Ostara 2026
A Season of Renewal in an Uncertain World
By: Mario-Pierre
This year, spring settles in during a period marked by tension and strain across many parts of daily life. External pressures continue to influence how we think, act, and relate to one another, often in ways that feel difficult to escape. Still, this shift in the cycle brings with it a rare balance, one that persists regardless of circumstance. It creates a brief opening, a chance to observe what is changing both around us and internally. From that space, there is an opportunity to reconnect with something steady, something that exists beyond the noise and remains constant beneath it.
Photo: Kimberly-Mai
A Tumultuous Season
The war in Iran is being felt throughout the world. The tense situation is felt deeply, and the economic strain it brings is having a direct impact on many of our lives. The cost of living continues to rise, reshaping how people make decisions and navigate their daily lives. Weather patterns are becoming less predictable, as seasons begin to blend into one another, creating a sense of instability both in nature and within ourselves. This is the inescapable reality many of us are facing, driven by forces beyond our control.
Yet, despite all of the headlines, there is a familiar shift. The sun makes its return as the days stretch forward, lending light to the later hours. People begin to move again. There is optimism in small but noticeable ways as windows open and people stay out a little longer than before.
The cycles continue their movement despite outside forces, because growth does not wait for ideal conditions, it begins when it can. Nature is not preoccupied with what is outside of its control, it simply moves forward as it always has.
There is a deeper lesson here. We can take note and continue forward ourselves, maintaining focus on personal growth despite the chaos surrounding us. Just as nature remains steady in its path, we too can remain grounded in what is within our control.
So as the world moves in unpredictable ways, take note of Ostara and learn to apply the lesson found within this season to yourselves. Connect with the roots, focus on constant change, and adopt the energies of the pure, natural forces rather than the artificial ones. As you walk outside, clear your mind of the noise forced upon you and fill it with the wisdom found within the natural world. This is how we learn, this is how we heal, because after all, nature is the greatest teacher of all.
Activities
The Gentle Practice of Sowing and Growth
The spring equinox marks a moment of balance, offering a chance to step back and reflect on our place within the natural world. Rather than seeing ourselves as separate from it, this season reminds us that we exist within the same systems, shaped by the same rhythms, and responding to forces beyond our control. In a time where so much feels unstable or disconnected, returning to something simple and tangible can help bring that awareness back into focus.
The gentle act of sowing seeds, whether indoors on a windowsill or as part of a larger garden, becomes more than just planting. By slowing down, paying attention to the soil, the water, and the conditions being created, we begin to understand our role differently. We are not forcing growth, but supporting it. Not directing outcomes, but participating in a process that unfolds on its own terms.
Taking a moment to recognize this shift is where the practice deepens. In tending to something living, we step into the role of caretakers rather than consumers, reconnecting with something that exists beyond routines, transactions, and abstraction. It is a simple act, but one that grounds us, offering a sense of purpose rooted not in control, but in presence, responsibility, and our place within something larger.
Ritual
The Anchor Stone Ritual
This ritual creates a point of stability within yourself by anchoring you to the thoughts you consciously choose to hold. Instead of being pulled in every direction by external pressure or internal noise, it brings you back to what is clear, steady, and worth your attention. Simple by design, it can be returned to easily, becoming a quiet, reliable way to reset and regain focus.
Step 1: Selection and Stillness
Choose a single stone with intention. Hold a few if needed, and select one that feels naturally stable and settled in your hand, not chosen for how it looks, but for how it sits and feels. Avoid overthinking it. The right stone will feel simple and certain. Once chosen, keep it, this becomes your constant. Then sit with it in silence and allow your mind to settle.
Step 2: Discernment
Hold the stone and begin reflecting on what is truly within your control. Not what troubles you, not what surrounds you, only what is genuinely yours to shape through your choices, your actions, and your response. Let the noise fall away until only a few clear thoughts remain, ones you can stand on.
Step 3: Anchoring
Once those thoughts have become clear, hold the stone firmly and sit with them in stillness. This is where the anchoring happens, you are choosing what stays with you. There is no need to repeat anything or force meaning. Simply hold those thoughts and let them settle.
Step 4: Return
Place the stone somewhere intentional, somewhere you can return to each day without disruption. Each time you hold it again, reconnect with those same thoughts, or refine them as your understanding deepens. Over time, the ritual becomes something you rely on, a steady point you can return to when everything else feels unsettled.
Album Review
Album: Tragic Magic
Artist: Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore
Label: InFiné
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Description:
An ambient and experimental collaboration built on layered vocals and harp, Tragic Magic moves through stillness and subtle emergence, reflecting the transitional space between winter and early spring.
Spring Doenjang Broth with First Greens
by Mario-Pierre
This isn’t your traditional Doenjang jjigae. It’s a variation built from what was on hand, shaped by the moment rather than strict rules. It’s always ok to work with what you have, adjusting as you go, and creating something that fits where you are.
The base begins with a no-sodium beef broth, which gives you full control over the salt while adding a deeper, more rounded foundation. When the doenjang is stirred in, it transforms the broth completely, bringing in that rich, fermented depth, slightly earthy, slightly nutty, with a natural savoriness that spreads through the entire pot. The garlic builds on that base, adding warmth and sharpness, while the freshly grated ginger lifts everything, cutting through the heaviness with a subtle brightness that keeps the broth from feeling too dense.
As it comes together, the balance becomes clear. The tofu softens and absorbs the flavor, acting almost like a quiet carrier for everything around it, while the bok choy and green beans introduce freshness and texture, something green and alive against the deeper tones of the broth. The result is a mix that feels both grounding and light at the same time, warm enough to hold onto the last of winter, but fresh enough to welcome what’s starting to return.
Photo: Mario-Pierre
Servings
4
Ready In:
90 minutes
Calories:
200-250
Good For:
Lunch
Ingredients
- 2L no-sodium beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2–3 tablespoons doenjang (soybean paste), to taste
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 block firm tofu, cubed
- 3 baby bok choy, chopped
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut
- 1/2 medium onion, sliced
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional, to taste)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)
- Rosemary Sprig
- Green onions
- In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 4–5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and grated ginger, stirring for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the beef broth and water. Bring to a gentle simmer, then stir in the doenjang paste until fully dissolved.
- Add the tofu, green beans, and rosemary sprig then reduce heat to a low simmer. Let the soup cook gently for 20–30 minutes, allowing the flavors to deepen and the broth to fully develop.
- Add the baby bok choy toward the end and cook for another 5 minutes, just until wilted but still vibrant.
- Add hot sauce if using, then taste and adjust if needed.
- Remove from heat and let sit briefly before serving.
- Transfer to a bowl and top with Green onions
About the Authors
Article: Coventeads Authors
Our site’s collective authors are a group of diverse individuals who bring their unique perspectives and experiences to our collective articles. From Wiccan practitioners to spiritual seekers, our authors share a common goal of bringing quality wiccan content to you.
Recipe: Mario-Pierre Gaudreau
Mario-Pierre Gaudreau is a passionate food author who brings a unique perspective to Wiccan-inspired cuisine. With a love for cooking and a deep connection to nature and spirituality.
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