I live in northern Vermont, where people generally have a good laugh at the idea of spring starting at the end of March. At this time of year, we still usually have snow on the ground and chilly temps! Still, in the past few days I’ve seen more and more blue sky. It has also been warm enough to go walking without being bundled up, and I’ve even heard birdsong. Maybe spring is on its way! And maybe it’s a good time for a card spread for Ostara.

Ostara ~ the vernal equinox

Although I’m not exactly a practicing Pagan, I do often acknowledge the holidays that mark the change of seasons. The first day of spring, the vernal equinox, is commonly known as Ostara. It is generally celebrated with symbols you might typically associate with Easter – eggs, rabbits, chicks, fresh blooms. In other words, symbols of birth, rebirth, new growth.

Ostara is a good time to do a tarot reading focusing on new ideas or new inspiration, or similarly, a reading on a new endeavor recently begun.

An equinox altar

To get in the spirit of the day, I would suggest setting up an equinox altar. Decorate it with items you love – or that, to quote Marie Kondo, “spark joy”! These could symbolize spring and the renewal of life. Beautiful light colors, hard-boiled eggs, Easter grass, spring flowers, bunnies or birds, are some good, basic ideas. It will help focus your intuition for the reading, enabling you to phrase your question and concentrate on it more effectively. Plus, it can be a fun practice.

Once you’ve set up your altar, you can simply leave it as part of your springtime decorations, or you can perform a small ritual or say a prayer at it. I tend to be a fairly casual, informal person, so I think anything will do… You could begin with something along the lines of say, “On this first day of spring I open myself to renewal. I embrace rebirth, regeneration, and positive growth in my life.” You could perform this little ritual simply by acknowledging rebirth within yourself, with a personal affirmation, rather than with a prayer or invocation.

A card spread for Ostara

For the reading itself, any deck will do. It doesn’t even have to be tarot specifically, but if you have a deck that can somewhat align with the overall theme or fit the overall feel, that would be great. You also don’t need to perform your reading right near your altar, if it is inconvenient to do so. The spread, or card layout, is sort of tall, so just make sure you have enough room. It uses ten cards and is loosely structured around the sketch of a flower growing from bulb or seed.

Ostara Spread, or Spread for Spring

Cards and their meanings in the spread:

1. Bulb or seed – what has been planted or sown, or what can be planted or sown. You may already have a specific pursuit in mind, or you may simply be opening to starting something new in your life. This card would represent either what you have already just begun, or what you might consider beginning.

2 and 3. Soil, what nourishes early growth. These two cards represent important influences you may or may not be fully aware of. They may not even feel positive, necessarily.

4. The first growth, or first stages. Here there may be vulnerability, hope, or expectation. What is vulnerable as you first start, or what you may be excitedly anticipating.

5. A first leaf, card 5 shows what is strong or secure, boldness and aspiration. This card shows from where you may be able to gather strength, optimism, or motivation to continue moving forward.

6, 7, and 8. These cards are for rain, and represent what will nourish the new, established growth. These are actions you can take or influences you can look for, to help this new life continue growing.

9. Representing the sun, card 9 shows the highest or strongest influence on this pursuit. This is what is needed most.

10. The flower, or potential outcome. This is what this new endeavor can grow into, ultimately. It does not reflect a set future outcome, but positive potential you can strive for.

Happy, blessed spring!

I have found this spread to be quite useful, and the cards that fell in each position were meaningful and clear. I hope you find it effective as well. More importantly, I hope you have a wonderful spring season, and can find beauty and renewal in your life.

Happy Ostara 😊

~ Nellie