Ireland's OWN Myths and Magic

Ostara
—by Míchealín Daugherty

(Also known as Easter, Alban Eiler, Lady Day and the Festival of Trees)

Ostara is celebrated on March 21st. The name Ostara is derived from the Eostre, the Goddess of Spring, and celebrated the Vernal Equinox. It is believed that Ostara was introduced to the Celtic world by the Saxons around the year 600 CE to mark the official beginning of Spring. Many people still go bird-watching on this day to catch sign of returning flocks. At this time, the courtship between the God and Goddess begins and will be consecrated on Beltane.

The Christians absorbed the traditions of Ostara and called it Easter. Ostara is where the present day traditions of egg decorating and egg hunts originated. The most popular food is Hot Cross Buns, originally a cake with the crescent moon symbol of the Goddess.

This day, the first day of spring, is when the Sun finally overtakes the night, proving the efficacy of the magic worked at the Yule festival of lights. Ostara is a balance between light and dark, and a time of sowing in the northern countries. Many creatures give birth at this time, so symbols of fertility, such as eggs, are traditionally eaten.

In some traditions, a few eggs that you have blown and decorated in seed grain or bird seed should be buried, or pack them with your garden seeds until you are ready to plant. Check out a music store and look for egg-shaped shakers. Use them to help raise energy in ritual. Leave food offerings for the faeries and other nature spirits who are responsible for the fertility of the earth. Climb a nearby hill to meditate; send healing energy to local places of grace hurt to help repair the damage being done to your environment.

Should Ostara fall during a full moon, try this ceremony. Draw on an egg what you wish for in the next lunar month's time. It has to be a drawing because it is not known if the spirits will understand your language. As you draw pictures on the egg, stare at the Moon and visualize what you would like top see in the month ahead. Then throw the egg to her. When the egg breaks it releases the intent to the world

To celebrate Ostara:

On Ostara Eve, light a purple or violet candle and burn patchouli incense. Carry them 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 you wend
And merry we'll meet next winter again.

Blow out the candle and say: Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!

To prepare your altar for the Ostara Sabbat, use the following:

Light green altar candles (in addition to your usual four elemental candles)
Jasmine incense
An earthenware or wooden bowl containing soil
Spring flowers
A large seed of some kind placed on your altar pentacle
Parchment and ink
Wand, anthame and bell

Proceed in your usual method of preparing and consecrating the circle, and invoking the spirits. Then say:

I call upon the blessings of the Ancient Ones as merry do we meet at this springtime rite. Lady and Lord, bear your child (your magick name), for I am here to celebrate with you and for you as we greet Spring together.

Take up the flowers from the altar and moving doesil around the circle (start at the north), drop flowers inside the circle. ring bell three times and say:

Springtime is the time to sow the seed, and it is the time for me to plant what I want to grow. This season brings hope and joy; expectations for desire realised; and inspiration for new ideas. My life is brought into balance and I am reborn with the Earth's renewal. I welcome thee, Beautiful Spring.

Visualise the seed on the altar as what you want to plant — a quality, an opportunity, a creation — so the seed represents the idea in mind. Ring bell one time, then write on parchment the seed idea. Light the parchment from the center altar candle. Drop the burning ashes into the bowl of earth on the pentacle and say:

Lady and Lord, receive the seed of my desire and let grow and prosper that it may ripen and bear fruit.

Use the anthame to mix ashes into the soil. Take the wand, and with it upraised, dance around the circle three times to raise energy. Return to the altar with the wand still upraised and say:

By the power instilled in this raised wand will the seed be planted in the ready soil. Blessed be the wand of Spring and blessed be the Earth that receives it!

Kiss the tip of the wand, transferring the raised energy into it, then make an indentation in the center of the soil with and visualise the energy entering. Set down the wand. Hold the seed aloft, concentrate energy into it (infusing it with your idea), place it in the furrow and closed the soil over it and say:

This seed is planted in the mother's womb to be part of the earth, of life and of me. Let this seed and what it represents grow to manifestation. As I will it, so mote it be!

Now you may proceed with your usual cake and wine ceremony, or go directly to the depart in peace ritual.

Sources:

Asala, J. Celtic Folklore and Cooking. Llewellyn Publications. 2001. P.14
Moura, A, Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore and Herb Craft, Llewellyn Publications. 2001. pp 203-218.
Spitzer, KD, Llewellen's Witches' Datebook 2004.
Special thanks for Hallie for the Full Moon Egg Ceremony