OSTARA RITUAL
Performed at the Unitarian Universalist Church
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
March 15, 1998
Designed by Eustacia Blackstar ©
(e-mail Eustacia1@aol.com)
Pagan music is playing on tape. Fire has been lighted. Incense is
lit. All participants gather. Introductory words delivered by HP.
PRELUDE:
Explanations of the Season. Relations between Ostara, Beltane, and
Easter. The timing of the seasons in the North and South.
Explanations of the Circle, Guardians, and Witnesses.
Explanations of the gods and goddesses of many names, the awareness of
the underworld.
BLESSING:
HP and HPS together approach participants as they prepare to enter the
circle area. (Participants should be asked if they might have an
allergic reaction to the oil being used.)
HPS Bright Blessings and
HP So mote it be! (Trace a pentagram on each forehead using any of
the following oils:
sandalwood, vanilla, balm or jasmine.)
HP (Raise Athame) Be it known, the Temple is about to be erected;
the Circle is about to be cast. Let those who desire attendance,
follow behind. Let none be here but of their own free will.
All enter circle area behind HP and HPS.
ERECTING THE TEMPLE:
(Four white altar candles will be lit during the following:)
HPS Here do I invoke light and air, to illuminate our temple and
bring it the breath of life.
HP Here do I invoke light and fire, to illuminate our temple and
bring it warmth.
HPS Here do I invoke light and water, to illuminate our temple and
wash it clean.
HP Here do I invoke light and earth, to illuminate our temple and
to build it in strength.
(HPS castes the Circle with her athame. HP leads a chant: )
HP We caste this Circle round and round.
By its protection, we are bound.
As I will it, so mote it be!
(HP places point of athame in the salt.)
HP As Salt is Life, let it purify us in all ways we may use it.
Let it cleanse our bodies and spirits as we dedicate ourselves
to New Beginnings.
(HPS uses athame to place three portions of salt in the water.)
HPS Let the Sacred Salt drive out any impurities in this Water,
that we may use it to wash away all that prevents us from
achieving our highest good.
(HPS moves around Circle with salted water. HP follows behind with the
incense.)
(Back at the Altar, HP and HPS drink a toast (with chalices) and salute
each other, then they salute participants.)
HP We bid you welcome. May you all be here in peace and love.
Let now the Quarters be saluted
and the Gods invited.
(HP moves around the Circle lighting the torches.)
HPS (while drawing an invoking pentagram and kissing blade of athame)
All hail the element of Air; Watchtower of the East. May it
stand in strength, ever guarding our Circle.
All hail the element of Fire, Watchtower of the South. May it
stand in strength, ever guarding our Circle.
All hail the element of Fire, Watchtower of the West. May it
stand in strength, ever guarding our Circle.
All hail the element of Earth, Watchtower of the North. May it
stand in strength, ever guarding our Circle.
HP All hail the four Quarters and all hail the Gods! We bid the
Lord and Lady welcome and invite them to join with us,
witnessing these rites we hold in their honor. (Raise athame)
All hail!
(The Charge of the God and Goddess can now be read by the HP and HPS.)
HPS Now are we all here and is the Temple erected. Let none leave
but with good reason, until the Temple is cleared. So mote it
be.
SEASONAL ENACTMENT:
The Story of the Wheel of the Year.
The naming of a Spring Queen.
The stepping over the cauldron for growth fertility and life.
(Optional) Participants are asked to share their thoughts. They may
wish to send energy to those who are ill etc.
The story of the intertwining of all life as in the intertwining of the
cords.
Intertwine the cords. Circle dosile and chant:
Come join the dance, that doth entrance,
And tread the circle's round.
Be of good cheer, that gather here,
Upon this merry ground.
Chorus:
Good luck to we that faithful be,
And hold our craft so dear,
For 'tis our delight of a shiny night,
In this season of the year.
Oh, 'tis our delight of a shiny night,
In the season of the year.
While stars do shine, we pledge the wine
Unto the Gods of old.
Nor shall there fail the witch wassail,
Nor shall their fire grow cold.
Chorus:
Good luck to we that faithful be....
Throughout, about and round about,
By flame that burneth bright,
We'll dance and sing, around the ring,
At witching hour of night.
Chorus:
Good luck to we that faithful be....
CAKES AND ALE
HP Now is the time to give thanks for the approach of Summer and all
that which sustains us.
HPS May we ever be aware of all that we owe and be grateful.
HP Eat and drink. Be happy. Share and give thanks. So mote it be!
HPS And as we share, let us remember, that aught that we have, we s
share with those who have nothing. So mote it be! (chalices are
raised) (Wine and cookies are passed)
Chant:
The spell is flowing like the sea,
The spell is growing like the tree,
Like flame that burns and blazes free,
We chant the spell, thus shall it be!
We chant the spell, thus shall it be!
We chant the spell, thus shall it be!
IT IS!
CLEARING THE TEMPLE
HP And now as Spring draws near, we have kept the faith, and it is
time to Clear The Temple.
We begin by Dismissing the Quarters:
HPS Powers of the East and Air, we thank you for joining our Circle.
We ask your blessing as you part. May there be peace between
us, now and forever.
HP Powers of the South and Fire, we thank you for joining our Circle.
We ask your blessing as you part. May there be peace between us,
now and forever.
HPS Powers of the West and Water, we thank you for joining our Circle.
We ask your blessing as you part. May there be peace between us,
now and forever.
HP Powers of the North and Earth, we thank you for joining our
Circle. We ask your blessing as you part. May there be peace
between us, now and forever.
HPS Lord, Lady, and Spring Queen, we thank you for joining our Circle
this night of Ostara. As you bring light to the plants and
animals, we ask that you bring renewal to our lives as well.
HP We have come together in love and peace, let us depart the same
way. Love is the Law and Love is the Bond.
HPS The Temple is now cleared.
HP The Circle is open, but unbroken. So Mote It Be!
(kiss athame blades, greet participants.)
The Charge of the Goddess and the God:
The God says: I am the Sun, I am the Stars.
The Goddess says: I am the Earth, I am the Moon.
I am the God and I love you.
I am the Goddess and I love you.
I love you like a brother,
I love you like a father,
I love you like a grandfather.
I love you like a sister,
I love you like a mother,
I love you like a grandmother.
Talk to me when you are sad, or mad, or scared.
Think of me, and thank me, when you are happy.
Talk to me when you are sad, or mad, or scared.
Think of me, and thank me, when you are happy.
You can find me in the forest.
You can find me in the sea.
You can find me in the fire.
You can find me in the wind.
You can find me in your heart.
You can find me in your heart.
And remember, whatever you look like,
If you are a boy or a man, you look just like me.
And remember, whatever you look like,
If you are a girl or a woman, you look just like me.
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