OSTARA IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

Ed. note: “Uncoven” is, to the best of our knowledge, a word coined by the excellent witches of the Hex Rated Podcast, and we use it in the same spirit: a group of witches who work and learn together, but do not adhere to any specific hierarchy or traditional coven rules. Except the ones we like, obvs.

So…how do you celebrate our beautiful pagan holidays in the age of Social Distancing and mandatory lockdowns? With a dash of technology, a smidge of humor, a chalice of wine, willing participants, and a lot of laughter! This IS the Decade of the Witch after all.  

I live in Seattle, the epicenter of Covid-19 outbreak in the United States. I had resigned myself to a solitary honoring of Ostara with my familiar, @tiberiusbizdog. Then came the text that changed it all: 

“Hey witches! The equinox is Thursday. Who wants to hop on Zoom and do some light spell casting? Or, you know, we could hang out, show off our latest deck of cards and drink wine.” 

Three of us answered the call and our Long-Distance Uncoven of four was born. We had planned to gather for an hour, which rolled into two without notice. We shared our personal situations, we celebrated successes, vented frustrations, and engaged in a bit of magic to help guide us. It was a wonderful experience and a much-needed distraction from the heaviness of the world. 

 We wanted to share how we approached our Uncoven activities in hopes of inspiring others. The most important tidbit to remember: hold all of this lightly! We created magic by being together, sharing ourselves openly, and listening with grace. It was simple. Easy. And most importantly, Fun. Whether you’ve bought out an entire Wiccan supply store or are lighting a left-over birthday candle jammed into an upside-down egg carton, it doesn’t matter. What matters is your intention. 

 We each prepared our own sacred space in line with the holiday. Our altars represented each of us and our interpretation of the meaning of Ostara. For mine, I had a wooden egg placed in the center surrounded by crystals of rose quartz, opal, and amethyst. Pink, green, and yellow candles lit the altar while a gorgeous bronze statue of Pan appeared to be dancing in their light. Overlooking it all was a 12-inch bronze statue of Hecate, staff in hand, surrounded by two hounds, skulls, and pumpkins. Spring flowers including tulips, irises, and alstroemeria framed either side of the alter. 

 After a long period of just being with each other and sharing stories, we held a reading using the Sacred Rebels Oracle: Guidance for Living a Unique & Authentic Life deck and guidebook by Alana Fairchild. Each person picked a random number represented on the cards, the card was displayed, and the description read. It felt powerful to witness each person receive their wisdom and internalize how it applied to their individual situations. 

 We closed our Uncoven with a resounding desire to meet again for the next high holiday. I walked away with two new friends, an award-winning recipe for a new savory Bacardi Rum drink, and deep gratitude knowing I have a group to celebrate Beltane with come May. Blessed be.