At sunset on a recent Sunday evening, a local group of Pagans gathered at an East Knoxville home to observe the religious holiday, Ostara. Loosely based on several ancient observances celebrated on or around the spring equinox (a certain time of year when day and night are nearly equal in length), Ostara is a Neopagan religious holiday observed in a variety of ways by any of the wide array of Pagan denominations, such as Wicca, Druidry, Asatru, and/or any of the numerous eclectic groups.
The Scarlet-Raven-Wolf Pagan Tribe (named for the "craft names" of the founders of the group, "Druid Ravensblade", High Priest, "Dracaena Scarlatta", High Priestess, and "Lunawolf", High Priestess) celebrated in the form of a brief service and meal at the private residence of Druid Ravensblade.
The service began at 7:51 p.m,, the official time of sunset, when congregants assembled on the front porch so that each person could be "smudged," a ritual designed to draw away negative energy through the fanning of the participant with smoke from a clutch of smoldering sweetgrass. All stood with arms outstretched, as, one by one, each was bathed in the ritual smoke and stepped inside the home for the service.
Once everyone was "smudged," those who were observing but not participating, stood off to one side so that those engaged in the service could form a circle around an altar in the room's center. On the small altar was a flower arrangement, a white "goddess" candle, a black "god" candle, a purple "spirit" candle, several colored eggs (representing "new beginnings"), a chalice of milk and a large bowl of small wheat cakes, three ceramic bells, and a double-edged ceremonial knife called the "athame," which is used to "cut into the astral plane where all energy work is performed" and to "divide the spiritual world from the mundane."
After a brief welcome given by Druid Ravensblade, "SnowStarr," presiding over the day's service, announced the theme of the observance, "new beginnings." Then, a part of the ceremony referred to as "casting the circle" took place, during which all joined hands and were led by Dracaena Scarlatta through a guided visualization, which cast the sphere of worship around the group.
Afterward, were the "quarter calls," during which all stood with their right hands outstretched to face the four directions, west, north, east, and south, while a reading was given and a candle was lit by a congregant for each symbolic direction: blue for the water element (in the west area of the room), green for the Earth element (in the north area), yellow for the air element (to the east), and red for the fire element (to the south). Next, the white goddess and black god candles were lit, followed by the purple spirit candle, each accompanied by an appropriate reading.
All readings associated with the candle lighting centered on nature themes, such as the awakening of seeds and blossoms from winter.
Once all the candles had been lit, Druid Ravensblade led the room in an extended meditation during which he used the imagery of a fountain and a wooded path to encourage those in attendance to take into themselves positive springtime energies conjured by the meditation.
After the meditation period, SnowStarr rang one of the ceramic bells, announcing: "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. We welcome thee, beautiful spring!"
A green candle was lit in a small planter just to the side of the altar. SnowStarr then asked everyone to crinkle up small pieces of paper called "Petitions," upon which each participant had previously written prayers and prepare to light them afire and then place them in the planter.
After each person had meditated on his or her written prayer and then set it afire in the planter, a seed was planted among the ashes and watered with holy water. SnowStarr indicated the seed was intended to not just grow in the planter, but to also germinate in the minds and hearts of those present. The bell was rung three times to close that part of the service.
Afterward, a poem was read, written by "Storm Wing," which dealt with springtime themes. This preceded a part of the service called "Cakes and Ale" during which the bowl of wheat cakes was passed among everyone in the circle, each person taking a small cake and consuming it before turning to their neighbor and offering it, stating "May you never hunger." This was repeated with the chalice of milk, each person partaking and then turning to their neighbor and offering it, stating "May you never thirst."
To close the service, all stood and faced again West, North, East, and South, right hands outstretched, and a reading was given for each direction before the corresponding candle was extinguished. The service ended at approximately 8:30 p.m.
Afterward, all those in attendance lingered to enjoy a potluck dinner, one another's company, and the seasonally cool spring evening they had just honored in words, action and worship.
J. Brian Long is a Knoxville writer in pursuit of an understanding of various faith communities. This biweekly column shares his experiences visiting local worship services.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 