Ostara/Spring Equinox
The egg (and all seeds) contains 'all potential', full of promise and new life. It symbolises the rebirth of nature, the fertility of the Earth and all creation. In many traditions the egg is a symbol for the whole universe. The 'cosmic' egg contains a balance of male and female, light and dark, in the egg yolk and egg white. The golden orb of the yolk represents the Sun God enfolded by the White Goddess, perfect balance, so it is particularly appropriate to Ostara and the Spring Equinox when all is in balance for just a moment, although the underlying energy is one of growth and expansion.
A point of perfect balance on the journey through the Wheel of the Year. Night and day are of equal length and in perfect equilibrium - dark and light, masculine and feminine, inner and outer, in balance. Ostara, which falls on the equinox, is a concrescence, the many becoming one. But once we step forward into the wheel of the year, we are faced with new possibilities. The many become one and are increased by one. The year is now waxing and at this moment light defeats the dark. The natural world is coming alive, the Sun is gaining in strength and the days are becoming longer and warmer. The gentle whispered promise of Imbolc is fulfilled in the evident and abundant fertility of the Earth at Ostara. It is time for the hopes of Imbolc to become action. The energy is expansive and exuberant. It is the first day of Spring!
Franz Xaver Winterhalter
20th April, 1805 - 8th June, 1873
sprouting! Becoming! K. Reeves
Basket of Ostara eggs belonging to Kathleen Reeves
A Spring Goddess in the garden. K. Reeves
Planting Seeds
There is a natural antidepressant and It’s a Mycobacterium vaccae bacteria found in the soil that humans ingest or inhale when they spend time in nature and gardening. This bacteria stimulates the brain part responsible for producing serotonin. The most passionate gardeners will tell you that their garden is their “happy place” and that the actual physical act of gardening reduces stress and lifts mood. Mycobacterium vaccae also improves cognitive function, it has an effect on Crohn’s disease and even rheumatoid arthritis. The natural effects of these antidepressant bacteria in the soil can be felt for up to 3 weeks.
Ostara ritual in the garden. K. Reeves
“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” ~Percy Bysshe Shelley,
Step Through the Portal
Our group made a portal out of a Hula-hoop. We covered it with flowers and we have guardians holding each side of it in a horizonal position. During the ritual, as someone approaches, it is lifted to be vertical. The person steps forward and portal is lifted over their head and returned to the horizontal position. This leaves the person standing in the center of the portal as it is held by the guardians. Once the person has visualized the balance of the night and day, they nod. Then the opposite side of the portal is lifted and the person steps out into the increasing light of longer days.
as the sun shines and the earth rains,
let me let go.Let me cleanse my feet in fresh soil
and kiss the wind with my whispers.
Let the world take it all from me
so I may bloom anew.
Spring Chant
By Ivo Dominguez, Jr
Joy In The Gold Buds Of Spring. Passion In The Greening Leaf
Joy In The Rising Day. Passion Neath The Glowing Moon
Come Swelling Tides Of Spring. Fill Me With The Promise Of Green
Spring Fertility Chant
by: Jennifer Reif
Mother and father of all growing things
Unto my being your golden love bring
Bless this seed to fulfill its design
Of leaf and fruit, of blossom and vine
Come, Follow Me
by John Hilton
Part I:
Come, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow me.
Part II:
Whither shall I follow, follow, follow,
Whither shall I follow, follow thee.
Part III:
To the greenwood, to the greenwood,
To the greenwood, greenwood tree.
Ostara Ritual
Welcome & Introduction:
Ostara or the Spring Equinox, is an enchanted borderline time outside of time where a magical sea joins dark and light. From this moment on, the sun begins its journey into Summer. Its light and warmth overtake the darkness of winter until its power peaks at the Summer Solstice in June.
Ostara is a time of new fire. The light and dark are in perfect balance, but the light is growing, and the Sun is about to burst forth with new energy. It is a season of fertility ad growth.
The mythologies of our ancestors tell us many stories of deities whose lives began anew at Ostara, when they were restored to us from the dark underworld which had captured them. Tonight, we celebrate the renewal of our Mother Earth and the renewal of our own lives at this sacred spring season. As we are renewed, we thank the darkness of the underworld before we are reborn into the newness of Light and Peace.
Blessed be the dark — We welcome the light
Key actions to keep in mind during this time include openings and new beginnings. Spell work for improving communication and group interaction are recommended, as well as prosperity and abundance. Ostara is a good time to start putting those plans you made at Imbolc into action. Start working towards manifesting your plans now. The common colors associated with Ostara are lemon yellow, pale green and pink, and all
bright spring flower colors.
Blessing the Circle:
One by one, as you take the hands of the one sitting to your left, say to them: “I welcome the beauty of spring within you. Blessed be.”
Introit and Chant:
Darkness creeps away as the earth is reborn
Where one life has withered another will form
The wheel turns again to welcome in spring
Arise and receive the new gifts it shall bring
Antiphonal Chant:
Gaia rising, Gaia rising
Mother of love, Mother of life
Gaia rising, Gaia rising
Mother of all, we heed your call
Calling the Directions: All Face in the direction as it is called
EAST:
Winged One, Spirit of Air,
your children invite you here.
Come on the winds of the sunrise,
Give us your vision clear.
You are the gentle spring breezes,
You are the glory of flight.
Winged One, Spirit of Air,
Give us wisdom throughout our rite.
SOUTH:
Fierce One, Spirit of Fire,
Your children invite you here.
Come with your blazing noon passion,
Banish all sorrow and fear.
You are the flickering candle,
You are the bonfire bright.
Fierce One, Spirit of Fire,
Give us courage throughout our rite.
WEST:
Swift One, Spirit of Water,
Your children invite you here.
Come on the waves of the sunset
Bring to us joy and good cheer.
You are the well of deep comfort,
You are the crashing waves height.
Swift One, Spirit of Water,
Give us security through our rite.
NORTH
Vibrant One, Spirit of Earth,
Your children invite you here.
Come from the mountains of midnight,
You balance the Wheel of the Year.
You are the field of our pleasure,
You are the source of our might.
Vibrant One, Spirit of Earth,
Give us vitality throughout our rite.
SPIRIT
Radiant One, eternal Spirit
Your children invite you here
Come from the vastness of the Akasha
You enlighten when you appear
You are the mysterious auric glow,
You are the source of our inner light.
Radiant one, Undying spirit
Grant us serenity throughout our rite.
INVOKING THE GODDESS
Goddess of the Moon and all its blessings,
Goddess of the restless sea,
Mother, we who are your children, call you
Mother with a thousand voices
Ever waxing, ever waning,
Come if you will to our circle tonight,
Hail and welcome
INVOKING THE GOD
God of the green and shadowed forest
God of the Wild Hunt
We who are your children, call you.
Father with the voices of the beasts and trees
Ever growing, ever dying
Come if you will to our circle tonight,
Hail and welcome
SEALING THE CIRCLE
Equal is the light and dark
We with these words our circle mark
As warm sunlight greens the earth,
The Maiden dances now with Mirth
In the names of the Goddess and God of Spring
And the ever turning wheel,
By Earth and Air and Fire and Water,
This circle is cast!
We are between the worlds
May this circle be set apart for our holy purpose.
PRAYER FOR THE EARTH AT OSTARA (Part 1)
Through the dark Earth new hope is rising
In the dark of human souls all hate is melting
As gentle as the rain falling we call for Earth healing
As the spring waters rise, so does pure feeling
And all upon this land there is a clearing
Of pollution and greed – now disappearing
For the sake of peace and purification
So may it be in every nation.
PRAYER FOR THE EARTH AT OSTARA (Part 2)
We walk the earth in friendship, not in dominance.
Maiden Goddess, instill within us a warmth for all living things.
Teach us to revere the Earth and all its treasures.
Teach us the perseverance of seeds in winter
And hope for a better world
May we never forget.
Give us wisdom that what we do here will be for our good and for the good of the Earth and humanity. So mote it be.
Passing through the Portal of Spring:
On the back table, to the East is a basket of colored eggs. To the West, is another table on which you’ll find colored Post-it notes and pencils. After the poem is read, Go to the Eastern table(Table of the Goddess) and choose a colored egg, then go to the Western table( Table of the God) and write something(s) that is important for you to carry into the Bright times through the Portal of Spring.
As the Sun prepares to enter Spring, It pauses for a moment on the threshold, looking, not back toward the dark times, but forward towards Summer. Let us, too, pause for a moment on that threshold. Are there things we wish to leave behind? Are there things we wish to bring forward into the new Springtime ahead of us, where new pursuits and ideas are of the very air?. Step into the portal and firmly holding your Magical Egg, take a moment to separate these things, one from the other, then, with a nod to the Guardians, step through into the brightness and beauty of Spring, carrying with you only the strengths, treasures and intentions you bring from the winter, as well as the memory of its nurturing Darkness. .
Will the guardians of the Portal please take their places.
Poem: Ostara
The Horned God holds a lily tight,
Yet softly to his breast
He hears his lover call to him
And smells her sweet unrest
Bounding on through day and night
He moves at her behest,
And longs to fill to very brim
The chalice in her nest
The Maiden pines for her young Lord
And falls into a dream.
Then slumber turns her love into
A softly flowing stream
The Queen of Cups and King of swords
Unite as new love beams.
As lilies sprout and bud anew
And a new world softly gleam
Opening the Circle (Call and response) leader and All
Eve of work and night of pleasure
Gratitude circles, now, full measure
Forest Lord and Moonlight’s daughter
Earth and Air and Fire and Water
Bless this company as we leave,
Love to each unto their need
Blessings from our Goddess rain
Until we come to meet again
Closing
Farewell to wintery spirits and friends,
On morrow we greet the spirits of spring
Our blessings to thee as your way we
wend;
And merry we’ll meet next winter again.
As all good things must sometimes end
Go forth with the love the Goddess sends
For if your heart is always true
This circle will come back to you
Sing: The Circle is Open (Peace, Love, Joy)