City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells and Shamanism - Christopher Penczak 2001

Ostara
As the World Turns

Ostara is the celebration of the Vernal Equinox, the resurrection of Earth through the spring vegetation and flowers. The equinox itself usually falls around March 21, when the Sun moves from Pisces to Aries. Aries is the sign of new births, new beginnings, being the first sign on the Zodiac wheel. As such, it is appropriate that it signals the rebirth of the land and the fiery awakening of the goddess.

Ostara is named after a Teutonic goddess of Earth, very similar to our images of Gaia, or Mother Earth. She is also a goddess of eggs. Eggs are a symbol of rebirth and resurrection, as noted in the Yule celebration above. Our modern customs of painting and hiding Easter Eggs comes from Ostara. Ostara is the time for spring planting as well. Seeds, like eggs, are another capsule of life. On this day, many ask that their seeds and gardens be blessed. Materials Needed: Seeds, soil

To prepare for Ostara, you need to acquire some seeds. Many markets and hardware stores carry seeds in the spring, even in the city. If you have difficulty finding them, organic grocery stores, often found only in the city, as they are a new trend, have raw, unprocessed seeds that will sprout.

You can do the celebration on the actual equinox, or the evening before. When you plant the seeds, however, you should do it during the daylight hours. It is so simple that you can even skip the full ritual and do it on your lunch break.

Do Exercises 1, 3, and 4 (see pages 17, 25, and 27). When doing the chakra exercise, focus strongly on your connection to Earth below you. Dig deep down below the city and touch the center of the world.

Put the seeds on your altar and, if you desire, cast a magick circle, as outlined in chapter 2. Add any urban elements from chapter 6 that resonate with you.

Call upon the goddess beneath your feet, the goddess bright and alive beneath all cities, beneath all stone. Call upon the heart of Earth herself.

Ask this goddess to bless your seeds. Ask them to bring new life. If you have an intention, some aspect in your life that you wish to grow, put one intention into each seed.

Thank all beings upon whom you have called and release the circle.

Plant the seeds with a little blessing. Thank this Earth goddess. You can use window boxes, indoor pots, or simply walk through the park and scatter the seeds. Many wildflowers bloom in the cracks of the streets, so you never know where your magical blessings will go.