As Ostara rolls in, we begin to see a shift in weather patterns. Warm breezes and sunny days suddenly pop up out of nowhere… but may be immediately followed by a snowstorm with subzero temperatures! We might see no clouds at all, or we might get a massive thunderstorm that floods our backyards. It's hard to keep track of what's going on outside from one day to the next. In theory, we know that Ostara means the beginning of spring, but at times, it sure doesn't look like it!
If you have children -- or even if you don't -- one good way to mark the arrival of spring is to make a home weather station. After all, if your Pagan or Wiccan spirituality marks the changing of the seasons as the Wheel of the Year turns, it certainly makes sense to monitor these changes as they take place. A home weather station is a great way to teach kids awareness of changes in weather patterns. It doesn't have to be complicated or difficult, and you can typically put one together with things that you have around the house already. A home weather station is simple, and you can use it to keep track of temperatures, wind, rain, and even barometric pressure. You'll need the following supplies:
- Outdoor thermometer
- Notebook or journal
- Clear, straight-neck glass bottle
- Clear glass jar
- Rubber bands
- Food coloring
- Water
- Plastic ruler
- Clear waterproof tape
- Glass jar with a wide bottom (a one-quart jar works well)
- Craft foam
- Ribbons or gimp string
- Paper clip
