WELCOME!
Ostara: We Are Water
Come in, come in! I’m so happy you’re here. The season of Ostara, also known as the Vernal Equinox, marks the first day of spring and the halfway point between the solstices. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, Ostara falls on Saturday, March 20th. This ancient holiday honors resurrection, renewal, and fresh, warm energy as the sun crosses the celestial equator, moving from south to north. I don’t want to make any of the other holidays feel bad, but I have to admit that the equinoxes are my favorite on the wheel of the year!
All Creative Alchemy Cycle bundles are self-guided. I’ve created this landing page as a home base for us as we journey through the season of Ostara. We’ll also meet in person on the fourth Sunday of each month (scroll down for links.) Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
Table of Contents
PART ONE: DIGITAL CONTENT
Story of the Season: a Homily for Ostara (audio & PDF)
The Great Wide Open (video)
In the Studio (video)
Collaborative Alchemy Podcast: Episode 5 with Anya Hankin (audio)
Fuel for the Fire: Writing prompts, links, reading lists, Spotify playlists, etc.
Further Connection: Monthly Community Zoom Call / Recording (links)
PART TWO: FOR FULL SUBSCRIBERS
CAC Network: Online communication platform
Altar Box: Description of your seasonal care package
NOTE of ENGAGEMENT:
Please do not share the link to this page with others. This content was created just for you. Thank you for your respect and understanding.
PART ONE: Digital Content
Story of the Season
This is a great place to begin. For each of the eight bundles that make up the Creative Alchemy Cycle, I write a seasonal homily to set the container for the bundle. These stories are my way of practicing alongside you and using the creative alchemy tools to create my own work. You can download a copy using the button below and/or listen to the audio.
The Great Wide Open
My creative process always begins outside. This is where I weave the outer landscape with the inner one. Eastern Oregon is in a rapid state of thaw and animals that have been hibernating are returning to the valley. We’ll begin our journey creekside with our sketchbook and talk about the legend of Cailleach Buí, an Irish Witch. Then we’ll go searching for eagles and visit a flock of swans taking a momentary rest at a local bird sanctuary.
In the Studio
After viewing The Great Wide Open, let’s head into my studio. This is where I metabolize, incubate, and process all the elements which make up my current state of creative alchemy. This season, we’ll discuss the why and how of a sketchbook practice. We’ll also explore the dynamic themes of this watery season through sacred natural objects and enjoy the art of deep noticing by sketching feathers, leaves, botanicals, and more.
Collaborative Alchemy Podcast
Collaborative Alchemy is a series of conversations with artists, thought leaders, activists, farmers, educators, creatives, and other polymaths where we tell our stories, expand our histories, and hold space for new ways of being. My guest this season is facilitator, leadership mentor, and creative catalyst Anya Hankin. In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about creating purpose-driven work, showing up in our imperfect fullness, and what it means to truly practice reciprocity.
Fuel For The Fire
Writing prompts and further exploration, links, reading lists, spotify playlists, etc. Click on the images or buttons below to view, visit, or download.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Invitations for Further Connection
We’ve changed the format for our CREATIVE ALCHEMY COMMUNITY CALLS. This community choose to meet with more frequency so calls will now occur consistently on the fourth Sunday of each month from 10:00—11:15am PST. These gatherings are recorded and posted right here the day after. Sarah will send a reminder email the week before and the day before each gathering.
MARCH Connection Call recorded on March 28th, 2021
APRIL Connection Call recorded on April 25, 2021
PART TWO: For Full Subscribers
The Ostara Community Network & Gallery
The community network & gallery is a communication platform just for us! It’s like Facebook but WAY better: no advertisements, completely private, and built collectively. As a member of the Cycle you received an invitation to join our Creative Alchemy Cycle (CAC) online network via Mighty Networks. The button below will take you to the network.
About the Ostara Care Package
Your care-packages will be arriving between March 13th and 17th. These love-filled packages contain natural objects, local Eastern Oregon flavor, and art ephemera to inspire your journey, and adorn your seasonal altars.
CONTENTS of the OSTARA PACKAGE:
✦ Welcome Letter and poem by Ross Gay
✦ Packet of Giant Mixed Zinnia seeds
✦ River Rock from Eagle Creek
✦ Organic Walnuts from Eagle Creek Orchard
✦ Botanical painting from Sarah’s sketchbook
✦ Large tea light for your altar
ABOUT the RIVER ROCK:
These river-worn stones have spent years and years, tumbled by natural moving water. All their rough edges have been smoothed over by the miraculous motion of the earth. They have endured, just like you.
Source: These stones are from Eagle Creek, the waterway that cuts through the center of Eagle Valley in Eastern Oregon. They are the perfect size for altar displays. I also love to slip them in my pocket as a handheld “worry stone”, rubbed between the fingers to reduce stress.
ABOUT the WALNUTS:
Walnuts are the oldest tree food known to man, dating back to 7,000 B.C. These are delicious for eating if you feel like cracking one open for a snack, but I’m using them this season as “eggs” on my Ostara altar.
I love walnuts because they are actually seeds: a symbol of intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration. The walnut is the perfect altar object, representing clarity and focus, gathering of energy, and beginning new projects. They are also synonymous with intellect and mental aptitude – even the nuts resemble the brain!
Source: These are from Eagle Creek Orchard, a local organic orchard where I work on a thinning and harvest crew (May-October).
ABOUT the ZINNIA SEEDS:
These are a favorite flower of mine and I wanted to share them with you. These are Giant Mixed Zinnias and they’ll bloom summer through fall. They are annuals and are what my Grandma Orma called “cut-and-come-again” flowers. The more you cut for bouquets, the more flowers you’ll get.
Sowing: Plant outdoors after the weather is warm and danger of frost has passed. Cover seeds with 1/8 inch of soil. After they come up, you can thin them if you like to 10 inches apart, but I just let mine be in a big bunch.
Germination: Approximately on week at 70 degree temps. Remember to keep the soil moderately moist during the germination period. Zinnias thrive in hot summer weather. And they love a deep watering.
Gratitude.
“Be like water, my friend.
You shall find a way around, or through it.
When nothing within us stays rigid,
We decide the shape we're in.
Empty your mind.
Be shapeless, formless; like water.
It can flow or it can crash.
And we design the waves we give.”
— Beautiful Chorus
(dedicated to Bruce lee)