OSTARA The Rites of Spring~

 

A Druid Ritual for "Spring's Beginning" (Spring Equinox)March 20-21 in the USA

 in Australia, approx.

September 21 Performed at Dawn 

ITEMS NEEDED: ALTAR/FEAST TABLE/CHAIRS/ENTRANCE TABLE. 

*Barbecue meat (optional/afternoon feast) or egg or seed foods (cereals/

breakfast feast), and sundries for feast. Alcohol (optional) *Bread and

milk for libations. Libation bowl. *Druid/Celtic music, playing softly

in background. *Jug of purified/filtered water and a cup for each

participant. 

* A washing bowl for feet and a washing bowl for hands. Sponge and

wash-cloth. 

*Watering can with salted water.

*Essential Oil for Anointing. 

*White/gold ribbon for head bands, one for each participant. *Broom

switch, freshly cut from grass/leafy branches/vines, entwined. Or Druid

Staff. 

*SALT in a container. Representative of EARTH/NORTH. *INCENSE in a

holder. Representative of AIR/EAST. *OIL LAMP/CANDLE. Representative of

FIRE/SOUTH. *Cup of WATER. Representative of WATER/EAST. *Pentacle or

Triskele (optional). 

*Quartz crystal (GOD/MALE/ACTIVE ASPECT/the Infinite) *White/Pearly

Seashell (GODDESS/PASSIVE ASPECT/the Integral) *2 White Candles

(God/Goddess) 

*Semi-precious gemstones (optional). 

*Leaf, and flower decorations for Altar. *Tools for Divination. Torch

for reading. *Plant , shrub or tree for planting. Spade. *Chocolate, or

painted boiled, eggs. Egg-shaped or round lollies and chocolates. (Place

these in a "cool" container beneath the Altar.) 

CREATING A SACRED SPACE: 

With the switch of entwined branches and leaves, or Druid Staff, the

Priest/Priestess and their Aide go throughout the area which is to be

used and needs to be protected from ill-will and cleansed of negative

energies. E.g., If a house and yard, go throughout the house and yard,

including the street frontage. Waving the switch up, down and around,

the Priest/Priestess recites (with intensity of feeling and power): 

Mother/Father God, 

Cleanse this place of Negative Energies. Fill it with your Life Force, 

Your Love, and Wisdom. 

Protect it and All within it from harm or negativity. As Above, So

Below, 

As Within, So Without. 

Repeating this over and over, wherever they walk or stop until the whole

area is covered. 

LAYING THE ALTAR & FEAST TABLE: 

THE ALTAR: 

*Put the Pentacle/Triskele in the Centre of the table. Lay

flowers/leaves around the Altar's edge. 

*To the Left of the Pentacle/Triskele, put the Seashell, and then a

White Candle. 

*To the Right of the Pentacle/Triskele, put the Quartz Crystal, and then

a White Candle. 

*At the East side of the Altar, put the Incense. *At the South side of

the Altar, put the Oil Lamp/Candle. *At the West side of the Altar, put

the Water. *At the North side of the Altar, put the Salt. *Put the Plant

on the Altar to the North of the Pentacle/Triskele (if it will fit). 

*Lay the libation bowl, milk, and bread to the South of the

Pentacle/Triskele. 

*Lay the Broom-switch next to the Athame when not in use, or the Druid

Staff in or beneath the Altar. 

*Lay the Torch next to the broom-switch when not in use. Divination

tools are also here. 

*Lay gemstones in a circle around the Altar. *Put the Washing

bowls/sponge/cloth/watering can beneath the Altar. Also the spade for

planting. 

THE RITUAL AREA: 

*Place a chair for each participant in a Circle around the Altar and

Feast Table. 

*Place the Feast Table South of the Altar, within the Circle. Put all

cutlery/plates/cups/food and drink on it (except for barbecue, which can

be set up ready for cooking outside the Circle). Make sure there is

plenty of room for movement within the circle of chairs around the Altar

and Feast table. 

*Place the Entrance Table just outside the Circle, and place upon it the

purified water/cups/anointing oil, and a torch for reading. (The torch

can be carried into the Circle later) 

CALLING THE ANGELS: 

Taking up the Athame/Magic Knife/Wand, the Priest stands pointing it to

the North, as the Priestess recites: 

Angels of the North, of Earth, of Taurus/Virgo/Capricorn, Of Pentacles,

and Worldly Issues, 

Of Protection, Nurturing and Growth,

Bless our Ritual, and

Attend our Circle: 

Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world, That they may be

Manifest, 

By the Laws of Right Action. 

The Priest stands pointing it to the West, (Sun-wise), as the Priestess

recites: 

Angels of the West, of Water, of Cancer/Scorpio/Pisces, Of Cups, and

Issues of the Heart and Psyche, Of Feeling and Inspiration, and

Refreshment: Bless our Ritual, and 

Attend our Circle: 

Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world, That they may be

Manifest, 

By the Laws of Right Action. 

The Priest stands pointing it the South, (Sun-wise), as the Priestess

recites: 

Angels of the South, of Fire, of Aries/Leo/Sagittarius, Of Wands, and

Issues of Creativity and Endeavour, Of Light and Brightness, and Love: 

Bless our Ritual, and

Attend our Circle: 

Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world, That they may be

Manifest, 

By the Laws of Right Action. 

The Priest stands pointing it to the East, as the Priestess recites: 

Angels of the East, of Air, of Gemini/Libra/Aquarius, Of Swords, and

Issues of Knowledge and Balance, Of Intelligence, Exploration and Union: 

Bless our Ritual, and

Attend our Circle: 

Heed our Prayers and carry them into the world, That they may be

Manifest, 

By the Laws of Right Action. 

ANOINTING & CLEANSING: 

The Priest and Priestess stand at the Entry Point to the Circle, where

the participants queue for entry. All participants have washed and are

bare-foot and bra-less (optional), with light-coloured clothes. (Men may

be bare-chested) Each participant wears a white/gold ribbon tied across

their forehead. The officiating Priest/Priestess/Aide may also have a

blue crescent marked on their forehead, or a triskele. 

The Priest recites, with intensity/power, while the Priestess pours

water into a cup for each participant. 

Drink this water to Cleanse yourself of Negative Energies, That you may

Recognise the Divinity within you, without Obstruction. 

The Priestess gives the water to the participant, who drinks it all. The

Priestess recites, with intensity/power, while the Priest anoints the

Third Eye of the participant with a smear of essential oil on his thumb. 

This Oil Anoints your Psychic Centre, so that you may Communicate with

the Divine more easily. 

The Priest recites: 

Leave the troubles of the Mortal World behind you now as you enter the

Sacred Space. 

Walk Sunwise, East to West, around the Circle until you find your seat. 

The ceremony continues until All are seated. When All are seated, the

Priest/Priestess collect the washing bowls/sponge/wash-cloth/watering

can from beneath the Altar. 

The Priestess pours water into the foot bowl in front of the first

participant (East of the Circle Entrance). She bathes the feet of the

participant as the Priest recites: 

Let this Water cleanse your Feet, so that the Energy of the Divine Earth

Flows into you more easily, filling you 

With Healing and Love. 

The Priestess carries the used bowl to behind the participant's chair

and solemnly empties it onto the ground, as the Priest recites: 

Let the Earth accept this soiled water

And restore it the Cycle of Life. 

The Priestess places the foot bowl in front of the next participant

(moving sun-wise, to the West), and places the hand bowl on the lap of

the first participant, pouring water into it, and washing the

participant's hands (wiping them dry with the squeezed sponge/cloth), as

the Priest recites: 

Let this Water cleanse your Hands, so that the Divine Energy That flows

through you from the Earth 

May flow out more easily into the World around you, Bringing Healing and

love to All you touch. 

The Priestess again carries the used bowl to behind the participant's

chair and solemnly empties it onto the ground, as the Priest recites: 

Let the Earth accept this soiled water

And restore it the Cycle of Life. 

This process continues around the Circle, until All participants are

bathed with salted water. (The Priest washes the Priestess, and the

Priestess washes the Priest). Once all are bathed, the Priest and

Priestess sit in their chairs. 

ENERGY RAISING: 

The Priest recites: 

Now we are gathered together in this Sacred Space To honour the Divinity

within us and without Us. Let us close our Eyes and meditate upon the

Joy of Life's Spirit. Let us feel it's Energies coursing around our

Circle, from East to West and back again, 

Around and around, building it's Energy within us Until it's Colours

blend into White 

And fill us with Healing and Power.

Let this Energy link us together,

Making us One, as we are naturally One.

As we have always been One,

with each other,

And with the Divine. 

All meditate. When the Priest feels ready and rested, he rises and says: 

All stand and move forward to join hands in a Circle. 

The Priestess recites, looking up at the Sky: 

O Mother/Father God,

Answers to All Mysteries, and yet

Mysteries Un-Answered,

In this Place of Power 

We have opened ourselves to your Essence. We have breathed your energies

into our bodies - Co-mingling, blending, mixing them with ours, So that

we may see the Divine in Nature, and Nature in the Divine, and 

Divinity within ourselves, and

All else. 

All repeat after the Priestess: 

Make us One with your Essence.

Make us One with your Essence.

Make us One with your Essence. 

The Priest says: 

All shut your eyes and breathe in the Essence of God. Let it flow

through you, through your heart centre, and into the centre of our

Sacred Space. 

CIRCLING: 

When the Priest is ready, he says: 

Three times around the Sacred Space 

We circle Sun-wise, holding hands and chanting: 

All hold hands and move around the Circle, Sun-wise (East to West),

three times, chanting with the Priest: 

O Gracious Divinity, 

Bathe us with Enlightenment in this Magical Time. Charge us with wonder

and joy. 

Help us to attune to the Energies adrift on The Enchanted Air. 

At the end of the Circling, the participants, except for the Priest and

Priestess and Aide, resume their seats. 

RECITALS: 

The Priest recites: 

We are come to Celebrate the Renewal of Life in our realm of the Earth

and of our own Life Force. Birds are singing and nest building, the buds

on the trees are opening their light green leaves, the colour which

signifies Spring. 

The Priestess recites: 

This is a time of Beginnings, of Action, of planting the seeds and

wishes of future gains, and of Tending the Gardens of our Life and

Habitats.   At this time, we delight in the Abundance of Nature. We

Nurture its tender new growth with Gentleness and Perseverence, as we

must nurture all beginnings in our life lest we crush their fragile

essence with Impatience. 

The Priest recites: 

Now is the Greening, when the fragrance of flowers drifts on the breeze.

This is the Beginning. Life renews itself by your Magic, Mother-Father

God, and bursts forth with the promise of Summer. 

He touches the plant and says: 

By touching this plant, I connect with its energies and, through it, all

Nature. I travel inside its leaves and stems through my Visualisation -

from the center of my consciousness out through my arm and fingers and

into the plant itself. I explore its inner nature and sense the

miraculous processes of life at work within it. 

He turns to the other participants: 

I ask each of you now to repeat my action and touch this plant with

Reverence and Wonder. And as you do so, repeat after me. 

One by one, sunwise around the Circle, the participants touch the plant

and repeat after the Priest as he says: 

I walk the earth in Friendship, not in dominance. Mother-Father God,

instill within me 

through this plant a warmth for all living things. Teach me to Revere

the Earth and all its treasures. May I never forget. 

When all except the Priest/Priestess are once again seated, the

Priestess says: 

Let us meditate upon the changing of the seasons. Feel the rousing of

energies around you in the Earth. 

The Priestess makes a milk and bread libation and says: 

Mother-Father God, I thank you for the Blessing of Life. I share with

you these libations to Acknowledge your Graciousness and to Remember

that I must not take for granted what is given but must always remember

to return some to the Cycle of Life. 

The other participants follow her example and repeat the recitation. 

The Priestess says: 

We ask the Blessings now of all our Guests, mortal and Divine, and Their

Protection, as we move from the Circle of Prayer to Partake of our Feast

meal. 

We hope they may enjoy our gathering, and find it a merry one. 

All participants then move to be seated at the Feasting table, to cook

the food (optional) and set the table to eat and drink. There is a

relaxed and happy atmosphere of joy and play. 

When the food is brought to the table, some is put aside on a plate to

honour the the Divine. (It is later buried/emptied in/on the ground. It

doesn't really matter if animals/birds eat it...) 

The Priest says: 

Accept our offering in your honour, Divine Spirit, we thank you. 

STORIES: 

When all are seated and eating, the Priest asks for stories to be aired

of places people have been in touch with Nature, of walks and trips and

tours, of sights and scenery, of gardens and lakes and oceans and

mountains, etc. to remember, what it is they want to remember about

them, anecdotes, etc. 

After the Feast, the table is cleared and the tools of Divination are

brought out, (optional), and those who wish to do so can give or receive

readings for the coming year. 

When the divinations are done, an Ostara Blessing is ad-libbed by the

Priestess. She then takes the plant from the Altar. The Priest digs a

hole to place it in. They plant it together and cover its roots with

soil. 

The Priest says: 

May you grow strong and healthy. Blessed be! 

All return to the Circle. 

The Priestess brings the Eggs to the Priest. 

The Priest says: 

O Mother-Father God, Bless these symbols of the seeds of our Manifesting

Prayers 

The Priestess hands out an Egg (chocolate or boiled) to each

participant. She says: 

O Fertile Divinity, as we hold these (Symbolic) Eggs and fill them with

our Desire for a Specific Fulfilment, 

Let your Will for Creation fertilise the Wishes we place within their

Shells. 

But let your Law of Right Action be paramount, so that We are Protected

from the manifestation of that which is not for our good or Betterment,

or the good and betterment of others. And if there is a Fertile Place, a

Rightful Place and Time in our lives for These Wishes to be Manifest,

then 

Bless these Eggs with your Love, and

In this time of your Growing Abundance 

Flow your Beneficence into us as we Consume them So that our Wishes

become Manifest in our Lives Through your Direct Purpose, Activated by

our own Deeds Or by the World as it Affects us in its Clearest and Best

Manner. 

The Priest says: 

And may we All, upon the God-given Manifestation of our Rightful Desire,

Honour your Wondrous Gift with the Gift of our own True Growth, and With

your Blessed Worship as we Acknowledge your Miracle and Magic. 

All dwell now upon your Eggs, imbuing them with one Wish you really,

really want to happen - a Wish which can do no harm to anyone, not even

yourself. And, when you feel the Egg is as full as it can be, eat it. 

All Wish into their Eggs, and eat them. 

The Priest then recites: 

We thank Mother/Father God, and the Angels, for coming among us in

Peace, and Blessing our rites. May the plant we sowed this day flourish

under your Auspices, and be a reminder of Beneficence. 

DE-CIRCLING: 

The participants join hands again in a circle and circle thrice in an

anti-Sunwise direction, (West to East), as the Priest recites, and the

participants repeat after him: 

We disperse the energies of this Circle, Returning them to the Cycle of

Life, 

To the Divine Mind,

So that our Prayers may Progress, and

Balance may be Restored. 

We send the Energies of this Circle on their Way, Into Us, into Our

Lives, and 

Into the Lives of those we care about. 

All stop and reflect as the Priestess recites: 

We thank you, Mother/Father God, again, for attending us, For all the

guidance and knowledge given us, and all the wisdom, strength and

support of your healing love toward us. We give thanks for all you have

done for us and with us, and For all you will be to us, and in us, as

our lives unfold. 

The Priest recites: 

We thank the Angels of the North, the West, the South and East, of

Earth, Water, Fire and Air, for attending us. May you heed our prayers

for Right Action manifest in our world. We thank you for your Blessings

upon us. 

DISPERSING THE ALTAR: 

The offerings for God, etc. are poured on the ground and/or buried. The

plant decorations on the Altar are dispersed on the ground, as is the

broom switch. 

All other items are put away, as well as the Altar, chairs and tables. 

REVELRIES: 

*After all ceremony is cleared and dispersed, revelries may continue for

as long as the participants wish. 

*Eggs, or round lollies, may be hidden around the house and garden and

children sent out to search for them (treasure hunt). *Hard-boiled eggs

may be rolled down-hill, with the fastest egg winning the race (eat them

afterwards); or they may be painted with pictures of things you want to

manifest in the coming year, and then buried in the Earth. *There may be

an exchange of gifts. 

*Feasting may continue all day and night. *Seeds may be sown in pots of

earth which are then carefully nurtured and the seedlings transplanted

when they are strong. *New projects may be embarked upon. 

*Walks, or rides, in or through parks, gardens, or forests may be taken

in groups or alone, possibly gathering wildflowers or seeds. *Or flowers

may be bought from a florist. 

*The theme is a celebration of life.