Seasons of Wicca: The Essential Guide to Rituals and Rites to Enhance Your Spiritual Journey - Ambrosia Hawthorn 2020
Ostara
Sun Celebrations (Sabbats)
Rituals to Enhance your Spiritual Journey
Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox, is a time of renewal, balance, and rebirth. It’s the second spring festival of the year and is associated with the fertility of the land. The rituals in this section focus on honoring balance and celebrating renewal.
WEAVING BALANCE RITUAL
Honoring balance during Ostara is a perfect way to celebrate the equal daytime and nighttime of the Spring Equinox. In this ritual, you’ll use string or yarn to create a woven representation of harmony.
Ritual Setting
Altar
Tools and Supplies
Festive decorations for Ostara—crystals, flowers or candles
Wand or athame
Elemental representations
Deity representation
1 cone or stick incense—lavender, rose, violet, or frankincense
Fire-safe plate or incense holder
Lighter or matches
3 (18-inch) pieces of string or yarn
6 miniature bells with loops (to hang on string)
PRIOR TO THE RITUAL
1.Shower or bathe, visualizing all old or unwanted energies leaving your being.
2.Cleanse the altar.
PREPARING YOUR ALTAR
Place the festive decorations and tools on the altar. Place the elemental representations facing their respective cardinal directions. Place the deity representation at the top of the altar. Place the incense on the fire-safe plate.
THE RITUAL
1.Cast a circle of protection. Hold the wand or athame as an extension of your hand to gather and direct energy as you call upon the elements. Starting from the east and ending north, call upon the element of air for mental clarity, the element of fire for power, the element of water for fluidity, and the element of earth for stability.
2.Light the incense and meditate for 5 to 10 minutes on what it means to honor balance for yourself.
3.Hold the three pieces of yarn or string together and tie them in a knot at one end. Lay the knotted string on a flat surface so it is easy to braid. If you’d like, tape down the knot to keep it in place.
4.Hold the leftmost string, cross it over the middle string so it becomes the new middle string, and say: “Goddess of the Moon and Night, I invite you to join me today.”
5.Hold the rightmost string, cross it over the current middle string so it becomes the new middle string, and say: “God of the Sun and Day, I invite you to join me today.”
6.Take the new leftmost string, cross it over the current middle string so it becomes the new middle string, and say: “I now join with the God and Goddess on this day of balance.”
7.Continue weaving the braid. As you braid, string on the bell charms. Once the braid is finished, lay it on the altar and say: “With each strand, I honor the balance of life found in the changing seasons, celebrating equal night and day as the sun crosses the celestial equator, growing in strength. With this braid, I pay tribute to life’s endings and new beginnings as Earth further awakens from its slumber. I thank the God and Goddess for their support and presence here today.”
8.Release the elements in reverse order by beginning facing the north and ending east, thanking each element for their assistance and bidding them farewell. Then open the circle by saying: “I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
9.Allow the incense to burn out. Leave the braid on the altar as an offering.
SPRING RENEWAL RITUAL
On Ostara, nature is resurrected after the harshness of winter. In this ritual, you’ll work with the season of life and growth, using cardboard egg cartons to start a spring seedling garden that celebrates renewal. After the seedlings have grown, the egg carton can be cut apart for individual planting of the seedlings.
Ritual Setting
Outdoor altar (or any area that you can get dirty with soil)
Tools and Supplies
For the ritual
Wand or athame
Elemental representations
Deity representation
For the seedlings
Cardboard egg carton with 6 or 12 cells
Scissors
Waterproof tray or plate
Potting soil
Seeds of choice
Spray bottle with water
PRIOR TO THE RITUAL
1.Shower or bathe, visualizing all old or unwanted energies leaving your being.
2.Choose an outdoor altar or other workspace that can get a little dirty.
3.Cleanse the area.
4.Prepare the egg carton to hold seedings. To do this, cut the lid off an egg carton with the scissors. Poke a small hole in the bottom of each egg cell to support drainage. Place the egg carton on a waterproof drainage tray.
PREPARING THE ALTAR
Place the tools and supplies on the altar. Place the elemental representations in a pentacle configuration around the workspace. Leave room in the center for the egg carton. Place the deity representation at the top of the altar.
THE RITUAL
1.Cast a circle of protection. Hold the wand or athame as an extension of your hand to gather and direct energy as you call upon the elements. Starting from the east and ending north, call upon the element of air for mental clarity, the element of fire for power, the element of water for fluidity, and the element of earth for stability.
2.Invoke the God, Goddess, or other deity of your choice by saying: “Deity, I invite you to join this sacred circle.”
3.Fill each egg cell with soil. Then, sprinkle 3 or 4 seeds into each cell. As you do this, say: “Slumbering Earth, awaken. Allow these seeds to spring forth.”
4.Cover the seeds with a thin layer of potting soil and say: “Lord and Lady, bless these seeds to grow with life renewed.”
5.Use the spray bottle to mist the seeds lightly with water. Meditate for 5 to 10 minutes on life and renewal.
6.Thank your chosen deity by saying: “Deity, I thank you for the wisdom you share and the blessings you give.”
7.Release the elements in reverse order by beginning facing the north and ending east, thanking each element for their assistance and bidding them farewell. Then open the circle by saying: “I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
8.Place the seedlings where they will get the correct amount of sun. For this information, follow the instructions on the seed packets.
9.Water the seeds according to the packet instructions and watch them grow. What you grow will serve as an offering to the Lord and Lady.