind me to look outside myself and enjoy the simple joy of being alive.
And of course I’ll be placing my little Velveteen Rabbit on the altar too. If you know the story, you’ll know it’s a beautiful reminder that becoming real means embracing your imperfections.
Something I think many of us could be a little gentler with ourselves about.
The Ostara Collection
Last year I created my Ostara Collection, and it’s become one of my most loved seasonal collections.
It celebrates the joyful chaos of early spring with designs inspired by some of the season’s most cheerful symbols.
🌼 Daffodils
Bold, unapologetically joyful splashes of yellow that suddenly appear everywhere. Like nature has decided winter has gone on quite long enough and it’s time to turn the sunshine back on.
🌸 Blossom
Soft clouds of petals that signal the moment we might finally start shedding our winter layers. The perfect excuse to treat yourself to a little piece of spring jewellery ready for those scarf-free days.
🐇 The Velveteen Rabbit
A small tribute to one of the most tender stories about what it means to become truly real. And for those days when spring hasn’t quite warmed up yet and your scarf is still a necessity… pop the rabbit in there for a comforting little companion.
Each piece is designed to capture the optimism, playfulness and fresh energy that arrives with the return of the light.
If you’d like to carry a little piece of spring with you, you can explore the Ostara Collection and find your favourite spring flower jewellery.
Gentle Ways to Celebrate Ostara
Ostara doesn’t have to be complicated. Some of the loveliest ways to mark the Spring Equinox are very simple.
You might like to:
🌸 Bring fresh flowers into your home
🧹 Sweep away winter clutter and welcome in the light
🥚 Decorate eggs as a symbol of creativity and new beginnings
🌱 Plant seeds or herbs on a windowsill
🐇 Take a walk and notice what’s beginning to bloom
Or simply pause for a moment and appreciate that we’ve reached the balance point between winter and summer where the light is about to overtake the darkness!
What Would You Love to See This Year?
As nature starts bursting into life again, my brain is already whirring away with ideas for new designs in the studio.
But I’d love to hear from you too.
Are there flowers, symbols or seasonal ideas you’d love to see turned into Working Clasp creations this year?
Let me know in the comments below. Your suggestions have sparked some of my favourite designs over the years.
However you choose to celebrate, I hope this Spring Equinox brings you a little balance, a little inspiration, and plenty of joy in the small signs of spring appearing all around us.
🌸✨
