Spring Cleaning, the Virgo Full Moon, and Letting Go Before Ostara

The Celtic Goddess Brigid

As the wheel of the year turns toward Ostara, the arrival of spring brings with it an ancient tradition of clearing out the old to welcome the new. The practice of spring cleaning is more than a modern phenomenon—it has deep roots in Celtic history. The Celts, closely attuned to the cycles of nature, prepared for seasonal transitions by purifying their homes and sacred spaces. Imbolc, the precursor to Ostara, was a time of cleansing, both physically and spiritually, honoring Brigid, the goddess of renewal and fertility. This cleansing energy carried through to the Spring Equinox, ensuring fresh beginnings for the planting season and the coming light.

With the full moon in Virgo rising on March 14 at 2:55 AM ET, we are gifted with potent energy for organization, purification, and letting go. Virgo, an earth sign ruled by Mercury, is meticulous and practical, making this lunation a powerful time to declutter not just our physical spaces but also our mental and emotional landscapes. As the moon begins to wane following its peak, its decreasing light encourages us to release what no longer serves us before Ostara’s balance and renewal arrive.

I don’t know about you, but as soon as Mother Nature hints at the Return of Light and the first buds begin to appear, I feel an intense urge to engage in Swedish Death Cleaning. But before I begin, I need to take stock.

I’ve enjoyed the retreat of winter and completed the introspective work I intended—taking stock of all things within. Now, I’m ready to take a different kind of inventory. An inventory of my stuff. No matter how committed I am to minimalism or essentialism—whatever you want to call my practice—it’s inevitable that I accumulate things. Or I stop using things. Sometimes, I outgrow them. Sometimes physically, most times technologically. Every now and then, I even buy or acquire something with the intention of using it, but then never do.

Letting go of stuff sounds easy, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not.

First, here in the U.S., we live in a consumption-based economy that makes it far easier to buy things than it is to recycle, upcycle, or sell what we no longer need. This leads to a single-use lifespan for many objects, and the value of second use is largely undervalued and underutilized. Often, though, the reason we don’t let go of things is more personal.

Gifts can be precious because of who gave them to you, which makes them harder to let go of.

Sometimes, we develop an emotional attachment to objects. Emotional connection to inanimate things is very real and valid. Having an attachment makes it hard to let go because we’re not just parting with an item—we’re releasing a memory or what it symbolizes. Gifts can be especially tricky. You hold onto the gift because of who gave it to you, the thought behind it. Letting it go can feel like rejection or abandonment of that affection. When in reality, receiving a gift means it is yours to do with as you see fit, including releasing it.

Other times, things represent ideas, hopes, and dreams. Letting go requires self-care, self-compassion, and honesty. Just today, after four years of lugging them around, I finally donated a never-worn pair of cherry blossom pink pumps meant for a work trip to Norway. I justified the outfit purchase by imagining a chance encounter with King Harald V and Queen Sonja. Four years later, those shoes remained unworn, a token of a fantasy never fulfilled. Donating them meant letting go of an unrealized dream. It also meant getting honest—nothing of that magnitude had happened in my life over the last four years. I still kept the dress, though. One fantasy at a time.

Most often, the hardest things for me to get rid of are those related to technology. Not because I want to keep them, but because of built-in obsolescence. I have a box full of electrical cords—for what, I don’t know. I bought a new iMac last year because my old one was no longer supported, but the new one doesn’t have a DVD player. Now, I’m left with a computer I can’t update and two dozen DVDs. So, today, I donated all my DVDs. Before doing so, I checked that everything I had on DVD was streamable. It seems like a solid alternative, but it also means multiple subscriptions. Feels like modern-day horse trading. We’ll see how badly I need to rewatch Harry Potter and Miss Fisher.

Another category of challenging disposals is chemicals and paint. These require special disposal methods, and it’s worth taking the time to research proper disposal sites. We don’t want these in landfills. For household cleaning, I recommend minimizing product use and opting for non-toxic alternatives like diluted white vinegar.

As we prepare for Ostara, the waning moon provides an opportunity to shed excess, lighten our loads, and create space for the new. But what do we do with all these things we no longer need?

Sustainable Ways to Declutter: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle …

1. Donate – Local shelters, community centers, and charities often accept clothes, shoes, books, and household goods. Many thrift stores support social causes, making your donations even more impactful.

2. Sell or Trade – Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Depop, and eBay offer platforms to sell gently used clothing, accessories, and tech items. Some bookstores and game stores accept trade-ins.

3. Upcycle – Turn old clothes into rags, repurpose glass jars for storage, or transform broken jewelry into new designs. Get creative!

4. Electronics Recycling – Many retailers, like Best Buy, have recycling programs for outdated gadgets. Check local e-waste collection events.

5. Household Hazardous Waste – Paints, batteries, and old cleaning products require proper disposal. Look up local collection programs to keep these out of landfills.

6. Give to Friends and Neighbors – Organize a swap meet or use platforms like Buy Nothing groups to pass along items to those who need them.

As we approach Ostara and the light continues to return, this is a sacred time to align our inner and outer worlds. By consciously letting go of what no longer serves us, we make room for new growth, transformation, and the fresh energy of spring. The full moon in Virgo will illuminate what needs to be cleared, and the waning moon will help us release it. 

Ritual of Release: Honoring What Was, Welcoming What Will Be

Ritual of Release

Best performed under the Virgo full moon on March 14th or the waning moon immediately after.

You will need:

• A white candle (for clarity and purification)

• A black candle (for release and transformation)

• A small bowl of salt (to absorb lingering energy)

• A piece of paper and pen

• A fireproof dish or cauldron

• A personal object, photo, or symbolic token (optional)

• Mugwort or lavender incense (to open intuition and bring peace)

• A cup of chamomile and lemon balm tea (for emotional healing and gentle closure)

• A crystal: Smoky Quartz or Moonstone

• Smoky Quartz helps ground and transmute energy, aiding in release.

• Moonstone nurtures emotional balance, supporting you as you transition.

Step 1: Set Your Sacred Space

Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Light your candles and incense, allowing the smoke to cleanse the space. Hold your chosen crystal in your hand and take three deep breaths, grounding yourself in the moment.

Optional: Place your tea nearby to sip throughout the ritual, letting its warmth comfort you.

Step 2: Acknowledge the Past

Hold the symbolic object (or, if none, place your hands over your heart). Reflect on what it represents—a memory, a dream that never came to pass, or an attachment you’re ready to release. Speak aloud:

"I honor the past, the dreams I wove, the love I held, the hope I carried. I give gratitude for what was, and what was not meant to be."

Take a sip of your tea, feeling its soothing warmth as you acknowledge your emotions.

Step 3: Write Your Release

On your paper, write down what you are letting go of. Be honest and detailed. If there are emotions tied to it—grief, longing, regret—acknowledge them.

At the bottom of the page, write:
"Like the waning moon, I release what no longer serves me. I make space for new light to enter."

Hold your crystal over the paper, visualizing the energy of release flowing into it.

Step 4: Burn & Transform

Place the paper in the fireproof dish and carefully burn it, watching the smoke carry your words into the universe. If safe to do so, scatter the ashes outside, returning them to the earth.

Hold your crystal in both hands and say:
"I trust the cycle of endings and beginnings. What is meant for me will find me."

Step 5: Cleanse & Close

Dip your fingers in the bowl of salt and sprinkle a little around your space. Snuff out the black candle first, saying:
"I release and let go."

Then, snuff out the white candle, saying:
"I welcome what is yet to come."

Finish your tea, feeling lighter and more at peace. Carry your crystal with you in the coming days as a reminder of the space you have created for new dreams to take root.

What will you choose to let go of before Ostara?