Ostara
From "The Crafted Cup" - Shadowynn, 1994, Llewellyn

Altar Requirements

The altar should be in the center of the circle area facing the eastern quarter. It should always be yellow for the Earth Rite of the Spring Equinox (per the author). The two main altar candles should be yellow for the Spring Equinox Ritual. The four quarter candles (or glass votive candle holders) should always be yellow in the east, green in the north, blue in the west, and red in the south. All other secondary candles used for extra lighting in the ritual area can be of a pale shade of green, and whatever other colors may suit the tastes of the members. A candle-lantern or extra candle will also be needed for the priest's invocation of the Solar Lord.

General Instructions

A large plate or platter will be needed in which will be placed a packet of flower seeds, a small, young houseplant, and a small basket or container filled with colored eggs. Any kind of cut flowers and/or greenery suggestive of spring would be appropriate.

Casting of the Circle/Calling of the Quarter Regents

Assemble the quarter regents per your tradition. The first quarter regent, however, to be called will always be whichever one has the seasonal preeminence. East has the preeminence in the Spring.

Invocation of the Maiden

After the assembling of the quarter regents has been completed, the priestess will take her place at the center of the circle, facing the eastern quarter. She will then lift up either her hands or her sceptre and begin the invocation.

We bid Thee welcome,
Returning Maiden of many Names;
green-gowned Goddess
awakening the drowsy year
from its seasonal wintry sleep!

The ground stirs to greet
Thy gentle footsteps
as shoots of buoyant life
break free in profusions of ectastic color
through the weaking grip
of Winter-hardened earth.

Thou art the Lady most lovely,
Sweet Blossom of Spring,
perfumed in hyacinth;
Thine arrival trumpeted
by multitudes of yellow gleaming daffodils
as the youthful Sun frames Thy form
in virile beams of golden strength.

Be pleased, O Lady,
to revel among us while we celebrate
Thy freshly-scented laughter
wafting gently upon warming winds
as springtime showers fall softly
upon Thine earthen breasts of rolling land.

Vernal Maiden of the Equinox,
we invoke Thee
to be here among us!

After she has finished the invocation, the priestess will then step to one side of the altar to make room for the priest as he begins his invocation to the Solar God.

Invocation of the Ascending Solar God

The priest will stand before the altar facing the east, and lifting up his staff and/or hands, he shall begin the invocation of the Solar God.

Let us give praise
to the glory of the God celestial,
stretched forth
upon the cosmic Cross,
soon to rise above
the Circle of the Quinox!

Sun of Righteousness!
Sol Invictus!
Solar Savior!
We hail Thy triumph
over the seasons of shadow!

From Thy majesty
proceeds the very Light of nations,
the shining brilliance of illumined Truth,
and the manifest splendor of the Sacred.

Hallowed Blaze of Heaven,
Thou art the Living Light,
Source of inspiration
to sage and saint,
priestess and prophet.

Therefore,
we add to the adoration of the ancients
as we ascribe to Thee praise and honor,
O Ascendant King of planetary gods!

The priest will then set his staff in its place. Then he will take the candle-lantern (or candle), and going first to the eastern quarter, and then to the western quarter, he shall make the sign of the equal armed cross as he says the following words:

God of Light, God of Life,
Dying daily,
Thou descendest into darkness;
rising early,
Thy radiance renews the day!

The candle-lantern is returned to its place by the priest.

The Eostara Blessings

The priest will then pick up the platter containing the packet of seeds, the plant, and the colored eggs. The priestess will then face the grove members, along with the priest, while she recites the following:

Tonight we celebrate
the advent of Spring;
time of birth,
new life and resurrection,
pregnant with promises of unfolding growth.

Seed and kernal are sown
in loam-dark furrows of living soil,
soon to take root
in magickal metamorphosis.

Young flowers stretch their petals
with hungry eagerness
towards the returning warmth of the Sun.

Mother hens brood watchfully
over treasured eggs protecting
their future, feathered fluffs of life,
soon to emerge into the light of day.

In seeds, in plants,
in fresh-laid eggs,
we see cyclic symbols of Earth's fertility.

The priestess then places her hands over the platter held by the priest as she speaks the following:

The blessings of our Lady and Lord
be upon these seeds of Spring;
Embryos of vibrant color
and leaf-etched intricacy,
that they may beautify
the living garments of Mother Earth.

The blessings of our Lady and Lord
be upon this young and tender plant,
that it may serve to remind us
of our unity with grass and tree
and twining vine.

The blessings of our Lady and Lord
be upon these eggs,
dyed with the colors of life and Spring;
emblems of the Divine Creatrix;
microcosms of the Cosmic Womb.

The priestess will then begin to lead a procession deosil around the circle as she takes the platter of seeds, plant, and eggs from the priest and holds it aloft while all join in the following chant:

Seeds to bury,
plants to rise,
life is born
from that which dies!

At the priestess' discretion she will return to the altar with the platter and instruct all present to stretch forth their hands toward the platter to fully charge it with their accumulated power to complete the blessing. The platter will then be replaced on the altar.

Releasing the Elements

Spring is the season of rejuvenation
when the Elemental Forces
must be stirred once more
to enhance the recurrence
and renewal of the cyles of life.

Let us extort the Regents
to bring again
the greening of the groves
with the advent of Eostara!

The same individuals who assembled the Quarter Regents during the opening rites shall now unsheath their glaives and take their respective positions at each of the quarters to which they have been assigned. Starting with the eastern quarter, each will raise their glaive and address the Quarter Regents.

Regents of the East,
Sovereigns of Wind and Air,
release now the breezes of dawn,
bearing aloft the scent of Spring,
refreshing the face
of the Maiden's presence!

Regents of the North,
Sovereigns of Elemental Earth,
release now Thy fertility
in the furrows of the field,
the nests of birds,
and the dens of furry forrest families!

Regents of the West,
Sovereigns of all Watery Realms,
release now
gentle showers and fresh-flowing streams
that the thirst of the soil
may be quenched!

Regents of the South,
Sovereigns of Fire and Flame,
release now
the welcomed warmth of Sun and Sky,
bathing the land with light
and the pulsating rays of returning life!

The callers of the quarters will return to their places within the circle.

Note: At this point, some Traditions my choose to enact the Great Rite, in accordance with their established practices.

The Parting Prayers

When the priestess and the priest sense that the time has come to close the rites and open the circle, they will bid everyone to stand as both the priestess and the priest go to the altar in the center of the circle. The priestess will now lift up her sceptre and/or hands in a parting prayer to the Goddess.

Goddess of the Earth,
clothed in beauteous array,
we thank Thee for the hopeful exuberance
of Life's renewal at this joyous season
as we look with eager expectation
for the splendor of Spring's fulfillment
in the approach of Balemas blessing.

All hail, Farewell, Blessed Be!

The priest will then stand before the altar facing east and lift up his staff and/or hands in a short prayer of parting to the Solar God.

Radiant Lord of Living Life,
Thou hast risen above the dangers of the dark
that the brightness of Thy beams
might grace us with Thy glory
and inspire us with hope
for the fruitfullness of the coming season.

We thank Thee for the confidence
which Thy continuing ascendance evokes within us,
for Thou art the living symbol
of the Light which cannot be quenched,
and we rejoice before Thee at this,
the beginning of Thy season of strength!

All Hail, Farewell, Blessed Be!

At this time, the members who called the quarters will now dismiss them to their own domains. The priest will then take his glaive to the marked boundary of the circle and open the circle in accordance with local custom.

The Closing Benediction

The priestess will then make the final proclamation for the ritual's conclusion.

This rite of the Spring Equinox is ended!
May the grace of the Emerald Goddess be your portion,
and may the rays of the Solar Lord
shine ever more radiant
until His fullness is upon us!

Merry Meet and Merry Part!