Ostara

Ostara

SPECIAL NOTES: This is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring. It is a time of balance, when the light is equal to the dark. From here the tide turns and the days will be getting longer. The theme for this Sabbat is fertility and rebirth. The Christian celebration of Easter mimics this theme. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox and, like Ostara, celebrates the return of the Son/Sun. Easter also adopts and adapts many of the Pagan fertility symbols - like Easter eggs and the Easter bunny. Now is the time to recall the story of Persephone we told at Samhain. The grief of her loss caused Persephone's mother, Demeter, to bring Winter upon the Earth. Now with her daughter's return Demeter's joy is unbounded, and heralds the return of Spring, completing the cycle of life, death and rebirth. We usually tell this story at dinner the night before to give the children a sense of anticipation for the day to come. Just make sure they understand it's a myth, so little ones won't be frightened by the thought of abduction or something.

** If you can manage it, it's wonderful to make this Sabbat celebration a breakfast ritual. Besides being able to bask in the sunshine of a new day you can also enjoy all those eggs! Remember to save the shells for the Beltane ritual in May! **

EXTRA SUPPLIES: Quarter candles, bell, lighter, Sun candle, a bowl of hard boiled eggs. We also like to serve strawberries for breakfast, as a way of marking the end of a long, hard winter and the return of Spring.

Before the Circle is cast we play "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles. It's a terrifically upbeat song that can set the mood for the rest of the day, and the words are just perfect for Ostara:

Little Darling its been a long, cold lonely winter

Little Darling it feels like years since its been here

Here comes the sun,

Here comes the sun and I say It's all right!

Begin your ritual by ringing the bell to establish Sacred Space. The child chosen to be Bell Ringer rings the bell three times and says:

I ring the bell

To cast the spell

Let sacred time begin

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be

Let sacred time begin.

Then an Adult casts the Circle by saying:

Great Mother,

Weave around us

A circle of radiant light

Where we can honor

Our Lord and Lady.

Protect us, guide us and love us.

Tell the kids to imagine a silvery-blue light surrounding the table to create a Circle. Explain that this "Circle of Light" means we want to make this a sacred place to honor the Goddess and God. Explain that a Sacred Place doesn't have to be a church. It can be in your dining room, a special spot in the forest, or even at school, as long as you show the respect and honor the Goddess and God deserve by creating your Sacred Space first.

Next we "Call the Quarters." Explain that this is asking the Ancient Ones to add their powers to ours to make our Circle stronger. The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the yellow candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle

The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the red candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Spirits of Fire

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the blue candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

To Witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

The child chosen to be Candle Lighter lights the green candle and says:

I call to you

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

To witness this ritual and guard this Circle.

Next the Adult says:

The Circle has been cast

The Ancient Ones have been called

Now it is time to welcome

The Goddess and the God.

Great Mother,

Whose symbol is the bright night moon,

Heavenly father,

Whose symbol is the fiery sun,

We ask you to join our family

For this Ostara Celebration.

The adult begins by explaining that Ostara is a Sun celebration. Say:

We've waited for a long time

To welcome back the Sun

The winter has been long and cold

But Winter's time is done.

Light the sun candle and then continue:

We light this fire to celebrate

The equinox and Spring

The days will soon get longer

And the birds will start to sing!

The adult raises his/her hands in greeting and says:

Welcome back, Sun!

Everyone repeats:

Welcome back, Sun!

The adult continues:

We celebrate Ostara

And this first day of Spring

And welcome back Persephone

And all that she will bring!

The adult raises his/her hands in greeting and says:

Welcome back, Maiden!

Everyone repeats:

Welcome back, Maiden!

The adult says:

Persephone brings Spring time

And a longer, warmer day

The Sun's power will shine now

And chase Winter away!

The adult picks up an egg and invites everyone else to do the same. S/he says:

Let us celebrate the first day of Spring

With a ritual in Persephone's honor!

The adult taps the shell of the egg to break it and says:

The ice cracks!

Now peel off all the shell and hold up the egg again.

The snow melts!

Now strip away the white of the egg carefully, revealing the yellow yolk in the middle. Hold up the yolk and say:

The sun returns!

This is usually pretty impressive to younger children, so you might want to give them a minute or two to ooh and ahh over their discovery. The adult finishes with:

Sunshine and bright flowers

Bird songs sweet and clear

Ostara has sprung around us

Spring, at last, is here!

Happy Ostara!

Everyone repeats:

Happy Ostara!

Now you can serve breakfast. Some things you can talk about are the significance of the Vernal Equinox in relationship to the days getting longer. Clocks will be turned ahead the first Sunday in April, making a definite difference in the amount of light in our day. Easter is right around the corner too, and should be tied in to the theme of the rising Sun/Son. You can also retell the story of Persephone and Demeter. This will help your child understand the whole "fertility" aspect of Ostara - rebirth and new life. Some of the common Ostara/Easter fertility symbols are eggs and rabbits. When breakfast is over the adult says:

Now that Winter's over

The days will be warm and bright

We welcome back Persephone

The sunshine and the light.

We welcome back the Spring time

The flowers and the bees,

The robins and the green grass

And the leaves on all the trees!

Happy Ostara!

Then everyone repeats:

Happy Ostara!

Now you can close the Circle. Explain to the children that the ritual is over. Now it is time to thank the Ancient Ones for their help and their guidance. The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the East

Guardian Spirits of Air

Go in Peace.

( Extinguish the yellow candle.)

The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the South

Guardian Spirits of Fire

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the red candle.)

The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the West

Guardian Spirits of Water

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the blue candle.)

The Candle Snuffer says:

Thank you and farewell

Ancient Ones of the North

Guardian Spirits of Earth

Go in Peace.

(Extinguish the green candle.)

Then the Adult says farewell to the Goddess and the God:

We thank you God and Goddess

For sharing this special time

With our family.

May we keep you in our hearts,

And follow your path of love

Every day.

Blessed be!

Now the Bell Ringer rings the bell three times to release the Sacred Space and says:

I ring the bell,

Release the spell

And Sacred Time will end.

1 - 2 - 3

So mote it be,

Until we meet again.

Explain that this is the signal that Sacred Time is over. The Circle has been released and the Sacred Space is no more. That means the dining room goes back to being just a normal dining room. Now the Adult says: The Circle is open And yet it remains a Circle. Around and through us Always flow its magical powers. This ritual is over.

end note: The "ice cracks" egg ritual is adapted from "The Pagan Family" by Ceisiwr Serith. If you're looking for one book that's a treasure of family rituals, this is it! It is currently out of print, but still worth finding. Llewellyn Publications [ ISBN 0-87542-210-1 ] $12.95