Finding The Path

Ostara Traditions, Symbols, and Rituals

Design your own ritual to welcome the Maiden Goddess and Youthful God, the increasing light, the new life and renewal of Mother Earth. Think of your directions, questions and needs and focus on them.

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 diving 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 practising 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 naturtiums or carnations cupcakes also find heir place here.

Candles are green for the growing and budding life, yellow for the increasing sun, robin egg blue for the animals, or white.

Incenses to be used alone or in combinations include jasmine, rose, sage, strawberry, violet, orange peel, lotus, magnolia or ginger.

Plants and herbs are tansy, lavendar, daffodil, Easter lilies, honeysuckle, Irises, jasmine, rose strawberry, violets, broom, meadowsweet, and trefoil.

Stones to use include clear quartz, rose quartz, agate, lapis lazuli, garnet, amethyst, or moonstone .

Animals and mythical beasts for this time of year are hares, snakes, unicorns, merpeople, or pegasus.

Altars can be decorated with potted spring flowers (so they are still alive), bowls of soil, seeds, painted eggs (see activities), the green man.

Goddesses honored at this time concern the moon, virginity, fertility, and love. These include Anna Perenna, Isis, Sitala, Flora, Aphrodite, Cybele, Flidais, Ova, Vesta.

Gods honored at this time include Cernunnos, Pan, Adonis, Lord of Greenwood, Dylan, Odin, and Osiris.

Chakra is the fourth, the heart, green, love and compassion for our fellows and all life.

The element is fire. The fire for the Ostara ritual should be lit during the ritual, not before.

On Ostara Eve light a purple or violet candle and burn patchouli incense. Carry both through the house and say:

Farewell to wintry spirits and friends;
on morrow we greet the spirits of Spring.
Our blessings to thee as your way we wend;
And merry we will meet next winter.

Blow out candle and say,

Merry we meet, merry we part, and merry we will meet again.

Meridian's Ritual

Set up your altar with green candles, a potted plant, incense, soil, representations of the God and Goddess, an unlit yellow candle, and whatever stones are appropriate for you. Have some painted eggs with powers or goals you desire. Open the circle. If you see the element of Fire as being south, turn to the south and say something along the lines of:

“Welcome and Blessed Be to the strengthening Sun,
With your power banish the darkness
and illuminate the directions to power and prosperity.”

Light the yellow candle and visualize the darkness of winter melting like the snow and light filling you with warmth and comfort.

As you take the potted plant in you hands, say:

“Welcome and Blessed Be to the Maiden Goddess, with your power bring renewed life and banish the negative energies of the old.”

Visualize the energy of life in the plant that radiates out to all living things. Feels the energy of near by trees, of streams and rocks and animals. Let the energy fill you with power to renew your life and/or desires.
Replace the plant on the altar and pick up the egg(s).

“Welcome and Blessed Be to the youthful God,
with your power I gain strength to cast away that which is no longer useful
and bear the fruits of a new life and new insight.”

Raise the egg (or each egg one at a time if more than one) and concentrate on what it symbolizes for you, visualize gaining the strength of that symbol, meditate on it.

Have a small feast (for me hot cross buns and orange juice) and offering to
Mother Earth.

Close the circle.

Ostara History and Lore
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