Forestwitchnika - ♡ Nika The Witch ♡

masterpost of cooking, crafting, domestic, etc things i found

an introductory guide to watercolour painting

apple cookies

boss the basics - how to make bread

cherry pie pastry envelopes

cream cheese strawberry cookies

create your own hanging garden

crochet cat paw chair socks

crochet easy coin wallet

crochet strawberry coaster

cute crochet mushrooms

crochet wildflower coasters

dandelion and daisy cookies

diy chive vinegar

diy jewellery organisers

diy rose oil and rose water

easy homemade potpourri

edible glitter chocolate bars

floral bath salts

frog macarons

handmade floral gift ideas for any occasion

homemade deodorant

how to make daisy salve

how to make dandelion oil and ways to use it

how to make diy fairy wings with cellophane

how to dry herbs

how to make heart shaped pot holders

how to make an ocean diorama

how to make seashell string lights

how to make a terrarium

how to preserve flowers in resin

how to press flowers and leaves

how to sustainably tap a birch tree

how to turn wildflowers into crystallised candied sweets

lavender body oil

lavender cookies

lavender honey lemon cake

lavender lemonade

lilac honey recipe

map coasters

moon and stars baby mobile crochet pattern

painting an acrylic cherry tree forest

pinecone picture frame ornaments

rose ice-cream

sand art terrarium

strawberry and cream handbag crochet pattern

strawberry and orange personal pouch crochet pattern

strawberry butter

strawberry, elderflower, and dandelion wine

tanzhong milk bread

the art of japanese bookbinding

the free coffee that grows all around us

vintage floral nail art

white chocolate cherry fudge

wild violet vinegar

4 types of drawing clouds - acrylic painting

5 ways to grow food without a garden

8 cute and easy hairstyles from japanese fashion magazines

10 copycat cleaner recipes

10+ things to make with violets

12 homemade gifts for book lovers

13 crafts made from recycled jars

19+ flavoured butters

21 household problems you can solve with bicarbonate of soda

30 cleaning hacks

50+ dandelion recipes

TRAD WIVES BEGONE; I'M A LEFT WING LESBIAN AND DIDN'T MAKE THIS FOR YOU HOMOPHOBES AND MISOGYNISTS

🌷🐸Ostara🐰🌿

I love this time of year! Spring is one of my favorite seasons. Life if returning to the earth and my birthday is a few days after the equinox. Here’s how I’m celebrating this extra special time of year🌱🥚

Colors🌈

All pastel colors! I like to emphasize yellow for daffodils, blue and green for new life, and pink for the other spring flowers

Altar decorations🐰

🐣Animal figurines/stuffed animals lambs, chicks, deer, frog, and bunnies are great choices for this time of year. You can even make clay figurines of the animals you see around you.

🥚 painted or plastic eggs

💐Flowers/Plants/Seeds/Sprouts

🌷A vision board/representations of things you wish to get done

☀️Solar symbols

Spell themes🐸

🌱 Renewal

💫Cycles

🌳Balance

🍃Getting rid of negative thoughts, cycles and patterns

Plants 🌱

🌼Daffodils (my favorite)

🌷Tulips

🌱Crocuses

🌺Hyacinth

🌿Thyme

💜Lavender

🌳Rododendron

🌸Hellebore

Food 🥘

🍳 Eggs

🥛 Milk

🥐Baked goods

🥖Bread

🍵Peas

🥕Carrots

🍋Lemons

🥦Any in season vegetables where you live

Ways to celebrate 💐

🎨Paint eggs with friends

🌳Go for a walk, taking notice of the new spring plants and animals

🌅Wake up at sunrise and hear the birds chirping

🍰Bake and cook while putting your intentions into the food

🌱Start your garden by filling an eggshell with dirt and planting the seed in the eggshell. Say your intention while planting so it manifests as the seed grows

🖌Make Ostara themed art, doodles, and crafts

🧺Have a picnic or tea party

🎵Sing, dance, and make music

I hope everyone has a wonderful Ostara and let me know if you try any of these🐣

Above: pages from CD booklet of Waldteufel “Heimliches Deutschland” for the song “Wodans Wilde Jagd”. Lyrics originally by poet Theodor Körner written in 1813.

------------

In his “Deutsche Mythologie” Jacob Grimm describes the Wild Hunt as “The natural phenomenon of howling and wind is attributed to Wodan’s Wagon. With noise at night (…) Odin is passing by.”

Wotan would lead a group of supernatural beings, sometimes ancestors or warriors, with great noise in the night sky. The folk would not view it, facedown and hoping for no harm or to be swept away. In parts of Germany and Austria, well into the 1800’s, there were some still frightened of the Wild Hunt. The book The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil references an 1832 German newspaper which stated “our agrarian laborers (…) were so terrified by the wild hunt they would barely dare go into the fields”.

Interestingly, Frau Perchta - who’s origin can likely be traced back to pagan goddess tradition (Norns, Frigg) – has even been linked to the Wild Hunt. She lives throughout the centuries in Germanic regional folklore, some which mixed with Catholic faith. Frau Perchta became a kind of folk horror creature, a witch with a sickle, occasionally an iron nose, mostly concerned with house visits and female servants, who she would disembowel or hunt those that displease her.    

Elfenlied.

Um Mitternacht, wenn die Elfen erst schlafen,

Dann scheinet uns der Mond,

Dann leuchtet uns der Stern:

Wir wandeln und singen

Und tanzen erst gern.

Um Mitternacht, wenn die Menschen erst schlafen,

Auf Wiesen an den Erlen

Wir suchen unsern Raum,

Und wandeln und singen

Und tanzen einen Traum."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1794 - 1832.

Tips for the Cheap Witch: Rune Stones

Really simple way to get started with runestones!

Just buy some glass beads from the dollar store (where I bought them), Walmart, Michaels,

They should be fairly large, mine are a bit larger than my thumb (and I would’ve liked a little larger), and have a flat bottom.

Then take a sharpie to em and write each rune on them!

For the best look write the runes backwards so the rounded top is facing the right way

Here are all the runes mirrored!

Once you have them all sharpied put a layer of clear nail polish top coat so they don’t rub off, and there you are!

Catherine Deneuve in Donkey Skin 1970

We love to worship and revere our beautiful and magnificent Gods, but did you know historically, on a day to day basis there were other entities more routinely worshipped?

Meet the Landvættir (nature spirits),

the Landvættir (nature spirits),

the Disir (female spirits),

the light elves (ancestral spirits),

the Fylgja (spirit animal),

Trolls (spirits that assist with magic),

húsvættir (house spirits)

fjallvættir (mountain spirits), 

sjóvættir (sea spirits), 

skogvættir (forest spirits),

vatnavættir (guardians of the specific waters),

and the Dwarves (underground spirits that are experts in crafting).

So what can this tell us?

Via Telegram

𝐎𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

What is Ostara?

Ostara is a lesser sabbat that marks the official arrival of spring and takes place on the spring equinox, around March 20-21 in the Northern Hemisphere and September 20-23 in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s the moment when day and night are of equal length, symbolizing balance before the days begin to grow longer and light overcomes darkness. This is a time of renewal, fertility, and new beginnings, making it perfect for fresh starts and setting intentions for the season ahead.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

The Legend of Ostara

According to a legend, Ostara is celebrated in honor of the Germanic goddess of the dawn and spring. The story goes that she once found a bird injured by the cold of winter. To save it, she transformed it into a hare, but the hare retained its ability to lay eggs. As a sign of gratitude, the hare painted and gifted eggs to the goddess, which is why eggs remain a central symbol of Ostara today. (1883, H. Krebs)

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Goddess Eostre

Eostre, also known as Ostara, is the Germanic goddess of spring, fertility, and renewal. Her name is linked to the word "east" and the rising dawn, and some believe it means "Radiant Dawn." Eostre represents the spirit of spring and the return of fertility to the earth. Her arrival was traditionally celebrated with flowers, singing, bell ringing, and the lighting of new fires at dawn. She is often described as a beautiful young woman with flowers woven into her hair, accompanied by her consort and also her sacred animal, a hare. Sometimes he appears as a full-grown man, other times as a small rabbit cradled in her arms. Together, they bring eggs, a powerful symbol of the earth’s rebirth and fertility.

There isn’t much information about Eostre, but she is mentioned in the writings of an 8th-century monk, Venerable Bede. He recorded that the pagan Anglo-Saxons of medieval Northumbria held festivals in her honor during the month of April. Other than this, we don’t know much about how she was worshiped in ancient times. However, by the 19th century, she had become an important figure in German folklore, appearing in literature, paintings, and stories. She is often depicted as a youthful maiden adorned with flowers, symbolizing nature’s renewal after winter.

Some ancient festivals are said to have honored her with offerings of flowers, eggs, and feasts, welcoming the warmth and life she brings. Venerable Bede documented these traditions around the year 700 CE while traveling through Europe, recording pagan customs for the Catholic Church. The Church later attempted to shift the focus from Eostre to the resurrection of Jesus, but many ancient traditions remained deeply rooted. Eventually, instead of trying to erase them, the Church adapted and merged the two celebrations, renaming their spring festival “Easter” as a way to unite both traditions.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

The Symbolism of The Painted Eggs

Eggs have long been a symbol of fertility, renewal, and the emergence of new life. Many cultures have used painted eggs in their spring festivals, from ancient Egyptians and Persians to European pagans. In the context of Ostara, eggs represent the potential for new beginnings and the fertility of the land as it awakens from winter. Decorating eggs is a tradition that has continued for centuries, carrying the magic of transformation and the blessings of abundance for the coming season.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Magic Correspondences

Planets: Mars

Season: Spring

Element: Air

Time of the Day: Dawn, Early Morning

Tarot: The High Priestess, The Emperor, Sevend of Wands, Justice

Colors: All pastel colors, yellow, green, pink, blue, brown

Herbs: Sorrel, Mint, Rosemary, Ginger, Irish Moss, Tansy, Woodruff, Wood Betony, Star Anise, Catnip

Fruits: Strawberries, Tangerine, Bananas, Lemon, Grapefruit, Apple, Orange, Mulberries, Kiwi

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Carrots, Spring Onions, Garlic, Wild Nettles, Mushrooms

Crystals: Aquamarine, Jasper, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Green Aventurine, Moonstone. Amazonite

Runes: Teiwaz, Ehwaz, Berkana

Trees: Birch, Rowan, Dogwood, Ash, Alder

Godesses: Eostre, Freyja, Aphrodite, Isis, Hecate, Demeter, Gaia, Athena, Astarte, Minerva, Cybele, The Morrigan

Gods: Mars, Ares, Apollo, Pan, Cernunnos, Tyr, Odin, Osiris, Dagda, Adonis

Dragon: Grael, Sairys

Flowers: Daffodil, Hyacinth, Daisy, Tulips, Clover, Crocus, Violet, Rose, Jasmine, Lilac, Honeysuckle

Animals: Hare, Rabbit, Chicks, Lamb, Butterfly, Robin, Bee, Snake. Deer, Wolf

Magical Powers: Balance, Renewal, Action, New Beginnings, Hope, New Possibilities, Fertility, Rebirth

Symbols: Rabbits, Eggs, Flowers, Bees, Birds and Nests, Butterflies, Flower Crowns, Seeds

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Activities to do:

🐰 Decorate your space with Ostara symbols like eggs, bunnies, baby chicks etc.

🐣 Start planting seeds in your garden.

🐰 Buy or pick fresh flowers and place them in your home.

🐣 Paint some eggs. Use simple colors or add sigils, runes, symbols or anything you want to attract.

🐰 If you have a farm or a garden, it's the perfect time to buy and raise baby chicks! <3

🐣 Enjoy a festive meal to celebrate both Ostara and Spring Equinox.

🐰 Do some painting or other creative activities.

🐣 Do a deep spring cleaning, you rearrange your furniture for a fresh start.

🐰 Clean up your garden.

🐣 Leave seeds in your garden for birds.

🐰 Spend time in nature and look for the first signs of spring.

🐣 Make a list of goals to accomplish before spring ends.

🐰 Burn some incense to cleanse your space.

🐣 Make special Ostara candles with seasonal colors or herbs.

🐰 Do a tarot, rune, or pendulum reading in the morning of Ostara.

🐣 Try an Ostara guided meditation to connect with the celebration.

🐰 Honor Goddess Eostre with offerings or prayers.

🐣 Make an Ostara magickal jar

🐰 Wear clothing or jewelry in Ostara colors.

🐣 Try new recipes, especially with eggs and carrots.

🐰 Drink some tea and relax.

🐣 Read about Ostara and its traditions.

🐰 Make a flower crown for yourself or a loved one.

🐣 Try colorful makeup inspired by spring.

🐰 Dye eggs naturally or try flower prints on them.

🐣 Make friendship bracelets and share them with your loved ones.

🐰 Spend time with animals and connect with their energy.

🐣 Host an Ostara picnic or dinner with friends or family.

🐰 Plant your dream garden or buy new flower seeds.

🐣 Try aromatherapy with fresh scents (spring flowers).

🐰 Plan an egg hunt for fun with friends or family.

🐣 Connect with deities associated with Ostara and spring.

🐰 Worship your deities and honor Goddess Eostre.

🐣 Paint your nails in pastel colors.

🐰 Decorate your altar with Ostara symbols and colorful ribbons.

🐣 Try new activities, change routines, and care for yourself!

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Food and Drinks:

Anything that has eggs! omelet, deviled eggs, stuffed eggs, carrot cake, braided bread, honey pastries, lamb, ham, fish, green vegetables, asparagus, goat cheese, sheep cheese, cow milk cheese, goat milk, sheep milk, cow milk, seasonal fruits, orange juice, tangerine juice, homemade carrot juice, dishes garnished with parsley, sweet egg tarts, muffins, carrot muffins, waffles, hot cross buns, herbal tea, mint, salads garnished with edible flowers, lemon, lemon bread, violet flower cake, lavender cake, brownies, preserves from last season, apples, yogurt, mozzarella, chocolate cake.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

useful sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

gifs credit: Pinterest

tips♡🐇🌼