Leslie’s Ostara Ritual
(March 2006)

Preparation:  The altar is set up with a pale pink altar cloth covering it.  A blue candle represents the God and a pink candle represents the Goddess. 

Flowers—daffodils are on the altar along with clear quartz crystal, rose quartz, aquamarine and moonstones

Cakes and ale, in the form of honeycakes and white grape juice are on the altar with the bell, athame, chalice and salt.  Two cauldrons are present.  Chocolate bunnies and Peeps are also present to represent the symbols of Ostara

Quarters are set up with the following candles in each:  Yellow for East and jasmine incense, Red for South, Blue for West and Green for North.  The element of Water is in the West. 

HP

Let it be known that the circle is about to be cast.  Let none be present who is not here of their own free will.  Take a few minutes to ground and center before we begin.

HPS and HP anoint each other, then pass the oil around the circle.

The HPS rings the bell 3 times around the circle beginning and ending in the North.

(N-E-S-W-N-E-S-W-N)

The HP acts as assistant for presentation of water, salt, and Great Rite

The HPS holds up and presents the water to each quarter and all present and says:

Behold water, giver of life

She then takes the chalice and pours the water into it and places it on the altar.

Taking the salt, and presenting it in the same way, she says:

Behold salt, preserver of life
 

The salt is added to the water in the chalice, and the HPS with her athame entering the chalice from above, says:

As the Lord is to the Lady, so the athame is to the cup.  May the salt and water mix and be purified for our purposes tonight.

The HPS takes the water and starting in the East, sprinkles it around the edges of the circle.

The HPS takes the incense and starting in the East, smudges the edges of the circle.

The HPS or designated participants call the quarters (Choose 4 members from the circle to call quarters and give them their parts written on scrolls): 

The designated participants call the quarters:

East

Spirits of air and communication

We welcome your presence in the East

Bring the freshness and promise of the sky at dawn to this circle.

Light candle and say:

Hail and Welcome

All respond with:

Hail and Welcome

South

Spirits of fire and passion

We welcome your presence in the South

Bring the fiery heat of the desert at noon to this circle

Light candle and say:

Hail and Welcome

All respond with:

Hail and Welcome
 

West

Spirits of water and life

We welcome your presence in the West

Bring the afternoon’s tidal presence to this circle.

Light candle and say:

Hail and Welcome

All respond with:

Hail and Welcome

North

Spirits of earth and nurturing

We welcome your presence in the North

Bring the stillness of the forest at night to this circle

Light candle and say:

Hail and Welcome

All respond with:

Hail and Welcome

HPS

God

Great God of Strength, New Beginnings, and Fertility, be with us now

The young god grows towards manhood, and brings with him warmth and love

We welcome you:

Cernunnos, Herne, Pan, the Great Horned God, and the Lord of the Forests

We give honor to you, and ask for your blessing.

HPS lights god candle and says:

Hail and Welcome

All respond with:

Hail and Welcome
 

HP

Goddess

Lady, you have freed yourself from the icy prison of winter. Now as life returns to the Earth the fragrance of flowers drifts on the breeze.  This is the beginning. Life renews itself by your magick

We welcome you:

Persephone, Eostre, Aphrodite, Gaia, Isis, Ishtar,

We give honor to you, and ask your blessing.

HP lights goddess candle and says:

Hail and Welcome

All respond with:

Hail and Welcome

Beginning in the North, the HPS faces each quarter and says:

By the Earth that is Her body (turn to East)

By the Air that is His breath (turn to South)

By the Fire of His loins (turn to West)

By the Waters of her womb (turn to North)

The circle is cast. 

We have created a time out of space and a space out of time.  May you be at peace with your deities and yourself.
 

The Charge of the Goddess

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, she who of old was also called Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Diana, Aphrodite, Isis, Brid, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, and by many other names.

Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, then shall you assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me who am queen of all witches.  There you shall assemble; you who are fain to learn all sorcery yet have not won its deepest secrets.  To you will I teach things that are yet unknown.  You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you are really free, you may be naked in your rites.  You shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love all in my praise.  For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine also is joy on earth.  My law is love unto all beings.  Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it.  Let nothing stop you or turn you aside.  For mine is the secret door which opens upon the land of youth, and mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the holy grail of immortality.  I am the gracious goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. 

Upon earth I give knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death I give peace, and freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before.  Nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the earth.

Hear the words of the Star Goddess in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of Heaven and whose body encircles the universe.

I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire in the hearts of men call unto your soul.  Arise, and come unto me, for I am the soul of nature who gives life to the universe.  From me all things proceed and unto me all things must return; and before my face, beloved of gods and men, let your innermost self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.  

Let my worship be within the heart that rejoices, for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.  And therefore, let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

Any you who seek to know me, know your seeking and yearning shall avail you not unless you know the mystery:  if that which you seek you find not within yourself, you shall never find it without.  For behold, I have been with you since the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

The Charge of the God

I am the Great Spirit who taught you not to run and hide but, to live in the light.  I give of myself freely asking that you so the same.  Mine is the promise of renewed life and joy; the promise of strength without oppression:  sexuality without shame.

I am the Stag of the Hunt, the Fertile Sun, the Spirit of the Wild, the Spark planted deep within Her womb. Embrace me and you within yourself all these things and know that within Me is found the desire which leads to the Goddess.
Ostara stuff

The wheel turns and the days grow longer.  We have reached the balance between darkness and light, and from here on, journey towards the longest day.  Winter ends and spring is here, with the promise of the fertility of the Earth and of new ideas.  It is time of new beginnings--to plant the garden with the seeds started at Imbolc, and to put new plans into action. 

All cultures living in temperate (or winter dominated) climates celebrate the coming of spring with major rituals and festivals.  We gather to celebrate as our ancestors did.

Eostre or Ostara is the Germanic /Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring/fertility.  This is also where we get the word estrogen. 

Symbols used to represent Ostara include the egg (for fertility and reproduction) and the hare (for rebirth and resurrection).  Rabbits were sacred to her, especially white rabbits, and she was believed to take the form of a rabbit.

Ostara is a time of new beginnings and to free yourself from anything in the past that is holding you back.

HPS

In the tradition that I studied, for a Sabbat we shall offer our petitions bless the cakes and ale, thank the Lord and Lady, and ask them for help as we need it.

(Give all participants 2 pieces of parchment (onionskin typing paper) to write petitions for something they would like to gain, and something they would like to lose.  Fire up the cauldrons and identify which cauldron is which)

Place your petitions in the caldron for the things you desire the Mother to assist you with obtaining.

Place your petitions in the caldron for the things you desire the Father to assist you with dismissing.  So mote it be.

(Bless the cakes and ale and pass them around first for thanks then for assistance)

Lady we thank you for your gifts to us of the grain of the earth and the fruit of the vine.

(Point the athame at the chocolate bunnies, make the sign of the pentagram, and see the energy flow through the blade)

In the name of the Goddess of Spring, and the ever-returning God of the Sun; by the powers of the four elements -- earth, air, fire, and water; I do consecrate these rabbits, symbols of fertility.  Let those who seek this life find it and consume it, for all life feeds on life.

(Pass around chocolate bunnies)
 

The HP and HPS now close the circle beginning with the Lord and the Lady

HPS

Cernunnos, Herne, Pan, the Great Horned God, and the Lord of the Forests

Thank you for being here today

Go if you must, stay if you will

HPS extinguishes candle

Hail and farewell

All respond with:

Hail and Farewell

HP

Persephone, Eostre, Aphrodite, Gaia, Isis, Ishtar

Thank you for being here today

Go if you must, stay if you will

HP extinguishes candle

Hail and farewell

All respond with:

Hail and Farewell

People selected to call quarters then close the quarters, beginning in the North and then each quarter in turn, moving widdershins.

All facing North

Spirits of earth

Thank you for your presence and protection in the North

Go if you must, stay if you will.

Extinguish candle

Hail and farewell

All respond with:

Hail and Farewell
 

All facing West

Spirits of water

Thank you for your presence and protection in the West

Go if you must, stay if you will 

Extinguish candle 

Hail and farewell 

All respond with: 

Hail and Farewell

All facing South

Spirits of fire

Thank you for your presence and protection in the South

Go if you must, stay if you will

Extinguish candle

Hail and farewell

All respond with:

Hail and Farewell

All facing East

Spirits of air

Thank you for your presence and protection in the East

Go if you must, stay if you will

Extinguish candle

Hail and farewell

All respond with:

Hail and Farewell

(Circle up)

All:  The circle is open, but never broken.

Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.