What is Ostara? *

"This is the time of the Spring's return; the joyful time, the seedtime, when life bursts forth from the Earth and the chains of winter are broken. Light and dark are equal; it is a time of balance, when all the elements within us must be brought into a new harmony. The Prince of the Sun stretches out his hand, and Kore, the Dark Maiden, returns from the Land of the Dead, cloaked in fresh rain, with the sweet scent of desire on her breath. Where They step, the wild flowers appear; as They dance, despair turns to hope, sorrow to joy, want to abundance. May our hearts open with the spring! Blessed Be!" 
 
Eostar, or the Spring Equinox, is the time when day and night are in balance, with the light mastering the darkness. It is basically a Solar festival, and a newcomer to the Old Religion in Celtic and Teutonic Europe. In the past, the Equinoxes were never observed in Britain. Yet they are now a genuine part of modern Pagan tradition, even if their seeds blew in from the Mediterranean, and germinated during the period of the underground centuries.
 
The problem which faces most witches today, is deciding how to celebrate this Sabbat. The fact is that, many themes associated with the Spring Equinox overlap other Sabbats. For example, the death and resurrection theme, and the sacrificial mating theme.
 
In Mediterranean Lands, the death and resurrection theme had strong links with the Spring Equinox. The grim festival of the Phrygian Goddess, Cybele was celebrated at this time. Associated with her was the vegetation God, Attis. The Spring festival, which took place between March 22-25, mourned the death of Attis, and rejoiced over his
resurrection. This was done by the priests of Cybele, castrating themselves as an offering to the Goddess. It is interesting to note, that one of Cybele's symbols is a crescent Moon, shown in perpetual union with the Sun, again, emphasizing the night and day balance.
 
In Rome, the rites of Cybele took place on the very spot where St. Peter now stands in the Vatican. In fact, the local Christians used to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ, in the very places where Attis worship took place. In days of old, bitter quarrels took place between the Christians and the pagans about whose God was the
prototype, and which was the imitation.
 
Easter, Jesus’ willing death, decent into Hell and resurrection can be seen as the Christian version of the sacrificial mating theme. In one sense, 'Hell' can be seen as the collective unconscious, the feminine aspect, the Goddess, into whom the sacrificed God is plunged as a necessary prelude to rebirth.
 
In classical and pre-classical times, spring was the season for another form of sacrificial mating, namely, the 'hieros gamos', or sacred marriage. In this, the woman identified herself with the Goddess, and the man sank himself into the Goddess. Through the woman, the man gave up his masculinity to the Goddess, without destroying it. He would emerge from the experience spiritually revitalized. The Great Rite, whether actual or symbolic, is the witches hieros gamos.
 
In the North, where spring comes later, the aspects of the sacrificial mating really belongs to Bealtaine. Thus, Eostar gives up it's human-fertility aspect to the Greater Sabbat, and retains it's vegetation-fertility aspect. In the Mediterranean, the Equinox is a time for sprouting, and in the North, it is a time for sowing.
 
As a Solar festival, Eostar must share with the Greater Sabbats the eternal theme of fire and light. In is interesting to note that this theme has survived strongly in Easter folklore. In many parts of Europe, Easter bonfires are lit on hilltop sites. The fire to light the bonfires is obtained from the priests. It is believed that as far as the light shines, the land will be fruitful, and the homes secure. People jump the dying embers, and cattle are driven over them.
 
Another interesting point to note, is that the Christian Easter falls anywhere between Eostar and Bealtaine. In fact, the name Easter comes from the Teutonic Goddess Eostre, also called Ostara. Many witches call the Spring Equinox by these names.
 
* Compiled by the Silver CircleBlessed Be

Ostara Lore

A traditional Vernal equinox pastime: go to a field and randomly collect wildflowers. Or, buy some from a florist, taking one or two of those that appeal to you. Then bring them home and divine their magical meanings by the use of books, your own intuition, a pendulum or by other means. The flowers you've chosen reveal your inner thoughts and emotions.

It is important at this time of renewed life to plan a walk (or a ride) through gardens, a park, woodlands, forest and other green places. This is not simply exercise, and you should be on no other mission. It isn't even just an appreciation of nature. Make your walk celebratory, a ritual for nature itself.

Other traditional activities include planting seeds, working on magical gardens and practicing all forms of herb work - magical, medicinal, cosmetic, culinary and artistic.

Foods in tune with this day (linking your meals with the seasons is a fine method of attuning with nature) include those made of seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, as well as pine nuts. Sprouts are equally appropriate, as are leafy, green vegetables. Flower dishes such as stuffed nasturtiums or carnation cupcakes also find their place here.

Ostara Solitary Ritual

Flowers should be laid on the altar, placed around the circle and strewn on the ground. The cauldron can be filled with spring water and flowers, and buds and blossoms may be worn as well. A small potted plant should be placed on the altar.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and incense, and cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing chant.
Invoke the goddess and god in whatever words please you.
Stand before the altar and gaze upon the plant as you say:

    Great goddess, you have freed yourself from the icy prison of winter.
    Now is the greening, when the fragrance of flowers drifts on the breeze.
    This is the beginning. Life renews itself by Your magic, Earth Goddess.
    The God stretches and rises, eager in His youth,
    and bursting with the promise of summer.

Touch the plant. Connect with its energies and, through it, all nature. Travel inside its leaves and stems through your visualization - fingers and into the plant itself. Explore its inner nature, sense the miraculous processes of life at work within it. After a time, still touching the plant, say:

    I walk the earth in friendship, not in dominance.
    Mother Goddess and Father God, instill within me
    through this plant a warmth for all living things.
    Teach me to revere the Earth and all its treasures.
    May I never forget.

Meditate upon the changing of the seasons. Feel the rousing of energies around you in the Earth. Works of magic if necessary, may follow; then celebrate the simple Feast.

The circle is released.

Source: Scott Cunningham

Ostara Coven Ritual

Altar Decorations:
Green cloth, wild flowers, wand, earthen or wooden bowl filled with soil, a 
large seed, parchment & pens, flower crowns and other altar items.

Cut circle and call watchtowers. Ring bell 3 times.

Priest: Blessed Be all within this circle.

Priestess: Merry meet at this Spring Rite.

All: Merry Meet

Covener: Brothers & sisters, hear my words. Awake & greet the Spring.

Covener: Lord! Lady! Hear us, for we are here. We are here to celebrate with you 
& for you.

Covener: Welcome, welcome the beautiful Spring!

Priestess: Welcome to the time of birth. Welcome to the time for planting of 
seed.

All dance deosil around the circle, placing flowers around the full perimeter of 
the circle. As the dancing ends, ring the bell 3 times.

Priest: Springtime is seedtime, Now is the time for each of us to plant that 
which you wish to flower.

Covener: Springtime is for hopes & desires, for new ideas, for balance & 
inspiration.

Priestess: Let us now meditate on that which we wish to bring forth. Let us 
consider our hopes & opportunities & direct our energies to the things we would 
start upon our road of life.

All sit & meditate on your own "seed". Think about something you want to do, a 
wish or a dream. Think of something you wish to change or plant in the soil of 
your soul, so that it may grow and be nurtured. After a suitable amount of time, 
the bell is rung. Everybody takes a piece of parchment and writes your wish or 
desire on it. The "seeds" are then lit from the altar candle, and the ashes fall 
into the bowl of earth.

Priest: Lord and Lady, receive these our seeds. Let them germinate in our minds 
& our hearts. Let them prosper & grow to maturity. For we will care for them 
& encourage them in your name.

Priestess mixes the ashes with her athame into the soil. She makes a small hole 
in the center and lays down the athame. Priest takes up the wand & leads male 
coveners in a dance deosil around the circle. The first pass is done slowly, the 
second faster and the third very fast. Returning to the Priestess as men resume 
their places, he holds out the wand to the Priestess.

Priestess: By the power of the raised wand does the seed find the furrow. 
Blessings be upon this wand.

Priest then lays down the wand & takes up the seed from the altar. He holds the 
seed between his palms & concentrates his energies into it. The seed is passed 
deosil around the circle for each to hold and place energy into until it returns 
to the Priest. Priestess takes up the bowl and holds it high.

Priestess: Of old we would celebrate by together planting the seed, one with 
another. Here do we symbolize that act in veneration of our Lady & her Lord.

Priestess turns to the Priest, bringing the bowl down and holding it between her 
breasts.

Priest: These rites of Spring belong to us all. To us & to the Gods. This is a 
time of joy & a time for planting.

He then places the seed into the soil & closes the soil over it.

Priest: This seed do I place in the womb of the Earth our Mother. That it may 
become a part of that Earth, a part of life & a part of us.

Priest & Priestess kiss, the Priestess replacing the bowl afterwards on the 
altar. All coveners hug and kiss each other. The bell is rung 3 times.
Then follows cakes & ale and closing of circle.