THEMES OF OSTARA:
RITUAL FOR OSTARA:
The circle is cast and the Gods invoked.
Priestess: We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the festival of Ostara, when the Lord and the Lady meet as youth and maid. It is the festival of spring, when all about us life renews. The sun strengthens, moving towards summer and his time of glory..."
Priest: holds up the sun wheel in the east and speaks about the dawn, the Ostara sun and the growing year in his own words.
Priestess: (Taking up the bowl of seeds and places them on the sun wheel) "The Goddess walks amongst us in all her maiden beauty. Come Lady, bless the seeds which shall become the flowers of Beltane and the harvest of Lughnasa. Bless the new born animals and the fledgling birds. We bless them in your name, O Goddess.
Priest: " Our gentle Lord walks amongst us, clad in green. Come Lord, bless the seeds which shall become the flowers of Beltane and the harvest of Lughnasa. Bless the new born animals and the fledgling birds. We bless them in your name, O God.
Priestess: “Let the seed be cast to the earth. Let the fire of joy be lit which is the light of the growing sun and the light of the year."
The beacon is lit to symbolise the emergence of the year –and us- from darkness.
The seeds are then gathered up and placed on one side to be divided up later amongst the celebrants.
Priest: Picks up the bowl of eggs and explains what they symbolise. The dish of eggs is then passed around and each person takes their egg and says what the egg means for them. It is then thrown through the circle in the direction that corresponds with those wishes (e.g. earth (north) for material desires, like a new job, fire (south) for spiritual desires, energy and so on, air (east) for study, water (west) for emotional/relationship matters ).
Now is the moment for healing and magic of all kinds.
Bread and wine.
Break the circle.