Ostara
Ostara celebrates the spring equinox. Ostara symbolizes fertility, rebirth, and renewal.
Deep within the cold earth, seeds are beginning to sprout. In the damp fields, the livestock are preparing to give birth. In the forest, under a canopy of newly sprouted leaves, the animals of the wild ready their dens for the arrival of their young. Spring is here. https://www.learnreligions.com/hold-an-ostara-ritual-for-solitaries-2562480
This is better if it can be performed outside, but if not possible I use a box of dirt so I can offer to the soil and then I plant in the box. Best performed as the sun comes up.
Cast Circle
The alter:
Spring Flowers - daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, lilac
Candles - 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 purple
Bowl of milk
Bowl of honey
The Ritual:
Light the green candle - represents the blossoming earth
The Wheel of the Year turns once more,
and the vernal equinox arrives.
Light and dark are equal,
and the soil begins to change.
The earth awakes from its slumber,
and new life springs forth once more.
Light the yellow candle - represents the sun
The sun draws ever closer to us,
greeting the earth with its welcoming rays.
Light and dark are equal,
and the sky fills with light and warmth.
The sun warms the land beneath our feet,
and gives life to all in its path.
Light the purple candle - represents the Divine (god or goddess) for me the Morrigan
Spring has come! For this, we are thankful!
The Divine is present all around,
in the cool fall of a rain storm,
in the tiny buds of a flower,
in the down of a newborn chick,
in the fertile fields waiting to be planted,
in the sky above us,
and in the earth below us.
We thank the universe* for all it has to offer us,
and are so blessed to be alive on this day.
Welcome, life! Welcome, light! Welcome, spring!
Meditation - on the 3 flames & how I fit into this world - how do I find balance
Offering to the Earth - mix the milk & honey - pour on ground (or in box of soil)
I make this offering to the earth,
As thanks for the many blessings I have received,
And those I shall some day receive.
I concentrate on the feel of the ground beneath my feet and the sun in my face (if I have to do this inside I picture myself in a field with the sun coming up.
End
The death sleep of winter has slowly faded,
the rigor of the ground loosens,
and the earth is once more reborn.
Like Mithras and Osiris,
reborn from death,
life returns again to the land,
springing up as the snow melts away.
As the soil warms and the days grow longer,
dew forms along new sprouts of grass,
bringing life back.
Awaken! Awaken! Awaken!
And rise!
Let the earth come to life again,
and welcome the light of spring!
Close the Circle
The Ritual I do to mark Ostara.
It sounds beautiful
It is more moving if I can perform it outside, but sometimes in Western NY Ostara is covered in SNOW.
Beautiful
The spring always makes hope grow. Hope for so much.
“New beginnings, new life…”
As we come to accept this on our individual journeys to become the best we can be, perhaps one day we can collectively accept the premise to work toward our societal well being.
Peace.
It would be awesome if we could all move towards peace.
Morning Veronica...
It's a lovely Autumn morning here..all is still and we have the golden glow of morning light. Blue sky and it's just a touch frosty.
The grape vine is just starting to turn colour but the gumtrees don't change at all..they are forever green. So when I see Autumn scenes in the USA and Canada they truly do look spectacular to what we have.
Enjoy your Spring...
The ceremony, the poetry, quite beautiful.
Spring has already sprung quite early where I am, and it wasn't gradual - all of a sudden the damp dreariness departed and sun and warm temperatures arrived. Today it was a sunny mid-80s day.