An Ostara celebration in the blossoming Cottage garden with naturally dyed eggs, bread, flowers and a hare

The Door Has Been Opened

Blossom drifts across the garden path and the morning air carries the scent of damp earth, green leaves and something quietly beginning again.

Winter has been thanked for its stillness, and now the Cottage opens its door to new growth. Seeds wait upon the table, the lanterns are still glowing, and the garden has begun to wake.

Come in. There is no need to arrive with everything decided. Spring asks only that you leave a little room for possibility.

There is always room for one more at the Cottage table.

Today at the Cottage…

Ostara

The Spring Equinox

Around 19–23 March

Awakening Balance Growth New Beginnings

Pull up a Chair

Spring does not arrive in a single morning. It gathers slowly: one open flower, one warmer patch of sunlight and one newly restless bird at a time.

The spring equinox marks the point at which day and night stand in near-equal measure. From here, daylight continues to grow, encouraging leaves, nests, blossom and seedlings into the open.

Ostara is a name used by many modern Pagans for this seasonal celebration. It is connected with the old English name Eostre, recorded by the eighth-century scholar Bede in his description of an Anglo-Saxon month associated with spring. Little certain information survives about the older figure or the customs that may once have surrounded her.

The Cottage therefore holds the history gently. Ostara is celebrated here as a modern spring equinox festival, shaped by the familiar human joy of seeing light, warmth and growing life return after winter.

Beginning again does not mean erasing what came before. Spring grows from the soil winter has prepared.

The Old Ways

Spring customs vary across places and generations, yet many share the same hopeful language: eggs, seeds, young animals, blossom, water and the reopening of land and home.

Eggs and New Life

Eggs have long offered a simple image of life held safely within. At the Cottage they are coloured with plants, leaves, onion skins and other natural dyes.

Seeds on the Table

Seeds may be sorted, shared or planted as small promises for the growing season. Not every seed will flourish, but each is given the chance to begin.

Opening the Home

Doors and windows are opened whenever the weather allows, inviting fresh air into rooms closed against winter and carrying stale heaviness away.

The Hare in the Garden

Hares belong naturally to the spring landscape, becoming more visible as fields and hedgerows wake. At the Cottage they represent wild energy, instinct and movement.

A Simple Cottage Ritual

Place a small bowl of soil beside a candle and choose one seed. Hold it for a moment while thinking of something you would like to begin, encourage or welcome into your life.

Plant the seed, add a little water and place it somewhere you will notice it. Tend it without demanding that it grow faster than it is able.

“Root below and leaf above, grow with patience, light and love. What begins today may unfold in its own good time.”

The Cottage Table

The Ostara table is fresh and uncomplicated, holding early herbs, eggs, honey, bread and the first tender leaves of the season. Its colours come from the garden rather than the shop.

Herbed Spring Bread Naturally Dyed Eggs Honey Cakes Fresh Herb Butter Lemon and Flower Biscuits

The Cottage Recipe Book waits beside a basket of blossom, its Ostara pages marked with a pale green ribbon.

Open the Recipe Book

Upon the Worktable

The worktable is scattered with seed envelopes, flower petals, scraps of ribbon and colours drawn from the kitchen and garden. Ostara making is playful, hopeful and allowed to be imperfect.

Naturally Dyed Eggs Colour eggs with plant-based dyes, experimenting with leaves, onion skins, berries, spices or flowers.
Blossom Wreath Weave a small wreath from flexible twigs and decorate it with paper blossom, ribbons or safely gathered fallen flowers.
Seed-Packet Gifts Fold reused paper or old cards into small envelopes and fill them with seeds to share.

Spring is already making enough new things. Use what you have, mend what you can and let old materials begin another life.

Beyond the Cottage Door

The garden is changing quickly now. Walk slowly enough to notice what has appeared since your last visit, and listen for the growing busyness in branches, hedges and grass.

Notice without disturbing. A nest, flower or patch of frogspawn does not need to be touched in order to be treasured.

What Ostara Whispers

You are allowed to begin before you feel completely ready. The first leaf does not wait until the whole tree is certain, and the blossom does not apologise for opening slowly.

Whatever you are carrying from winter, bring it gently into the light. Keep what has strengthened you, release what has grown too heavy and leave a little room for something unexpected.

Everything begins again.

Until the Wheel turns once more.
🌸 🥚 🌱