Seven Goddesses to Honor on Ostara

Today, we honor and recognize the time in which light now prevails darkness. Light has been growing in strength since the winter solstice, but now it has finally overtaken the darkness. The spring is the most fertile time of the year that represents the egg of new beginnings. We celebrate youth and fertility.

Eostre

She is the West Germanic goddess of spring. In medieval times, West Germanic people used to celebrate Eostre for the entire month of April. Her name and tradition is mentioned in the writings of Venerable Bede from the 8th century. She reappeared in the 19th century in folklore, literature, and artwork.

Very little information regarding the details of her worship and how she was celebrated survives today. We only know for sure that she was celebrated during the coming of spring. Eostre is associated with hares; there is even a myth that she transformed a bird into an egg-laying hare.

Ishtar

She is the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love and war. She was originally worshipped in Sumer as “Inanna,” and then later in Babylon as “Ishtar.” She is present in most of the surviving myths of Sumer and is also compared to Venus or Aphrodite. Ishtar’s powers can aid in fertility. It has been said that the possible root of Easter traces back to Ishtar.

Isis

She is the Egyptian goddess of love, magic, motherhood, healing, and fertility. In Egypt, she was first known as “Aset,” before Greek influence changed her name to “Isis.”

Freya

She is the Norse goddess of love, war, and fertility. She is also present in Scandinavian mythology as “Freyja.” Freya travels in a chariot pulled by cats.

Persephone

Persephone is said to be the reason for spring and the changing of the seasons. When she was dragged to the Underworld by Hades, her mother Demeter grieved for her and caused a drought — bringing winter. 

Persephone was eventually brought back from the Underworld, causing nature to flourish again — the coming of spring. But before she left, Hades gave her pomegranate seeds that would keep her bound to him for half the year — thus creating the cycle of autumn and spring.

Artemis

The goddess of hunt played a huge role in fertility in Ancient Greek times. Her association with the bear makes her known as the ultimate “mother bear.” Young girls performed rituals in the cult of Artemis by reenacting themselves as bears — the metaphor of leaving their wild and primal aspect of girlhood behind in order to step into motherhood.

Her role is to assist in childbirth — which comes from the myth of her mother being transformed into a quail and giving birth through the laying of an egg. This myth also further connects the association between Easter and bird eggs.

Brigid

She is the Irish goddess of spring. She symbolizes fertility and new life. She is also connected to sunlight and fire. Brigid was worshipped in ancient Ireland for protecting mothers and newborn children. Her two sisters are known as “Brigid the healer” and “Brigid the smith” — some say Brigid is a triple-goddess and that her sisters are alternative forms of her.