Ostara to-go Ritual

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Mar 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	07 Mar 2002
The altar is covered in a white and green cloth. Upon it are baskets of flowers, and eggs which have been painted by the paticipants. There is a large bowl of soil, an athame, wand, chalice, pentacle, bowl of water, bowl of salt, and on either side of the altar stands a representation of the Goddess and the God. The four candles are red, yellow, blue, and green, each one in is corner (Red in South, Blue in West, Green in North, and Yellow in East.) Burning on the altar is jasmine incense. *Kiama lights the candles. She then takes up the athame, and puts its tip in the bowl of water.* Great Ones, bless this creature of Water to your service. Bless it, drive away all impurities, That we may use it in our rite! *Puts tip of athame in salt* Great ones, bless this creature of Earth to your service, Bless it, drive away all impurities, That we may use it in our rite! *Mixes the water and salt together. She takes the athame, and walks clockwise around the edges of the Circle. She does this thrice, and as she does it, chants* Thrice around, The Circle's bound, Evil sink into the ground! Nought but love shall enter in, Nought but love emerge from within. Charge this by thy Powers, Great Ones! *Returns athame to altar. Takes up salt-water and walks the boundaries of the Circle, sprinkling the salt-water.* I bless and seal this Circle, that it be a place of Light, Love, Peace; a haven against all chaos, holding us between the Worlds. We thank thee, Great Ones, for the power you give our rites tonight! *moves to altar, raises athame* This is a time that is not a time, in a place that is not a place, on a day that is not a day. We stand at the threshold between the worlds, before the veil of the Mysteries. May the Ancients help and protect us on our journey! [calling of the quarters is next. you can start with either north or east]

arizonagirl	07 Mar 2002
Holding wand aloft in right hand, arizonagirl states: "Oh Spirit of the North, Elemental Earth, attend this rite and guard this circle. As I have body and strength, we are kith and kin." (east is next)

MeeWah	08 Mar 2002
[facing east; bowing to acknowledge same. wand is held aloft to trace air-invoking pentagram. o spirit of the east, ancient one of air, we call ye to attend this circle & bid ye welcome! charge this by thy powers; bless our rites in this time set apart between now & eternity! [south is next.]

Kiama	09 Mar 2002
*Kiama faces South, andeadin reverence. Then she raises head again.* Oh, Spirit of South, Element of Fire, Guardian of the powers of sensation, and power, We call upon you to attend, And watch over this Circle, Lending your Powers to our rite! [west is next]

arizonagirl	11 Mar 2002
With wand raised, ArizonaGirl faces West and states: "O Spirit of the West, Elemental Water, attend this rite and guard this circle. As I feel and have a beating heart, we are kith and kin."

Kiama	11 Mar 2002
Blessing chant: "May the power of the Divine Oneness, Who is known to many, In many different forms, Bless this Circle. May the form of the Goddess protect us and nurture us during our rite, So that we may grow. May the form of the God guide us with His light, Laugh with us, lead us in the dance, So that we may live. May the powers of the elements bless us, And protect our Circle this night!" [invocation of the goddess is next]

MeeWah	11 Mar 2002
[standing with feet apart & arms upraised, wand held aloft in right hand] O Great Goddess, Lady of the Moon, Earth Mother to us all: We thy children Call upon Thee This Vernal Equinox! Grace us with Thy presence; Gift us with Thy fertility & joy, Grant us Thy perfect love & harmony! We seek to honor thee. Heed our call & come to us. Hail, Mother Goddess! All hail to Thee! [invocation of the god is next.]

arizonagirl	13 Mar 2002
(Standing feet together, arms crossed over chest, holding athame in right hand) Oh Lord of sun and mountain steep, Lord of desert and valley deep, Lord of laughter, Lord of beasts Lord of passion, Lord of feasts, Bless this circle with your presence.

Kiama	13 Mar 2002
[statement of purpose] Today, we celebrate the balance of light and dark, Male and female, Yin and Yang. The Vernal Equinox is one of only two times in the year when the days are as long as the nights. After today, the nights begin to shorten, and we welcome the growth of the Sun. At this hour, the Goddess eagerly awaits the return of her lover, the God, who is about to emerge from the Underworld, renewed, refreshed, and ready to begin anew. With His emergence, He brings the first flowers of Spring, and the refreshng rains. Now is the time to plant the seeds of the future: To sow our dreams in fertile soil, and care for them so that they may grow, bloom, and ripen... As the Goddess and God grow, so will the Earth and our dreams. [workings are next, including any individual prayers or spells. all participants should have their 'seeds' (pieces of paper with dream written on them) ready to plant in the soil.]

Malachite	14 Mar 2002
*Malachite steps up to the altar, places Egg painted in swirling patterns of green and gold in the bowl.* reads Wild is the wind, but still thy name is spoken; Rough is the sea: it sweeps not over thy face. Still runs my love for shelter to its dwelling, Hither, O heart, to thine abiding place. What is begun, shall be finished, What loves shall be loved What is no more shall be left in peace What is not yet, be concieved. Peace be on the world, and all who are in it. Spring and the Summer that grows thereof are begun, and the seeds that shall be harvested are sown. Wind may blow, and rain may fall, but fertility has again returned to the world. *wraps paper around acorn, and pushed gently into the soil* [next...]

arizonagirl	18 Mar 2002
Placing decorated egg on altar, ArizonaGirl states: "Springtime is the time to sow the seed. The time for me to plant what I want to grow. This season brings hope and joy, expectations for desires realized, and inspiration for new ideas. My life is brought into balance and I am reborn with the earth's renewal. I welcome the beautiful spring!" "Lady and Lord, receive the seed of my desire and let it grow and prosper, that it may ripen and bear fruit." Using the altar candle, ArizonaGirl then lights the seed (paper with the wish written on it) and lets the ashes fall onto the earth. States: "This seed is planted in the Mother's womb to be part of the earth, of life and of me. Let this seed and what it represents grow to manifestation. As I will it, so mote it be."

Kiama	18 Mar 2002
*Kiama approaches altar with her painted egg and wish-paper. She places the egg on the altar.* Now is the time when all that I am is balanced, at one with the natural cycles and rhythms that are all around us, and in tune with the energies of the Lord and Lady equally. At a time like this, growth is penultimate, and we liken ourselves to the spring flower bursting forth from its dark bed... *Kiama plants the wish-paper in the soil* As the season blooms, and nature returns from hibernation, so will my wish. As the full beauty of the Earth is shown to all, so will my wish be realised. As I will it so mote it be! Kiama

.dc	18 Mar 2002
:: innowen silently approaches the alter with her black egg, swirling with bright green, blue and purple hues and her sigil of a dragon with a yinyang wrapped in it's tail. she places the egg on the alter and from her sleeve she draws her dream-paper. :: I have lived through many experiences this past turn of the wheel. Balance is a constant seeking inside my life. In these wild and chaotic times, balance is the one guiding light that keeps my creativity and focus strong. It gives me the WILL to pursue my dreams and desires. :: innowen bends over and places her dream-paper in the soil.:: She wishpers: Tis the season for balance and forgiveness, for healing and loving. Please waken my requests in the soil and soul and allow me the opportunity to watch as they grow and bloom throughout the year. As I will it, so MOTE IT BE! ::She then places her hands on the earth and sends forth healing white light into the ground.:: blessed be, innowen (aka .dc)

Mystick Dragon	18 Mar 2002
NOTE:I'm new at this! *Dragon approaches the altar with her blue egg. Delicately painted on it is a white dragon with red eyes* Not even a year has past since I started to work with magick, yet I feel more balanced with the positive and negative. The Lord and Lady. What I dream will bring even more balance to my life. *She kneels and gently wraps her dream paper around a packet of rose seeds and puts it into the soil. As she does so, she whispers* When this flower blooms, so may my dreams and wishes written within this soil. May this rose live many years in good health as long as my dream is happening. Horus and Isis, allow this balance of love and healing enter my life. As I wish it, so mote it be. (Did I do it OK?) --Dragon

MeeWah	18 Mar 2002
[meewah places an egg painted with green & gold spirals & a black & white yin-yang symbol on the altar & steps back.] At this time, the hours of light & the hours of dark are equal. Here now is where I seek my balance for the days ahead. I bid farewell to the past trials & welcome the renewal of life & spirit. I seek attunement with God & Goddess within me & without me. [meewah kneels; digs a hole in the soil to plant a daffodil bulb, wrapped with her wish] I offer this gift in the name of Father Sky & Mother Earth to bind my promise to welcome Spring! As the rain nourishes the soil From which life begins; As the sun warms the earth & the life held within-- The cycle of life from death Holds the promise of old. Come now, renewed breath Come now, warmth from cold. The days & nights decree I follow my Lady & my Lord. So I will it, so mote it be!

Silence Dogood	18 Mar 2002
***walking forward with an egg divided into four sections, colored yellow, red, blue and green.*** We come together at this time of the Vernal Equinox when day and night are equal. We know that this is a time out of time, neither night nor day, no longer Winter, and not yet Spring. Standing within this magic circle, it is good to put Winter behind us and look forward to the stirrings of nature and the warm bright months ahead. *** plants a Gladiolus bulb and waters it with melted snow saved from the winter snowfall*** The waters of the Winter and the warming of the earth attend this planting! As beauty grows from within the earth, so may beauty grow from within us!

Kiama	21 Mar 2002
Raising the power: *All participants imagine their energies pouring into an imaginary bowl in the middle of the Circle. This continues until the bowl is full, and the energy is beginning to form a domw of light in the bowl.* Sending away the power: *All participants then let go of the power in the bowl, and visualise it exploding in a huge prism of light, flowing into the sky, going out into the cosmos, ready to take our spells and wishes with it. Any extra energy is grounded, or conserved in a tool.* [dismissing the circle is next. thanks to the goddess and god first.]

arizonagirl	21 Mar 2002
Lovely Lady, Laughing Lord, I am blessed by your sharing this time with me, watching and guarding me, and guiding me here and in all things. I came in love and I depart in love. (Dismissing the spirits at N,E,S,W come next.)

Kiama	21 Mar 2002
*Kiama faces North* O, Spirits of North, Spirits of Mother, of nurture, And the dark, fertile soil, We thank you for neing withus duing our rite. Stay if you will, go if you must. Blessings to you!

MeeWah	21 Mar 2002
[meewah faces east, bows once to acknowledge same.] O Spirit of the East, Ancient One of Air, Hail to thee! We thank thee for thy presence & for lending Thy energies to our Circle! If go ye must, then blessed be! [with wand in right hand, draws the banishing pentagram for air.]

Malachite	21 Mar 2002
[malachite faces south, intones] O! Spirit of the South, Angel of the Flames Worship to your feet And thanks for your presence Blessings for your power, and Honour to your realm Until the season turns, wander where ye will! [west, i believe]

Silence Dogood	22 Mar 2002
Ye guardians of the WEST, element of Water; we do thank you for attending our rites, and ere you depart for your pleasant and lovely realms, we ask that you interfere with none. Hail, and farewell! ALL: HAIL AND FAREWELL!

Kiama	22 Mar 2002
*Kiama walks widdershins (counter-clockwise) around the circle with her athame pointing to where the Circle is. She visualizes the Light/energy being absorbed back into the athame.* I release the boundary of the Circle Where naught but Love entered in, & naught but Love shall emerge from within. The Circle is open, but unbroken! Merry meet, merry part; merry meet again! [a simple feast consisting of lots of yummy food!] Thanks to all you guys who took part, and esp. to Meewah and ArizonaGirl who helped me out with the planning of the ritual. Silence DoGood: Your part in the ritual was invaluable, as was yours, Malachite! To all those who made a wish, I hope it comes true! Well, until next time, adieu, and a very happy Ostara! Kiama

Mystick Dragon	22 Mar 2002
That was fun, I'm not allowed to do anything at my house, so I consider doing that. One question, when's Beltain? --Dragon

Silence Dogood	22 Mar 2002
Beltane is May first. Who want to lead that one? Beltane ( or Bealtine) is the sex festival! ( Not exactly, but there is a lot of repressed feelings from being shut in all winter to let loose!) For my part of the Ostara festival feast, I am bringing Hot Cross buns for dessert! The cross on the buns is a solar cross ( not a christian one) that divides the bun into quarters, representing the four seasons, four elements, etc. I'll even make them myself, if I can find that old recipie!

Kiama	24 Mar 2002
*Kiama licks her lips in anticipaton of a hot cross bun made by Silence DoGood's own fair hands.....* Kiama

MeeWah	24 Mar 2002
Oops--I nearly forgot one of the best parts!! I am bringing a Chinese steamed egg dish, a recipe I learned from Mama. It is similar to a souffle, made with beaten eggs, chopped vegetables & bits of meat.

Kiama	25 Mar 2002
I am bringing home-made flapjacks with cherries and sultanas in, aswell as just-out-of-the-oven home-baked bread. And chocolate eggs for all! All hail the Chocolate Eggs! Kiama

The Ostara to-go Ritual thread was originally posted on 07 Mar 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.