Ostara & the Art of Balance

Finding Your Flow with the Spring Equinox (it's this week!)

The Wheel of the Year keeps turning, and here we are - standing at the threshold of Ostara, the Spring Equinox. A moment of perfect balance, where light and dark meet as equals, just for a breath (at 9:01am GMT, Thursday 20th March), before the days stretch longer and brighter (woohoo!).

Balance is one of those things that many of us long for and are told we need to achieve more of but how often can we say we’ve mastered it? It can seem like something we should be able to hold onto, a finish line we’re meant to cross. But Ostara reminds us that balance isn’t static - it’s a momentary pause in a much bigger cycle. A brief stillness before movement resumes.

Nature doesn’t stand still and neither do we.

As we celebrate this turning point in the Wheel of the Year, we’re invited to reflect on the push and pull in our own lives. Where have we been resting? Where have we been striving? Have we tipped too far in one direction, or are we, like the season itself, shifting into something new?

Embracing the Balance Within

Equinox as a Reset: If winter is a time of deep rest and reflection and summer is a time of peak energy, then Ostara is the in-between - a gentle invitation to step forward but without rushing. You don’t have to sprint into action; you just have to start.

Acknowledging Both Stillness and Growth: Just as the earth is waking up, so are we. And like the trees, we don’t burst into full bloom overnight. We move through cycles of stillness and movement.

Releasing Perfectionism: When we try to force perfect balance, we can end up feeling rigid. I’m learning that balance is more fluid, always adjusting, always responding to what is needed in the moment. I’m starting to accept that I’ll probably spend more time in pursuit of it than having actually attained it…

Tarot for Ostara: Abundance & Balance 💐🌓

Tarot cards are such a wonderful tool for personal reflection and self-discovery, offering symbols and archetypes that can help us explore our inner landscapes and the cycles of life. I’ve been using them for many, many years to support my personal reflective practice and I also use them in client sessions for the same reason!

At Ostara, the themes of balance, growth and harmony are beautifully reflected in both The Empress and Temperance. ‘The Empress’ represents fertility, abundance and the creativity. She embodies the nurturing energy of Spring, reminding us that growth happens in its own time. She encourages us to trust in the process, whether that’s in our personal development, creativity or self-care. Everything will happen in its own time. For us impatient folk, that can be a hard one to accept but in my experience, it’s usually pretty true…(annoying, I know!)

‘The Empress’ and ‘Temperance’ Tarot Cards, taken from the Rider Waite deck

While ‘The Empress’ represents growth, nurturing and creativity, ‘Temperance’ embodies the true nature of balance. This card teaches us the importance of moderation, flow and harmony - core themes of the Spring Equinox. Just as day and night are only in perfect alignment for a brief moment at Ostara, Temperance reminds us that we too, are rarely still - adjusting and rebalancing as life shifts around us and as our own needs change.

‘Temperance’ encourages us to find balance in the middle path, blending our energies rather than swinging between extremes. This is the energy of creative balance: knowing how to weave movement and stillness, action and rest together, trusting that both are essential. In a culture that glorifies constant output and productivity, rest is often dismissed as unproductive - when in reality, it’s an integral part of the creative and productivity cycle. We need both and I’m grateful for this reminder that Ostara brings.

Reflections for Ostara

Take a moment, to experience Spring whether that’s sat outside in nature or next to an open window. Then ask yourself:

🌱 Where in my life am I craving more balance?
🌱 Where might I have tipped too far in one direction?
🌱 Where in life am I/would I like to shift into a new season?

A Creative Exercise for Balance & Transitioning into Spring 🌸🎨

An Equinox Mandala
Creating a mandala is a lovely way to reflect on balance and harmony. Mandalas, with their circular symmetry, mirror the cyclical nature of the seasons and provide space for reflection.

1. Gather your materials. You can use paper, coloured pencils, watercolours or even natural objects like leaves, petals or stones.

2. Draw or arrange a circle. This represents the wholeness of the Wheel of the Year and the balance of Ostara.

3. Divide it into two equal halves. One side can represent what you are leaving behind from ‘Winter’ (e.g. limiting beliefs, unhelpful habits, darkness), while the other can symbolise what you are welcoming with ‘Spring’ (e.g. new beginnings, courage, movement).

4. Fill each side with symbols, words and colours that feel right. There’s no right or wrong way - just an intuitive reflection of where you are in this moment. Trust what you’re being drawn to include.

5. Sit with your creation. Notice any insights that arise. Where do you see balance? Where do you feel a need for more harmony? What title would you give your piece?

My Equinox Mandala

This gentle creative activity can be a wonderful way to embody the themes of Ostara while allowing space for your own personal reflection. I’ve pinned mine to my notice board as a reminder of what I want to bring into my life this Spring 😊

There is so much wisdom in the Wheel of the Year and Ostara is our reminder that balance is a rhythm, not a destination.

Happy Ostara everyone! 🐣

Amy 🍂

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Hi I’m Amy! Seasons Change is a kind and curious place for overwhelmed, overthinkers & perfectionists to slow down, reconnect, create and get curious. Here, we weave therapeutic insight and creativity with slow and seasonal living, to build self-trust and self-compassion for a calmer, more fulfilled life!