Ostara 2001
March 20, 2001
Ritual held on March 18, 2001
Ostara, is the time to acknowledge the balance between light and dark; to revere the growing strength and energy of the Sun who is now strong enough to conquer darkness; to acknowledge a time of new beginnings; the first true days of the Springtide; We begin to see buds and new growth in nature leading to the promise of warmer days.
Cleansing of the sacred space. (Janie)
Cast Circle (Curtis)
Light the Incense "Ostara Blend" then begin.
The Circle is about to be cast, let no one enter, but of their own free will.
All enter the circle
Curtis casts circle
"I consecrate this circle of power to the Ancient Gods.
Here may they manifest and bless their children."
Return to the alter, facing North and raise Athame in greeting. Say:
"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 Gates of Asgard. May the Ancient Ones help and protect us on our Magickal journey."
Set the chalice of Water on the Pentacle, with Athame held over say:
"Great Goddess Freyja, bless this creature of Water to your service.
May we always remember the cauldron waters of rebirth."
Hold Athame over salt and say:
"Great Goddess Freyja, bless this creature of earth to your service. May we always honor the Blessed Earth, it's many forms and beings."
Sprinkle a little salt into the water, and then hold the chalice up high and say:
"Great Freyja, be you adored."
Sprinkle the water mixture around the circle and alter. Hold Athame over the incense burner and say:
"Great god Freyr, bless this creature of Fire to your service
May we always remember the sacred fire that dances within the form of every creation."
Hold Athame over the incense and say:
"Great God Freyr, bless this creature of Air to your service. May we always listen to the spirit winds that bring us the voices of the Ancient Ones."
Put incense on charcoal and using chains hold burner to the Pentacle, then lift high saying:
"Great Freyr, be you adored."
Carry the burner around the circle and alter.
Go to the North and light the Green candle saying:
"Welcome Spirits of the North, element of Earth, wisdom of the Tree of Life, Bless this circle with stability and inner peace, and touch us with the calm of connection to the Mother. Blessed Be."
Janice lights the Yellow candle saying:
"Welcome Spirits of the East, Element of Air, flight of the Eagle, bless our circle with the dawn of knowledge, and let the Wind kiss our spirits with the breath of life. Blessed Be."
Sam lights the Red candle saying:
"Welcome Spirits of the South, Element of Fire, sacred to Epona, bless our circle with Strength and Courage, and light within the flame of passion. Blessed Be."
Janie lights the Blue candle saying:
"Welcome Spirits of the West, Element of Water, path of the Ancestors, bless our circle with healing and love, and bathe us in your soothing embrace. Blessed Be."
Mark stands before the alter and faces North with arms open in greeting:
"This circle is bound, with power all around.
Within it we stand, with protection at hand."
Tori, picks up wand or Athame, raise arms in greeting:
"Behold, the God, Lord of death and resurrection, of life and the giver of life. Without her Lord, the goddess is barren. Without his Lady, the God has no life. Each is needful of the other for completion and power, as Sun to Earth, the spear to the cauldron, spirit to flesh, man to woman."
Light the Goddess candle and say:
"O Goddess of the Earth, be with us now as Idhunn, the Maiden, the fair one who brings joy and new life."
Light the God candle and say:
"O God of renewal, be with us now as Freyr, the Lover, the laughing one who brings warmth and love."
Rap the cauldron once with the wand or Athame:
"May the strength of the old enter into the new. O Ancient Ones, make all things strong and giving of new life. Blessed Be."
Chad put incense on the burner and carry around the circle clockwise, put back on alter and raise arms in greeting:
"Harken to us! Awake! It is time to greet the Spring. Idhunn, Maiden of Light, hear us! Freyr, Lord of Life, hear us!"
Touch paper with Sword saying:
"Now we cast behind us the darkness of Winter and the past, and look forward to that which lies ahead. Now is the time for the planting of seeds in the physical, mental and spiritual realms."
Everyone takes a turn writing on paper their desires for the coming year and fold over so the next person can't see them.
Mark then takes the folded paper and holds it out over the alter and says:
This is a joyous time, a time for planting.
Light the paper from your center candle and put into the burning dish and everyone says:
"These seeds do we place in the realms of the Ancient gods of Asgard, that these desires and dreams may manifest and become a part of our lives. Blessed Be to the Gods!"
Cakes and Ale Ceremony
Mark places plate on Pentacle, then holds plate whilst Janice Blesses the cakes saying:
"With seeds we cast upon the Earth, from our work, this bread was formed.
May it nourish and fill us with its life, May we never hunger."
Janice takes a cake and eats it, then takes the plate and offers it to Mark who takes and eats. The cakes are then passed around the circle.
Janice places goblet of Wine on Pentacle, then holds goblet while Mark points tip of Athame into the goblet and blesses the wine saying:
"With fruit picked from the tree, from our hands, this juice was made.
May it nourish and fill us with its life, May we never thirst."
Janice holds goblet for Mark to drink, then Mark holds goblet for Janice, then goblet is passed around circle. Curtis receives last, holds goblet high saying:
"To the Gods of Asgard! Merry We Meet and Merry We Part until Merry We Meet again."
Curtis drinks and replaces on alter.
Goodbye to a Friend by Curtis
"We must now say goodbye to one who was striving to learn the path, she was a kind and gentle spirit. She had a struggle with an addiction and was doing well to win that battle. Thanks to the help and encouragement of those around her. She was only beginning her walk on the path to enlightenment and truly deserved to complete that journey. I ask the Gods and Goddesses to guide and protect her spirit, help her become one with them. Tammy, to you I say Goodbye, your kindness and caring of others shall truly be missed. May jour journey be peaceful. Blessed Be."
A moment of silence for everyone to say goodbye to a friend who never thought badly of us even when we left the original circle.
Now is the time for Divination, Meditation or Spell work.
After all Spell work is done Curtis faces North and says:
"By the powers of the Ancient Gods, I bind all power within this circle into this/these spell(s). So Mote it be!"
Tori extinguishes the God candle saying:
"Great God Freyr, we thank you for your presence tonight, stay if you will, go if you must, know you are always welcome. Merry We Meet, Merry We Part until Merry We Meet again. Blessed Be."
Tori extinguishes the Goddess candle saying:
"Great Goddess Idhunn, we thank you for your presence tonight, stay if you will, go if you must, know you are always welcome. Merry We Meet, Merry We Part until Merry We Meet again. Blessed Be."
Janie extinguishes the West candle saying:
"We thank the Spirits of Water for joining us on this night. Stay if you will, go if you must, know you are always welcome."
Sam extinguishes the South candle saying:
"We thank the Spirits of Fire for joining us on this night. Stay if you will, go if you must, know you are always welcome."
Janice extinguishes the East candle saying:
"We thank the Spirits of Air for joining us on this night. Stay if you will, go if you must, know you are always welcome."
Curtis extinguishes the North candle saying:
"We thank the Spirits of Earth for joining us on this night. Stay if you will, go if you must, know you are always welcome."
Curtis returns to the alter facing North and says:
"To all beings and powers of the visible and invisible, depart in peace. May there always be harmony between us. Our Thanks and Blessings."
Curtis cuts the circle saying:
"The circle is open, yet ever it remains a circle. Around and through us always flows its Magickal Power."