Spring is almost here! The time is coming when flowers are blooming, baby animals are exploring the world with their mommies, the days are longer, the air is fresh, and it’s time to think about planting some seeds. This is the celebrated return of Spring, or Ostara, as it is celebrated in the Pagan community.

Many folks rush to the farm supply store to buy all kinds of seeds for their flower beds and gardens. Some start buying flowers that have already been grown and placed in those cute decorative hanging baskets—you know the kind that you don’t have to do anything but water as needed and provide the right amount of light.

For some of us, those are the only ones that will survive (if they are lucky)! Gardening is not for those afraid of earth worms and getting dirty; it’s a long commitment of weeding, watering, pruning, fertilizing, and playing in dirt almost every day. It involves sweat and sometimes tears, and it’s not so easy on those pretty manicures either.

Ostara is the time to choose which seeds we will begin to plant and nurture for ourselves and our families, our careers, and our future. My family is my greatest treasure. They are my past, present, and future. I see opportunities to do some things differently by improving upon current strategies or by culling ideas and systems that just simply do not work for us.

As I glance into the year ahead, I see that I will need more patience, a healthier body, and more energy. So I will make sure I set aside time each day to meditate and do things such as yoga and go for walks. I will eat healthier. I will practice better listening skills and work on my communication skills.

It won’t be easy. That chocolate cake calls to me in the middle of the night, and it’s so much easier to just sleep in each morning than loading the baby in her stroller and walking a couple of miles. Just like tending a garden of flowers or veggies, I have to work diligently and commit myself to all that is necessary to grow them into a bountiful harvest this fall.

I will do these things and I will lift my heart to The God and The Goddess for help because it’s really nice to know we are not alone on our journeys in this life.

Symbolically, I will paint these ideas, wishes, dreams, goals, etc. on eggs and then plant them in places that are special to me such as gardens, forests, and plants. This simple gesture of returning a symbol of life and fertility (the egg) back to The Goddess (Mother Nature) is one way we celebrate Ostara. In fact, it is the origins for the Easter egg, which is one of the many things two separate beliefs/cultures have in common, and with their own twists.

In fact, if we all look around us we can find many things we share in different ways. What a blessing it is to find ways to honor the Divine Light that guides us all by celebrating the similarities and working past the differences.

What seeds are you sowing in your own life? And how do they make you a better you? Will they require much tending and care as they grow or do they prefer to be left alone to do their own thing like vines that climb and grow in seemingly endless directions?

I like to believe we have the opportunity every day to sow seeds of light and love through acts of kindness, generosity, being compassionate and understanding, practicing tolerance, and by doing charitable acts.

Paganism is a stranger to many of you reading this column. For others it is your faith, your strong hold, and your life. I thank you all for allowing me to share but one glimpse into the celebration of Ostara and The Goddess. There are many traditions and customs observed this time of year and I am honored to have been able to share mine with you.

Blessed Be,
Shanti

Rev. Shanti (T.S. Lineberry) is the owner of Chrysalis in downtown Radford. A student of metaphysics and pagan theology for more than 10 years and a practitioner of pagan paths since childhood, Shanti was born and raised in the NRV. She is the current High Priestess for New River Valley Pagans Church and School, which currently meets in Radford. She is the mother of three daughters and life partner with Fred Roller. She welcomes any and all inquiries and comments regarding paganism via e-mail.