OSTARA RITUAL 2002

PRE-RITUAL PREPARATION

To hallow the Sacred Grove, the Celebrants light the Fire, bless the Tree, and prepare the Well or Offering Shaft/Bowl.

The following items are needed for the rite: Chalice, well, a branch or sage sprig for aspersing, a sage smudge stick, a bell, an offering bowl or cauldron, offerings (fragrant oil in a bowl with a ladle; corn meal in a small bowl; silver coins; ale in a small bowl; herbs, flowers and stones in a small bowl; an uncooked egg; a wreath; hard-boiled colored eggs; mead), Divination tools.
Before the Ritual, Druid 1 gives the briefing. The Bard teaches the Pagans any new songs. The Seer then leads the Pagans in taking a moment to center. The Bard or other musician creates a shamanic drumbeat and leads the Pagans in song as they process to the Sacred Grove.

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Come We Now As A People
Come we now as a people, to gather at the Sacred Well
Come we now as a people, to gather in the warmth and the light of the Flame.
(Repeat three times or until Procession is ended)

OPENING PRAYERS

Druid 1 rings bell 9 times.
Druids 1 & 2 say in unison:
We are here to honor the Shining Ones!

Pagans:
Biodh se! (bee shay) So be it!

Druid 1:
We revere the nature spirits, our ancestors, and the Gods and Goddesses of our tribe and this place. Through the magic of the sacred fire, the holy well, and the great tree, we offer our rites.

Druid 2 speaks:
Let us now reverence the earth who is our mother, our home, and indeed the substance of our very bodies.

Pagans kneel and kiss the earth.

Druid 1 speaks:
Beloved mother of all, from whose starry womb the green earth springs; you are the bearer of all life. Accept our offering, and bless and uphold this rite.

Druid 2 offers corn meal to the World Tree Offering bowl.

The Bard invokes the Awen, saying:
Power of inspiration, attend to us.
Voice of the fire of wisdom,
Voice of the well of inspiration,
Come into our hearts' shrine.
Make us aware of every good or ill.
O Brigit, guide our rite in the way of truth.
I call you to make our hearts clear within us,
Power of inspiration in this holy place,
Power of inspiration at this holy time.

Pagans:
Biodh se!

PURIFICATION

Seer makes an offering to the Outdwellers, at the south of the Grove, saying:
This place I name, this land I do claim, while me and my own are upon it.
Outsiders!
You who chose not to assist in our stated purpose, whose voice will not harmonize with the tune we play this day; Your function we honor. Your purpose we respect. For you are among the many faces of the great mystery. But as a gift calls for a gift, we offer and pray, asking only this:
Till the bell is rung, and the rite is done, let there be peace between us!

Seer makes an offering of ale to the Outdwellers.

AFFIRMING THE WORLD ORDER

Seer leads a brief grounding and centering, helping the Pagans to connect their individual souls with the Two Powers. The Earth Current or Underworld Power carries the dark, mixed elements from which all forms arise. The Sky Current, or Starry Power is the ordering pattern that crystallizes forms out of the Underworld potential. Together these powers manifest the Middle World.

Bard leads the Grove in singing:

Unity In The Three Realms
Beside you I stand, hand in hand,
On this Sacred Land.
With one breath we cry, you and I,
To the Sacred Sky.
And together we one day will be
Across the Endless Sea.
(Repeat two times)

THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND PRECEDENT

Druid 1 announces the meaning of this day's ritual.

Seer announces who will be worshiped this day (Ancestors, Nature Spirits and Gods).

Bard announces who will be the Patron Gods and/or Goddesses of the rite.

Druid 1 says:
Now let us open the Ways Between…..

FIRE, WELL, AND TREE

Druid 1 makes offerings to the Sacred Center. Druid 1 and Grove offer Silver to the well, with these words:
Sacred waters that flow and swirl beneath all being, accept our offering. Let us know the elder depths within ourselves the source of all, the well of elder wisdom.

Druid 2 carries the Well Offering Bowl around the circle so that all may offer silver to the well.

Pagans (when making an offering of silver to the well):
Sacred well, flow within us!

Bard offers oil to the Fire, with these words:
Sacred fire that consumes and transforms, true and holy light of the Shining Ones, accept our offering. Sacrificed and sacrificer, let holy flame warm our spirits and our lives.

Pagans:
Sacred fire, burn within us!
Seer censes and sprinkles the Tree, with these words:
Sacred pillar, boundary of all worlds, stand at the center of the sky, stand at the center of the sea, stand at the center of the land on which we dwell. Let us be deepened in your depths, Raised to your heights, Strengthened in your strength.

Pagans:
Sacred tree, grow within us!

FIRE AND WATER

Druid 2 (or Seer) draws water from the Well while Druid 1 lights a smudge stick from the Fire. Druid 1 quickly censes and the Seer and Druid 2 asperse the Pagans.

Meanwhile, Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

The Portal Song
By Fire and by Water, between the Earth and Sky
We stand like the World Tree, rooted deep, crowned high.
Come we now to the Well, the eye and the mouth of Earth
Come we now to the Well, and silver we bring
Come we now to the Well, the waters of rebirth
Come we now to the Well, together we sing
(Repeat Chorus)
We will kindle a fire, bless all and with harm to none
We will kindle a fire, and offerings pour
We will kindle a fire, a light 'neath the Moon and Sun
We will kindle a fire, our spirits will soar
(Repeat Chorus)
Gather we at the tree, the root and the crown of all
Gather we at the Tree, below and above
Gather we at the tree, together we make our call
Gather we at the Tree, in wisdom and love
(Repeat Chorus)

OPENING THE GATES

Seer leads the Pagans in briefly envisioning the Sacred Center as the Gates Between The Worlds. Through the Gates, Pagans send love, worship and offerings to the Powers, and they send blessings in return. When the Gates are open, thoughts and impulses can be heard clearly by the Three Kindreds.

Seer invokes Manannan, ending with:
Manannan mac Lir, accept our sacrifice.

Pagans:
Accept our sacrifice!

Seer makes an offering of oil to the Fire.

Druid 1 then invokes the opening of the Gates, making an opening triskele on the Fire and Well, ending with:
Let the gates be open!

Pagans:
Let the gates be open!

The Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Gatekeeper Open the Portals
Gatekeeper, open the portals
Between the Gods and Mortals
Power freely flows
As our magic grows
(Repeat)

KINDRED OFFERINGS

The Druid, Seer and Bard, or other appointed Pagans, make proper offerings to each of the Kindreds, standing at the fire.

ANCESTORS

Seer invokes the Ancestors and makes an offering of bread and ale to the World Tree Offering Bowl.

NATURE SPIRITS

Bard invokes the Nature Spirits and makes an offering of herbs, flowers and/or trinkets scattered around the Nemeton's edge or hung on the World Tree.

DEITIES

Druid invokes the Shining Ones and makes an offering of scented oil to the fire.

HONORING THE PATRONS

The Druid or other appointed leader may honor the Patrons of the High Holy Day of Ostara, the Goddess, Eostra.

Seer Invokes the Goddess, Eostra.

The Invocation of Eostra
Seer invokes Eostra, ending with:

Seer:
Mighty Goddess Eostra, accept our sacrifice!

Pagans speak in unison:
Accept our sacrifice!

Bard breaks an egg into the offering bowl.

Seer offers oil to the fire.

Druid 1 rings the bell three times.

AWAKENING THE EARTH

Bard invokes the earth, asking Eostra to quicken the land with new growth, and then three times thumps the ground with her staff at each of the four directions, starting in the east, with these words each time:

Bard:
By the power of Eostra, great Earth awaken!

After all offerings have been made, the Celebrants re-center the Pagans and Druid 1 leads an attunement to all the spirits that have been called, recalling the Two Currents.

PATRON INVOCATIONS

Druid 2 invites each Pagan to name their personal Patrons, if any.

Druid 1 then invokes the named Patrons and says:
Welcome to our Patron Gods and Goddesses, the Ancestors, and the Nature Spirits! To all of you who have gathered at our fire, we pray you join us in worshipping the Patrons of this place, attending this holy rite, here in our sacred grove.

Druid 2 (or Seer) now offers oil to the fire, saying:
Spirits of this place, accept our offerings!

Pagans:
Accept our offerings!

PRAISE OFFERINGS

Druid then passes a wreath around the Pagans, announcing that as the wreath passes, those who wish may make a praise offering of any kind to the Kindreds.

SACRIFICE AND OMEN

The Celebrants prepare the final offerings.

Druid 1 says:
We have given of our love and our wealth to our patron deities. Now let our voices arise on the fire, let our voices sound in the well, let our words pass the boundary to the Otherworlds. Shining Ones, we give you our love, our respect, our devotion as we pray to you.

Pagans:
Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice.

Druid 1 offers the decorated wreath to the Fire while the Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Hail All The Gods
Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the holy ones we've brought together
Powers of the sky, Powers of the sacred earth
Powers of the underworld we've brought together
Hail all the Gods, Hail all the Goddesses
Hail all the Gods and Goddesses
(Repeat)

Druid 2 says:
Having prayed to the powers, let us open to them, asking what blessings they offer us in return.

The omen is taken. Seer interprets the omen, leading all in contemplation of the things they would ask of the Powers, especially as suggested by the omen.

Pagans meditate on their own needs, those of loved ones, and the community. In this moment each person's own desires may be strongly imagined, held in mind and heart, with harm to none, for the good of all.

THE RETURN FLOW

Wine, ale, mead or apple juice is poured into one chalice or horn, and water from the well is poured into another chalice or horn. Both are elevated.

Druid 1 speaks:
We draw blessing from the cauldron of blessing. We pour the ale of inspiration. Behold the holy cup of magic, the outpouring of blessing from the mighty ones. When we share the drink of the Shining Ones, we drink in wisdom, love and strength.
Hear us, Shining Ones; hallow these waters! We, your children, rejoice in your gift. Bless our lives with love, magic and bounty as we drink these sacred waters. Behold the waters of life!

Pagans:
Behold the waters of life!

The chalices are passed and all drink from one or the other while the Bard leads the Pagans in singing:

Pour The Waters
Pour the waters, raise the cup
Drink your share of wisdom deep
Strength and love now fill us up
As the elder ways we keep
(Repeat until all have drunk from the cup)

WORK OF THE RITUAL

Here any magic workings or special invocations are made.
For Ostara, a spell for rain is cast.

CLOSING THE GATES

Druid 1 says:
The Mighty Ones have blessed us. With joy in our hearts let us carry the magic from our sacred grove into our lives and work. Each time we offer to the powers they become stronger and more aware of our needs and our worship. So now as we prepare to depart let us give thanks to those who have aided us. Eostra, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid 2:
Gods and Goddesses of elder days, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid 1:
Spirits of this land, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid 2:
Ancestors, our kindred, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid 1:
To all the powers that have aided us, we say again, we thank you!

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid 1 may call for a moment of silence. Then, any unused offerings are given to the earth.

Druid 1 gives thanks to the Mother of all, ending with:
We thank you.

Pagans:
We thank you!

The Celebrants stand in the center.

Bard thanks the Gatekeeper, ending with:
We thank you.

Pagans:
We thank you!

Druid 1 makes a closing sign over the hallows with a staff, saying:
Now we end what we began. Let the fire be flame, let the well be water; let all be as it was before. Let the magic gates between the worlds be closed.

Pagans:
Let the gates be closed!

Druid 1:
Walk with wisdom, children of the Earth. The rite is ended!

Pagans:
Biodh se!

Druid 2 then rings the bell nine times.

The Bard leads a chant as the Pagans process out of the Grove.

Walk With Wisdom
Walk with wisdom, from this hallowed place
Walk not in sorrow, our roots shall 'ere embrace
May strength be your brother, and honor be your kin
And luck be your lover until we meet again
(Repeat three times or until Recession is ended)