Ostara
(September 21st)
The spring equinox when light & dark (day & night) are in perfect balance. Ostara is symbolic of the fertility of the earth awakening in all it's splender, it is the beginning of the harvest seasons. This is the time where lilies & other bulbs bloom & eggs are give as a symbol of the renewed life emerging from the earth.
This is youthful time of the God who is akin to Krishna as the jovial trickster. The Goddess has returned to her maiden stage.
The Ostara Altar
- Flowers (we use silk flowers to save the blooms)
- Eggs
- Seeds
Family Activities
- Plant seeds in pots
- Watch the sun rise & sun set
- Colour eggs
- Decorate trees with eggs
- Take a look at what in you life isn't balanced & how you can fix it
- Connect with the nature spirits of your home (short meditation outside)
- Have spring treasure hunt
- Dance around in the yard awakening the spirits of the land
- Bake some fruit buns
- Make some bird seed feeders
Incense
- Sandalwood
- Rose Petals
Mix all dried plant parts together and burn small amounts on coal tablets. Be warned that plant material smells very different when burnt and is sometimes not as pleasant as you might expect. If you don't want to burn them place them in a small wooden bowl and use as an altar or table decoration.
Oil
Always use true essential oils and essential oil mixes when working with energies as these carry the right vibration for the purpose. Fragrant oils won't work as well & can be very harsh.
To make a simple Ostara mix put two drops each of the following in 10ml of carrier oil (Jojoba, grapeseed, olive oil) then shake well.
- Sandalwood
- Rose & Jasmine absolute
Ritual
You Will Need:
- Eggs
- A Bell
- Purple, Green & Pink Candles
- God & Goddess Statue or Candles to Represent Them
- Flowers
- Seeds (not roasted or cooked)
- Small water vessel
- Your Freshly Planted Seeds in Pots
The below is only a short version of the festival, it is the way our household celebrates Ostara, there are many more formal & longer versions of rituals that can be performed for this festival. Check out the Helpful Links for books that might be helpful.
You Are Ready:
- We usually hold our ritual after the children arrive home from school, during the mid afternoon.
- We prepare a feast (as with all festivals food is an integral part).
- When this is done have everyone gather round the altar or the feast table.
- Decorate with the water vessel, eggs, candles, seeds in pots & flowers.
- Perform the ritual of casting the circle.
- Have the incense burning in the background.
- Ring a bell.
- Recite: Welcome to the season of Ostara, the time the earth bursts with life, the fragrance flowers bloom, the blossoms abound, life renews & the the promise of summer & the harvests is everywhere.
- Light the candles & spread flowers around the circle perimeter.
- Recite: Goddess & God frolic & play stir & awaken the creatures that sleep along the way.
- Ring the bell again & hold up your planted pots.
- Recite: Bless this soil with abundance, prepare the seeds of our intention, find nutrients in the cauldron of rebirth. Bless the water Goddess Bridgit/Gaia so that it may stir life within the seeds. Bring forth abundance of the harvests in the coming seasons.
- All those present hold hands in silent reflection of your intent for the coming year.
- Ring a bell three times.
- Close the circle with the closing part of the casting circle ritual.
- Begin the feast
