Ostara Tarot Spread - Try My 12-Card Digital Reading
Last Updated: February 5, 2023
As spring approaches and therefore new ways to grow our practice, we may find we want to explore divination as part of our journey and watch it bloom. Ostara is the perfect witch’s holiday to get started on this.
What is Ostara?
Ostara is the pagan holiday of the spring equinox, celebrated to mark the transition from winter into spring. It is a time of fertility and growth both in nature and within ourselves. As a pagan holiday celebrated by some Wiccans and Neopagans, it’s different from the astrological event itself. Spring equinox is an astronomical event that marks the moment when the sun is directly overhead the equator, resulting in equal amounts of daylight and nighttime for the entire planet. Ostara is associated with new beginnings, abundance, and the arrival of spring, and may involve rituals, feasts, and celebrations. Our spring equinox, on the other hand, is simply a moment in time and is not typically associated with religious or cultural celebrations.
During Ostara, we can use divination to gain insight into our journey through life, as well as focus on what we want to create for ourselves in the coming months. Typically around March 21st in the Northern Hemisphere and September 21st in the Southern Hemisphere, this date marks the day when days start becoming longer than nights and is a time of celebration.
Why celebrate Ostara?
As the days get longer, typically so do our adventures. The sun starts to warm the earth around you, and new life is spotted every day. If you work with deities, you can honour Ostara or Eostre as a goddess of dawn, fertility, and the blooming season. Rabbits are typically symbolic of this time of year too due to the fact they produce so quickly and are great harbingers of new life. Lambs being born, flowers coming in to bloom, and the world just awakens in a way that is genuinely palpable.
Divination can be a great way to take advantage of this heightened energy, and set the groundwork for the coming months. During Ostara, you can use divination to clarify on what you want to manifest into your life in the upcoming season. Ask questions about what goals you should be setting for yourself or how best to move forward with things. I’ve got a great tarot spread below for you that’s ridiculously in-depth – I hope it gives you plenty to think about!
This is the time to start new projects and call upon your intuition to point you in the right direction. Divination can help us do this by providing guidance on our paths.
Ostara celebration and ritual ideas
Ostara is a great time to use various divination methods, from floromancy to oracle card readings. Here are some other fun Ostara celebration ideas:
- You can use this time to communicate or leave offerings for your deities, leave gifts for your ancestors, and take the time to find some balance within yourself too – just like the equinox.
- You could create an altar with items that represent the season to you, decorate your home in a similar fashion and light some candles in silent contemplation for a bath ritual (herb burning is optional!).
- You could write down your hopes and dreams for the coming months and keep this with your tarot deck until the next witch’s holiday.
- You could make an Ostara menu, and enjoy dishes featuring lots of seeds, of fresh fruit or fresh flowers, and spring vegetables, all of which celebrate the return of freshness after winter’s rest.
- A great low-energy tip is to charge flower seeds or bulbs in the moonlight then leave on display throughout your witch’s holiday if you’re celebrating so that you can see them grow. This is extra lovely if they are bee & butterfly-attracting flowers, as they are key to our environment, and have magickal correspondences for spring.
- Light up some green candles at sunrise for growing wealth & fertility, with a silent prayer of your choosing. You could always scribe sigils into the candle if you’d like?
- Create a flower artwork piece from herbs and plants that are blooming; whether it’s via photography, flower pressing or creating ink from the plants themselves – enjoy this natural element in your magick and as a fun craft you can share it with others whether in the broom closet or not.
Ostara tarot spread layout & questions to ask
Of course, I am always going to suggest a tarot reading for Ostara, whether with myself or by yourself! Here’s a really in-depth tarot spread for Ostara that touches on most of the key correspondences.
To begin, shuffle your tarot deck and draw a card for each position in the yearly tarot draw as shown in the below layout.
Finally, take some time to reflect on the questions that each card position represents and what message the tarot cards in that position might be trying to tell you. If you’re just starting to learn tarot, or if you’re still getting to know your deck, you may find my in-depth articles on the meanings of every tarot card helpful.
Tarot card #1: Germinating & Gestating
This first card is to show what is still taking time to show, and where we should show patience in our lives. It’s all divine timing, and there is always a greater plan at play that we don’t know about, but it’s nice to get a heads-up from the cards.
This can look like the 3 of Wands reversed, which would suggest that while our ideas are still taking time to manifest, we should take comfort in knowing it will happen soon as it’s working towards us.
Tarot card #2: Shed with the Rebirth
As the season rebirths its cycle once again into Spring, the old can fall away with the new, like a shell on a seed. When we are growing through a process of our own, this card is here to show what we can let go of, to make space for growth.
This may look like the 7 of Wands which could suggest that in order to achieve what we want, we should first learn to let go of any fears or doubts that are holding us back, and defend what we want this process to look like.
Tarot card #3: Habits to let decay
Spring is a time to cleanse, let go of outdated habits and embrace the new potential grounding. Think of all the composting in the world, that without it it doesn’t provide the ground with nourishment and a chance to thrive. Let it rot.
This card will show us what we should be letting go of and leave in the past in order to stay grounded and connected with this new season. It could look like the 6 of Swords reversed which would show that while it may take time to break old habits, where we might even feel stuck, we should look forward to being free of them.
Tarot card #4: Decayed habits that fertilize future
This card shows up to confirm what we have learned to let go of already, and what has already started to benefit us for the future. It’s a sign of acknowledgment of the work you’ve been doing in your own journey, and what you have grown from.
This could look like The Emperor, which would suggest that while it may have taken work to get up to this point, the power is once again in your hands and you can take charge of the future by embracing stability, structure and confidence
Tarot card #5: Seedling innocence for authentic speech
As a seedling breaks through the soil, it’s commanding your attention and needs further nourishment too. This is all purely innocent, and comes from a good well-meaning place; Belladonna seedlings don’t know the harm they can cause, they’re just starting to grow.
When it comes to preventing any further harm to you or your future, this card shows you something that can you can add to your morals and ethics list – an opportunity to grow beyond your previous limits and speak authentically about your beliefs.
This could look like the 10 of Pentacles reversed, which speaks of unexpected changes and breaking traditions that just don’t work for you.
Tarot card #6: What to cultivate
I love this card in this spread. It highlights what is blooming for you, and what you can nurture and cultivate – a reward for all the work we have been doing in our lives recently. This could look like The Star card, which suggests that you should be hopeful and optimistic about your future, as this is where your true power lies.
There may be some challenges ahead, but you will find a way to succeed if you work smart and apply the right amount of energy to areas that matter. Be gentle with yourself.
Tarot card #7: Plant now for harvesting later
This card is all about what you need to be doing right now to help the seed of your idea grow. This could look like The Sun, which suggests that we should focus on being creative and open to new possibilities. We should be confident in our ideas, nurture the parts that have started to blossom, and take care of ourselves so we can manifest our dreams in the future.
Embrace change, for it is the only thing that can truly grow us on a journey that will inevitably be successful; and be sure to cultivate that which lights you up, so you can shine your brightest light for others to see.
Tarot card #8: Signs providing hopeful growth
This card placement is for when the harvest comes in, and this could be a sign of success and achievement. This card looks like the King of Wands reversed, which shows that while you are taking control of your own destiny, be mindful not to let any power or authority take away from your growth.
Instead, use it wisely to create something beautiful that can bless others as well. Remember to stay true to yourself and be hopeful of the growth that is ahead, no matter what challenges you may face.
Tarot card #9: Peonies & bees
The magickal correspondences for peonies are fiery protection and banishment, especially for elements like anxiety which are brutal to our lives. Bees are notoriously hard workers, and they’re also the community at large too. Pull a card in this position to highlight what can be of protection to you, your hard work and your community this season.
Tarot card #10: Violets & eyelets
The magickal correspondences for violets are love, beauty and persistence. Eyelets are small holes so that you can pass through a cord (a very useful witchy item) to bind things together. Pull a card in this position to highlight what elements of beauty you can persistently cling to this season, even when times aren’t perfect.
Tarot card #11: Tulips & new ships
A gorgeous global addition, tulips are associated with so many correspondences. My favourite are the yellow ones for friendship and new ships represent not only new journeys, but something to get excited about. This card will highlight for you relationships to pay attention to, and how to bloom more excitement there.
Tarot card #12: Daffodils & honest thrills
Also known as narcissus, daffodils are associated with rebirth and renewal, to be able to start anew. Honest thrills is what I think of when I see daffodils; big attractions that can bring you back to life in a way. Pull this card to highlight what honest things you need to pay attention to and do for your own joy and pleasure.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this tarot spread for Ostara – be sure to nurture the growth and magick in your life this season! Bask in the sun and be honest about what comes naturally and brings you joy. Have a bitchin’ Ostara! 🌿🔮✨
Try this 12-card Ostara tarot reading with the below interactive layout
What to do after this tarot reading
After you’ve finished a tarot reading, there are a few things you can do in order to reflect on the experience and integrate the insights you gained. Here are some suggestions:
Use a tarot journal to record your findings
Jotting down your thoughts in a tarot journal after reading can be helpful in a few ways. First, it can help you remember the details of your reading later on, such as how you felt at the moment and perhaps your first impressions of what a card meant. Second, it can provide a space for you to process the information you’ve received and explore what it means for you. Third, it can be a way to keep track of your progress over time as you revisit your journal entries and reflect on your journey.
Take a picture of the cards
If you want to remember the position of the cards and what they meant in relation to your questions, take a picture of the spread. This will help you look back on the reading later and review the insights you received. Sometimes, clarity is better acquired after you’ve stepped back from the situation for a little while and had some time to process it.
Some people create Instagram accounts or Pinterest accounts specifically for this, and if you use any of our spreads please tag us @backyardbanshee if you feel comfortable!
Take some time to meditate and reflect
Immediately after a tarot reading, it’s important to take some time to sit with the insights you’ve received. This can be done through proper meditation, visualisation, or simply taking some time to reflect on the reading. It can be helpful to think about what the messages from the cards mean for your life and how you can apply the advice that was given to you. That time can also be used to replenish your energy level and cleanse your tarot deck.
Get a second opinion from a close friend
If you have close friends who also happen to be tarot practitioners, it can be helpful to get their take on your reading. They may be able to offer additional insights or perspectives that you hadn’t considered before. This is also a good way to get feedback on your own interpretation of the cards.
Ensure to ask permission before just blindly sending your cards across in a message and saying “what does this mean to you?” as your friends may not have the energy or have a boundary with this sort of thing – manners cost nothing, and this is especially to note if they are a professional tarot reader who normally gets paid to interpret readings.
Layer your reading with more divination
Why not try adding astrology dice or a pendulum reading to your tarot session? Your intuition will guide you on how to best use these tools, but they can be helpful in providing more clarity around the messages from your tarot reading. We have lots of methods for you to utilise here on the website.
I have been passionate about reading divination for more than 15 years. This gives me a unique perspective when it comes to creating fun, supportive and creative tarot spreads. I hope they help you find the clarity and insight you are looking for.
More tarot spreads for you to try ✨
This page is part of our collection of free tarot spread layouts. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.
