"The Goddess dances lightly over a carpet of soft moss and ferns, leaving her gentle kisses on the trees and plants, as Spring becomes a glowing passionate beauty, breathing a thousand heady perfumes, garlanded with many hued flowers, embodying in herself the promise of the year's later luxuriant maturity."

Ostara is a celebration of the return of Spring and the reawakening of life from the Earth as it would have been done in Europe in ancient pagan times. This was when the forests were dense and all lived close to the land. The calling upon the Earth, the Winds, the Sun and the Streams, as well as the juice, eggs and sweet cakes is typical of that long ago era.

All should enter the Circle from the East.

The Circle will begin to be cast:

The Leader will invoke 3 times, as he casts the Circle:

"Great Circle of Power awaken, as a place of perfect love and perfect trust beyond the rules of time and space."

All should visualise, flowing from the Leader's power hand, an electric blue energy which will inscribe the boundaries of the Circle.

Once the Circle has been cast, all should visualise it forming a large sphere of electric blue energy that encompasses the entire Circle above and below.

The Leader will light candles around the cauldron, then say:

"Seekers of the ancient ways, Brothers and Sisters,
Think upon, the coming again of the warm seasons.
Of the return of Life,
And of the ways in which our distant ancestors
Once honoured the Old Gods
And gave blessings to field and forest
In times far past."

The Leader continues:

"We now celebrate the awakening of the Earth
And the return of beauty and fruitfulness.
Life has quickened forest, meadow and field.
Let us celebrate the return of the gentle times
With spell, chant and song.
Let the far kingdoms be hailed."

The one chosen to be the Caller of the Winds invokes:

"Hail and Welcome, Guardians of the East,
And soft and whispering winds from afar,
Greetings be unto thee.
In the names of the Old Gods
Blow clear, fresh and free.
In magickal presence here.
Blessed Be!"

ALL: "BLESSED BE!"

The Caller will inscribe a large invoking pentagram for Air. Visualise it as bright yellow.

The one chosen to be the Caller of the Light shall invoke:

"Hail and Welcome, Guardians of the North,
And the warming and quickening light from afar,
Greetings be unto thee.
In the names of the Old Gods
Grant the warmth that brings forth life.
In magickal presence here.
Blessed Be!"

ALL: "BLESSED BE!"

The Caller will inscribe a large invoking pentagram for Fire. Visualise it as bright fiery red.

The one chosen to be the Caller of the Waters shall invoke:

"Hail and Welcome Guardians of the West,
And the cool waters of lake and stream,
Greetings be unto thee.
In the names of the Old Gods
Flow pure, clear and swift
In magickal presence here.
Blessed Be!"

ALL: "BLESSED BE!"

The Caller will inscribe a large invoking pentagram for Water. Visualise it as bright electric blue.

The one chosen to be the Caller of the Lands shall invoke:

"Hail and Welcome, Guardians of the South,
And the far lands and wild places,
Greetings be unto thee.
In the name of the Old Gods,
Awaken from your sleep
To bring forth bounty.
In magickal presence here,
Blessed Be!"

ALL: "BLESSED BE!"

The Caller, will then inscribe a large invoking pentagram for Earth. Visualise it as bright emerald green.

The Leader calls on Viviane:

"Hail and Welcome Viviane
Our Lady of Avalon
With Love in my heart
I invite you to join us
To celebrate our Spring Ritual
Please honour us with you presence Viviane
And enjoy our ritual as we do
Hail and Welcome
Blessed Be"

ALL: "HAIL AND WELCOME
BLESSED BE."

The Leader calls on the Lady of the Earth:

"Hail and Welcome,
O loving and gracious Lady of the Earth,
Patroness of the field and meadow,
Queen of forest and stream,
Mother to us all.
Please honour us
And grant us your gentle loving, magickal presence.
And your power to enchant
And to create.
Lady, enjoy our ritual as we do
Hail and Welcome
Blessed Be!"

ALL: "HAIL AND WELCOME,
BLESSED BE!"

The Priestess calls:

"Hail and welcome,
O noble Lord of the Greenwood,
Guardian of the wild things,
Friend and protector of those who
Seek the wilderness.
Grant us your joyous, potent and enlivening presence.
And grant us your lust for beauty and for life.
Noble Lord of the greenwood, enjoy our ritual as we do,
Blessed Be!"

ALL: "HAIL AND WELCOME
BLESSED BE"

The Leader will say:

"We are now between worlds,
Let the Spring ritual continue."

The bell will be rung once.

The Leader says:

"At this time and in this place
We salute our Great Goddess
As the Sacred Maiden,
Now returned from cold and darkness,
To spread forth her blessings
Upon the reborn lands."

The Priestess says:

"At this time and in this place
We now call forth and give honour
To the seasons of life and of fresh beginnings.
It is a time for all which is good,
For all beings which are newborn and small,
And of promise for the future."

The Leader says:

"Let us now call upon
The life returning everywhere anew
Call forth as I do!"

ALL REPEAT AFTER THE LEADER:

"COME FORTH , LIVING WATERS!
COME FORTH, LIFE GIVING EARTH!
COME FORTH, SOFT RAINS!
COME FORTH, GENTLE WINDS!
COME FORTH, WARMTH OF THE SUN!"

ALL REPEAT AGAIN AFTER THE LEADER:

"BLESSED BE THE FIELDS!
BLESSED BE THE FORESTS!
BLESSED BE THE LAKES AND STREAMS!
BLESSED BE THE POWERS OF LIFE!
BLESSED BE THE GREAT GODDESS!
BLESSED BE THE NOBLE LORD OF THE GREENWOOD!"

Ring the bell 3 times.

The Leader will now explain the coming spell and what we will achieve, i.e.; To imbue us with Love, Power and Strength.

The Leader says:

"Think upon the ways in which you would like Love brought into your life and how you would use Love in your life"

"Think upon the ways in which you would like Power brought into your life and how you would use Power in your life."

"Finally, think upon the ways in which you would like Strength brought into your life and how you would use Strength in your life."

The Leader says:

"Now, let us all link hands
And dance a witch's dance
As we raise and send forth
The Power of the natural world,
To grant us Love, Power and Strength.
So Mote it Be"

ALL: SO MOTE IT BE

All will link hands and begin a dancing procession sun-wise with the Leader and Priestess leading.

When the music ends, all shall continue dancing and repeat the following chant at least 3 times:

"AROUND, AROUND WE WITCHES GO
LOVE, POWER, STRENGTH WE SOW
LET IT FLOW, AS YOU KNOW
AS ABOVE , SO BELOW."

When the Power has risen, the Leader will call:

"STOP ...

ALL SHOUT:

LOVE ... POWER ... STRENGTH ... NOW !!!!

The Leader calls:

"Direct the power you have built
Into the sacred cakes,
Eggs and juice
That lay beside the sacred cauldron of rebirth."

The Leader will call:

"1-2-3 Clap"

ALL: clap your hands once.

This will end the spell.

The Leader will say:

"The Power we have raised
Is now imbued within these sacred cakes,
Eggs, and juice of the season.
Granting us love, power and strength."

The Leader will raise the chalice, lower it and sip from it. He will then give the Priestess a blessed be kiss and say:

"May the blessings
Of the Old Ones
Be with you
Blessed Be."

The Priestess will do the same.

They will then give each other a cake and egg.

Starting from the East, and moving in sun-wise direction, one at a time each participant will walk to the altar and take a cake, an egg and a glass of juice.

The Leader will give the blessing to each to each female participant before they return to their place in the Circle.

The Priestess will bless the male participants.

The cake and juice intended as an offering to the Lady, Lord and Viviane shall be placed / poured into the bowl of Earth on the altar. Later this should be placed beneath a tree or shrub.

The eggs, should be buried near a plant as soon as practical after the ritual.

The Leader then says:

"So the power also goes forth,
So that the land will be fertile
And all creatures prosper.
In the name of our Great Goddess
And her honoured consort,
The Lord of the Greenwood
So mote it be!"

ALL: "SO MOTE IT BE!"

The Leader spreads his arms and says:

"This ritual of Spring is now drawing to a close.
As the Goddess dances lightly
Over a carpet of soft moss and ferns.
Leaving her gentle kisses
On the trees and plants,
As Spring becomes a glowing passionate beauty,
Breathing a thousand heady perfumes,
And bejewelling the Land with multi hued flowers."

The Leader continues:

"Seekers of the ancient ways,
Brothers and Sisters, at this time
We now end this ritual of Spring.
We have given the proper salutations
And become close to the seasonal forces,
And close to the old ways of magick.
I thank you for honouring our Lord and Lady.
Blessed Be to you all."

The Leader calls:

"Hail and Farewell,
O loving and gracious Lady of the Earth,
We thank you for your enchanting presence here.
We have been honoured to have your Spirit
Here among us.
Hail and farewell,
Blessed Be!"

ALL: "HAIL AND FAREWELL, BLESSED BE!"

The Priestess calls:

"O Noble Lord of the Greenwood,
We thank thee for thy powerful presence here,
We have been honoured to have your Spirit
Here among us.
Hail and farewell
Blessed Be!"

ALL: HAIL AND FAREWELL, BLESSED BE!

The Leader calls:

"Hail and farewell Viviane
Our Lady of Avalon
With Love in my heart
I thank you for joining us tonight
Hail and Farewell My Lady
Blessed Be"

ALL: "HAIL AND FAREWELL, BLESSED BE!"

The Leader extinguishes the candles around the cauldron, then says:

"Callers of the Far Kingdoms, Now give our farewells."

The One chosen to be Caller of the Winds shall extinguish the Eastern candle, saying:

"Hail and Farewell, Guardians of the East,
And soft and whispering winds from afar,
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

ALL: HAIL AND FAREWELL, BLESSED BE!

The Caller shall inscribe a large banishing pentagram for Air.

The One chosen to be Caller of the Lands shall extinguish the Southern candle, saying:

"Hail and Farewell, Guardians of the South.
And the far lands and wild places,
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

ALL: HAIL AND FAREWELL, BLESSED BE!

The Caller shall inscribe a large banishing pentagram for Earth.

The One chosen to be Caller of the Waters shall extinguish the Western candle, saying:

"Hail and Farewell, Guardians of the West.
And the cool waters of lake and stream,
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

ALL: HAIL AND FAREWELL, BLESSED BE!

The Caller shall inscribe a large banishing pentagram for Water.

The One chosen to be Caller of the Light shall extinguish the Northern candle, saying:

"Hail and Farewell, Guardians of the North.
And the warming and quickening light from afar,
We thank you and give our blessings to thy far realms.
Hail and Farewell, Blessed Be!"

ALL: HAIL AND FAREWELL, BLESSED BE!

The Caller shall inscribe a large banishing pentagram for Fire.

The Leader says:

"The Goddess and the God
And the Earth itself
Have been honoured
This rite of Spring is done.
Merry meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet again."

Everyone will walk around the Circle, closing it in our accepted way, singing:

"May the Circle be open but unbroken, May the Peace of the Goddess be ever in our hearts, Merry meet and merry part, And Merry meet again.

After this rite, the water from the cauldron will be poured on plants and shrubs.

End of Ritual

Ostara ... The Spring Ritual