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Needed:

Paper and pen
Plant pot filled with soil
A large plant or flower seed
Light green candle

Place the plant pot on the floor next to the left side of the altar. Place the paper, pen, and seed on the altar pentacle. Cast the circle. Ring the bell three times. Say:

"The Goddess has freed Herself from the icy prison of winter.
Now is the greening, when the fragrance of flowers drifts on the breeze.
The Maiden displays her beauty through colorful spring flowers and their sweet aromas.
The Sun wakes from His long winter's nap.
The God stretches and rises, eager in His youth, bursting with the promise of summer.
I welcome thee, beautiful spring!"

Light the light green candle. Say:

"Springtime is seedtime. Now is the time to plant that which I wish to come to flower.
Spring brings hope and joy; expectations for desires realized; and inspiration for new ideas.
Life is brought into balance and I am reborn with the earth's renewal.
Now the darkness of Winter and the past is cast behind.
I look only to that which lies ahead and what I wish to bring forth."

Sit in front of the altar and meditate on what seed of an idea you would like to plant, to grow into an opportunity. It could be a skill or personal quality you'd like to acquire, or an opportunity to do or create something. When you have decided what desire you'd like to nurture in the coming year, write it down on the paper. Stand up and say:

"Lord and Lady, receive this seed.
Let it germinate in my mind and heart.
Let it prosper and grow into maturity,
For I will care for it and encourage it in Your names."

Light the paper from the light green candle, holding it so that as it burns, the ashes fall into the soil in the plant pot. With the athame, mix the ashes into the soil. Pick up the plant seed and concentrate on it and your desire. Place the seed in the center of the pot and close the soil over on top of it. Water it with blessed ("Holy") water. Say:

"This seed I place in the womb of the earth
That it may become a part of that earth,
A part of life and a part of me."

Ring the bell three times.
Cakes and Ale.
Close the circle.

Place the plant in a room you go into frequently, and take care of it whenever needed, knowing that as it grows and blossoms so too will your desire grow and blossom.

Children's Ostara Ritual

This is a ritual I wrote for my daughter and one of my friend's children, since there seems to be a lack of kids' rituals.

For this ritual , you will need:

Egg Rattles filled with Seeds

Yourself and your kid(s)

A Yard or Cups filled with Dirt

Ritual:

This ritual can be done inside or outside. If you are inside, use the cups filled with dirt. If it is warm enough to go outside, use the yard in place of the cups of dirt. Take your eggs and hold them. Ask the Lord and Lady to bless them as symbols of the life force that is sleeping in the Earth. Use your own words to do this. Let your heart and soul tell you what to say. After you bless your eggs, stand still with your feet firmly on the ground. Breathe deeply a few times, and ground and center yourself. Feel the sleeping Earth, become one with it. Pretend you are the Earth, still sleeping after the long, cold Winter.

Slowly stretch your arms up over your head, as if you were just waking up in the morning, and pretend you are the Earth slowly awakening.

Start walking deosil , slowly, gently shaking the egg you hold, chanting softly, "Wake up Earth. Rise from your Sleep. Trees and Flowers stir, time to color the land once again." As you walk, keep the picture in your head of the grass, trees, and flowers coming back to life, and growing, turning everything green and beautiful again. Feel the land waking up as you walk. As you feel the Earth wake, walk a little faster, shake your egg louder, and chant faster and louder. Pull the waking energy into you and send it into the egg. Stomp your feet and shake your egg, willing the Earth, trees, and flowers to wake up, and keep going faster and faster.

When you feel like the egg is full, and you can feel the life stirring in Nature again, break open your egg and look at the seeds, which will be glowing with energy. If you are inside, take the seeds and plant them in the cups of dirt, and ask them to grow strong and healthy, just like the trees and flowers outside. See the energy in the seeds spread to the dirt and make it come alive. If you are outside, you can either plant them in the ground or scatter them around, asking them to grow. See the energy of the seeds go into the ground to wake up all the other plants.

Or, you can leave them as an offering to the birds who come out in early Spring, and ask them to accept these gifts, and to carry them far and wide to grow.

If you still feel like you have alot of energy in you, push it out of your feet into the ground and ask it to go wake up the sleeping plants and the Earth, and to help turn everything green again.

After you are done, be sure to tend to your seeds in the cups , and when the Earth is ready for planting, take your seeds outside and place them gently in the ground, willing them to grow strong and healthy. Leave a small offering, like a stone or some honey and milk, and ask the Faeries to take care of your plants.

Solitary Ostara Ritual

This Ritual shall be performed either in the morning, at Dawn, or during the day sometime, or during the early evening hours, just after Sunset. Sweep area, starting in the North and moving deosil, with your magickal broom to cleanse the Circle area and "sweep away" any lingering negative energies.

Set up the Quarter candles (North-Green, East-Yellow, South-Red, West-Blue) and/or other items symbolizing the elements at the Four Quarters.

Set up your altar as desired, and face it to the North, covering it with a white, light green, lemon yellow or a pale pink altar cloth.

For this ceremony, decorate the altar with Springtime flowers of any color (silk are acceptable), along with a Spring basket filled with brightly-colored Pagan Ostara Eggs. Along with your usual ritual tools and items, have upon the altar:

White, Light Green, Lemon Yellow or a Pale Pink Altar Cloth
Spring Basket filled with Brightly-colored Pagan Ostara Eggs
Spring Flowers (for decoration)
A New Plant or a Seed or Seedling to be planted within your cast Circle -
you will also need some soil and a pot (as a Spring gift to yourself)
Pen and Paper (for writing out your desires for the coming year)
Cauldron for Burning the "Seed" Papers in (light each one from the Fire candle)
A Bell
Ostara Incense - Spring Blend, or Jasmine, Rose, Sage, or Strawberry Sticks

When all is set up, take a shower or bath for purification and don your Ritual Robe or other Ritual attire. Be sure to wear your Magickal jewelry, if you have any. Sit quietly and meditate for a little while - to ground and center. When you feel ready to begin, play some quiet peaceful music for the Ritual.

Cast the Circle... begin the Ostara Sabbat Ceremony by sitting quietly for a few moments, then say these words aloud in dedication:

"Winter's bareness has subsided, from the death of Winter springs new life! Spring is coming to the land.

The days grow longer, warm breezes begin to stir... All around me I see signs--- The growing things are beginning anew.

It is a resurrection of the dance of life--- The dance of the stems and stalks

As they push forth from the Earth. It is the season of creation.

Growth has turned outward. The land has become fertile again.

The Earth is caressed by the loving touch of the Mother. Where Her hand passes:

Atoms twine together to create growth. Buds burst open, leaves and vines unfurl.

She creates a vision of green beauty.Beauty so breath-taking after the dark solitude of Winter.

It is this vision that we celebrate on Her day of Ostara. The world recreating itself---

Returning from the death of Winter, Into the new life of Spring

Through the love of the Lord and the Lady."

Sit quietly again and reflect on the meaning of the Spring Season for a few moments. When you are ready, pick up your wand and hold it in your power hand, face the North and with your arms outstretched and say:

"The time of change is upon us again -

the Equinox comes, the Wheel turns...

The Wheel of the Year turns on and on,

bringing us all to and from each Season,

and from and to another...

What will be is. What was will be.

All time is here and now in this Sacred Space.

I now pause to watch the Wheel turn,

and cast this Circle on this blessed day/eve.

to celebrate this season of balance known as Ostara, the Vernal Equinox -

the time of new birth and new beginnings.

In this moment between time,

I come to praise the bountiful young Goddess.

and Her son-lover, the Great Horned God of renewal.

for Their blessings of fertility, warmth and life renewed.

I wish to give thanks and feel myself as a part of

the relentlessly turning Wheel of Life, Death, and Rebirth."

Pause and reflect for a few moments, then continue, saying:

"O Great God of Strength, New Beginnings, and Fertility,

who has been known as Cernunnos, Herne, Pan,

the Great Horned God, and the Lord of the Forests -

Grant me strength, power, and understanding,

throughout this season and always.

O Great Goddess of Love, New Beginnings, and Fertility,

who has been known as Blodeuwedd, Eostre, Astarte, Aphrodite,

and the Maiden Lady of the Moon -

Teach me the secrets of the Mysteries

and the ways of magick."

Still holding the wand in your power hand, pause and reflect again for a few moments, then say these words:

"Behold, the Lord and Lady 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, human to human."

Rap the side of the cauldron lightly with the wand, say:

"O Great Goddess, be with me now.

in your aspect of the Maiden,

the fair one who brings joy and new life."

Ring the bell once and say:

"O Great God of renewal, be with me now.

in your aspect of the Lord of the Forests,

the Horned God who brings warmth and love."

Rap the cauldron once more with the wand and say:

"May the strength of the old enter into the new.

Great Lord and Lady, make all things strong

and giving of new life. Blessed be."

Pick up the burning incense and carry it once more around the Circle deosil. Set it back down and say these words:

"Awake! All creatures in the realm of Earth, awake!

Greet the Maiden and Her Lover, who herald the coming of Spring."

At this time, symbolically present yourself with your new Springtime gift - the potted plant (or plant the actual seed or seedling in the soil and then present it to yourself). Say these words:

"As this tiny plant/seed/seedling begins its life anew,

so do I now begin to manifest my new desires for the coming year."

Pick up your athame and touch its tip to the paper, and say:

"Now I cast behind me

the darkness of Winter and the past.

I look only to that which lies ahead.

This is the time for me to plant seeds in the

physical, mental, as well as spiritual realms."

Now write down your desires for the coming year on the slips of paper. Write only one desire on each piece of paper. Fold the papers and hold them up over the altar in offering to the Old Gods. Say these words:

"This is a joyous time, a time for planting.

With joy and trust, I place these requests

in the hands of the Goddess and Her Lord."

Light the papers afire in the flame of the Fire candle and drop them one by one into the cauldron to manifest as the Gods see fit. As you do so, say:

"These thought-seeds I do willingly place

into the hands of the Lady and Her Lord,

that these desires and dreams may

manifest and become reality.

By the free will of All, and

with harm to none,

as I will, so shall it be done."

When you are finished, proceed with the Cakes and Ale Ceremony, followed by Releasing the Circle in your usual manner. This Completes the Ostara Sabbat Ritual

Ostara ("Easter") Egg Hunt Ritual

A friend of mie sent this to me so I am sharing this wonderful idea with you here...

I planned and lead this ritual for Ostara 2003. Ostara is known outside the Pagan world as the Spring Equinox, and Ostara celebrations were the cultural basis of the themes and practices of Easter.

I began the planning process by suggesting we have a mud focus -- rebirth and blossoms are fine, but nothing says "spring element" to me like "wet mud." We therefore decided not to follow the standard "four elements, four directions" protocol and instead brainstormed quintesentially spring elements. We wanted to directly honor such important entities as the forces of thaw, the spirits of seeds, and the power of laughter.

Since spring is a time of new beginnings, divination seemed appropriate. Rather than have everyone read Tarot cards for everyone else or something so training-oriented, we decided to provide people with some quotes and let them work it out for themselves. And why stop with one technique? We're eclectic, so why not bring in Tarot, Runes, AND the I Ching?

Since the Easter Egg hunt tradition is so much fun, we decided to work the element calls and divination into that. We decided upon 32 elements, and each wrote a short call for each to make 64. I then gathered the translations for all 64 I Ching hexagrams, rune explanations (triplicating them), and short explanations of Tarot cards. I ran a few perl scripts to gather the data I wanted and turned each thirty-second call, I Ching judgment, rune meaning, and Tarot symbolism into a small strip of paper. We then assembled 64 plastic eggs, each with one call, one I Ching strip, and at least one each rune and tarot symbol. We also added Jelly Bellies, Jolly Ranchers and Hershey's Kisses. This was not done with any intentional pairing of strips -- people would need to draw their own conclusions about the symbol sets they recieved.

One might wonder where the challenge is for adults in an Ostara Egg Hunt. Ours was in the dark. In the snow. Plus, we hid some in rather squirrely places -- at the bottom of dog prints, under evergreen trees, in the midle of areas without footprints. In the end, 10 eggs were left undiscovered for a few days.

Once inside, everyone opened their eggs and read, in an order that seemed fitting, their elemental invocations therein. We then presented art supplies and had everyone write or draw or construct some relation between what the divinatory messages told them.

Finally, what better way to celebrate spring, than with some mud cookies? We mixed four types of cookie dough with several types of seeds, kneaded thoroughly, and dug in. It was incredibly messy and overpoweringly sweet, but lots of fun. After the bowl was in the fridge for a day, though, it was pretty repulsive, so make sure to eat it all at once!

these are some of the sayings put into the treasures.

Melt - The melting brings rivers of snow cascading down the mountains. Welcome, Melt!
Thaw - Thawing ice and snow mix together with the soil to become thick clinging mud. Welcome, Thaw!
Flower - Colors burst from every flowering tree and shrub shivering with the excitement of spring. Welcome, Flower!
Flood - Waters pouring rampant, cooling the earth in a flood of mingling waters. Welcome, Flood!
Sunbeam - The world warms to a vibrant glow under the shimmering light of a sunbeam. Welcome, Sunbeam!
Eggshell - Fragile is the colored porcelain as the eggshell shatters apart toasting the warming of the earth. Welcome, Eggshell!
Down - Soft as silk down-covered chicks break out from the womb of the egg. Welcome, Down!
Dew - Small pearls of dew clinging to each green shoot of new grown grass. Welcome, Dew!
Mud - Comingling the earth with the melting creating the fresh, cool mud that squishes between my toes. Welcome, Mud!
Rain - The pitter patter of rain drops soothes the mind as it brings life-giving moisture to the thirsty earth. Welcome, Rain!
Breeze - Gentle breeze, wash over me, whisper your sweet secrets of the awakening earth. Welcome, Breeze!
Desires - The passion of our desires rises anew as each warm day brings us close together. Welcome, Desires!
Laughter - The tinkling laughter of children spreads throughout our souls until the whole world laughs along. Welcome, Laughter!
Pollen - Each sneeze makes me more aware of the free-floating pollen from the newly opening flowers. Welcome, Pollen!
Birds - Swooping trills of song fly through the air spinning around me as the birds sing all around. Welcome, Birds!
Song - The melody comes from the melting snows, just listen, the song of spring reverberates through the air. Welcome, Song!
Young - We are young as the fresh tilled earth when the sun returns for spring. Welcome, Young!
Sap - Sticky and sweet, the forests sing as the running of the sap brings each tree back to life again. Welcome, Sap! T-shirt - Soft cotton brings new life back into tired limbs as people throw off their sweaters seeking the light airyness of a T-shirt. Welcome, T-shirt!
Brook - The bubbling brook grows from a trickle into a torrent of swirling tides and melting ice. Welcome, Brook!
Babble - The voices of the earth and all her creatures rise up in a babble of excitement awaiting spring. Welcome, Babble!
Dance - Feet fly, hair spirals and arms are thrown wide as spring's air entices all to dance. Welcome, Dance!
Begin - The earth and her children begin anew every year in the spring. Welcome, Begin!
Fruit - The luscious fruit of the vine fills my mouth with tangy juice as I stuff in handfuls of new spring berries. Welcome, Fruit!
Awaken - The world stretches as the coming of spring awakens our souls as one. Welcome, Awaken!
Eggs - The perfect oval cradles tiny new lives before they are strong enough to break free from their eggs. Welcome, Eggs!
Fiddle music - Jaunting, laughing notes of fiddle music cause every toe to tap with joy and happiness. Welcome, Fiddle Music!
Sprout - New green tendrils sprout up from the moist and fertile soil. Welcome, Sprout!
Buds - Each tree is covered with new buds waiting to spring forth into bright green leaves. Welcome, Buds!
Seeds - So small, who could tell that such beautiful plants grow from little dry seeds that take root beneath the warm earth. Welcome, Seeds!
Sudden Snow - People run for cover shielding their confused eyes from the bitter chill of sudden snow. Welcome, Sudden Snow!
Rainbow - Fairies and pixies dance through the rainbows of spring. Welcome, Rainbow!
Melt - Power of the future held within! Release! Spread yourself! Welcome, Melt!
Thaw - Dust off the cold. The dirt is fertile again! Welcome, Thaw!
Flower - Start small, stand up tall. Show your blossom, you're so awesome! Welcome, Flower!
Flood - Socialist irrigation, remind us to be cautious. We do not control the powers of water. Welcome, Flood!
Sunbeam - Illuminate! Ruminate! Open the gate, yeah, the gate to spring! Welcome, Sunbeam!
Eggshell - Soft. Ephemeral. Delicate. In weakness we find the great strength to bring forth life. Welcome, Eggshell!
Down - We shed the soft warmth of our winter coats to enter the soft chill of spring breeze. Welcome, Down!
Dew - The fool returns! Rain flows from the ground up! Just dew it! Welcome, Dew!
Mud - Mud, luscious mud! Cover me in your soothing mess. Bring forth innocent life and dirty fun! Welcome, Mud!
Rain - Rain, rain, come today / Wash old cruft right away! Welcome, Rain!
Breeze - Rustle my hair and I know you're there. No longer shall we freeze; come forth, spring breeze! Welcome, Breeze!
Desires - No more hibernating in a cave, bring forth the things we crave! Welcome, Desires!
Laughter - Hahahhahah heheheheheheeehee hohohoho hahahaha hehehe oh hoohoohoo! Welcome, Laughter!
Pollen - May we gather together and cross-polinate our minds, feeding the creativi-bees! Welcome, Pollen!
Birds - As we welcome the birds on their return journey, we must also turn from the warmth of the hearth and direct ourselves outwards. Welcome, Birds!
Song - I'm singin' in the spring / Just singin' in the spring / What a glorious feelin' / Donⴠworry 'bout a thing. Welcome, Spring!
Youth - Release your inner child. Don your outer child! New ideas, new creatures, new opportunities. Welcome Youth!
Sap - Ooooze. Sssssstick. Leeeeeht the bloooood ouuuut sloooowly and paaaatch wiiiinteeer's wooounds. Welcome, Sap! T-shirt - Calling all beautiful people. You have the right to bare arms. Let the slogans fly! Welcome, T-shirt!
Brook - Laugh! Giggle! Babble! Impregnated by the snow gods, may you deliver gaity and calm. Welcome, Brook!
Begin - A journey of a thousand miles begins with a good breakfast. The five hundredth mile starts with a bright morning and a dry biscut. Begin new projects or take a refreshing look at ones in progress. Welcome, Begin!
Dance - The slow dance of an opening flower. The show tunes of courtship. The rave of a thunderstorm! Shut up and welcome Dance!
Babble - Electrify the air! Language wants to play too! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Welcome, Babble!
Fruit - You tempt us, so beautiful and young. We must wait for summer ripening, but the thought of our sweetness brings joy to our mouth. Welcome, Fruit!
Awaken - Done, season of hibernation. Now is time for recreation. Awake! Arouse! A rose! A rosy nose? Welcome, Awaken!
Eggs - Protect your treasures. For soon they shall break free, giving wings to your deepest self. Welcome, eggs!
Fiddle music - Draw a bow, strike a tune. Away with snow, dance up the moon! Welcome, Fiddle Music!
Sprout - Take care! Destroy not your hope for the future! Protect and nourish your garden, and she shall protect and nourish you. Welcome, Sprout!
Buds - Such promise! Such excitement! When it is your time, declare yourself to the world -- "I am alive!" Welcome, Buds!
Seeds - From seed to plant to seed, yin and yang are one with two faces! It's turtles all the way down. Welcome, Seeds!
Sudden snow - White, wet mountains surrounded us yesterday. Today, I see only molehills and mud. The lady changes clothes well. Welcome, Sudden Snow!
Rainbow - There's a pot o' green at the end of the rainbow. Grow! Grow! Grow! Welcome, Rainbow!

Seed Blessing and Indoor Planting Ritual

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
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