Covenant of WISE, Church of Wicca, A.T.C. , Inc.
Ostara



Ostara – 1º Aries


On or about March 21

  • Light and Dark in Balance, Beginning of Spring

  • Function is to begin, pioneer, and create new life.

  • To break away from the collective consciousness, & form the illusion of a separate individual identity.

  • Birthed into the new cycle, motivated, ready for action

Ostara – Correspondences

  • Colors – White and Pastels

  • Gods – Oak King, Maiden Aspect

  • Direction – East

  • Decorated Eggs (red for fertility), Rabbits

  • Magic – Birth, Creativity

Ostara is the time of Birth.  It is a time of balance, when light and dark are equal.  This is the time when you are ready to burst forth from the womb of the Goddess and begin this years incarnation. 

This is the time to celebrate the crossing over into the light half of the year.  The usual Easter celebrations that you are use to are applicable now.  The bunnies represent the fertility, and the birthing of the season, and the eggs represent the new births.

Ostara is the time for Persephone to emerge from the Underworld, bringing spring, and life back to the earth.  Everyone returns and is reborn through the east portal.  This is the beginning of this year’s incarnation, your birth into the physical realm of this year.

Red Eggs symbolize the power of rebirth.  We usually blow the insides out of the egg and insert a Rune or some divinatory message within the egg.  If you choose that egg from Persephone’s basket after entering through the eastern portal/birth canal, it represents the astrological chart of the reincarnated spirit, or their contract for this current incarnation. 

Things you will want to do this season include switching out seasonal wardrobes, and buying new seasonal clothes.  Just as you would be putting on a new body in the larger cycle of life, now is the time to take care of pampering your physical form.  A makeover, or a new hairdo, start a diet, join a gym, begin a dance or yoga class, anything that helps you get in touch with your body.  Of course, you want to keep your yearly goal in mind, and make sure that you are preparing your body in harmony with your long term goal.
 



Ostara Ritual

*Please note that we make these rituals purposefully funny to stimulate the celebratory atmosphere, and to keep the energy moving. 

This is a powerful ritual explaining the mysteries of reincarnation, and rebirth.  You need to create a portal in the east where the members can walk through and be reborn.  

Cast Circle, Call Quarters, each Priest/ess invokes their deity (Zeus, Hades, Demeter, Hecate, Hermes, and Persephone)

All participants (who are not drawing down or holding quarters) hold on to a cord to connect them (ideally this would be the cord created at Mabon when Persephone takes you across to the Underworld) and to represent the umbilical cord to the mother.  They gather at the outer edges of the circle.  Persephone speaks to them

Persephone - "Listen Ye, who inhabit my realm, children of the dead.  There is unrest in the upper world.  Winter has been long, and mortals wish for spring.  Now is the time for renewal, rebirth, reincarnation.  Look with me now through the veil, the Gods are speaking of us." 

Zeus and Hermes step into the center of the circle.

Hermes - "Zeus, Oh Great Ruler of the Universe, the people are cold and hungry.  They will soon starve to death.  The land is barren, no crops will grow.  Winter has been long and harsh.  If you don't do

Zeus - "No one to worship me?  That's not good.  I have to do something about that right away.  Fetch me Demeter, Goddess of Grain and Fertility."

Hermes - "Right away, My Lord."  

Zeus - "And Hermes, Fetch Hades too."

Hermes - "Hades!  Aw come on, not Hades.  My hair just grew back out from the last time I went down there."  

Zeus - "Oh all right, I'll get him myself. Hades!  HADES!"  Hermes circles around and steps back into the circle of people at the east gate. 

Demeter stepping into the center of the circle - "I am here, where in Hell is Hades?“

Zeus - "HADES, I summon, stir, and call thee FORTH."

Hades – steps into the center of the circle with the others "What? What? What?  People are always just dying to see me."

Zeus - "Demeter, this infernal Winter has cannot go on."

Demeter - "I am the Goddess of Grain and giver of fertility and abundance and this winter WILL continue until my daughter Kore is returned from the realms of the Underworld."

Zeus - "But Demeter, nothing will grow.  The people are cold and hungry.  They are starving to death."

Hades - "Oh, starving to death.  I thought there was a problem.  What's the down side here?"

Zeus - "Hades, you must return Kore to her mother.  We must preserve the circle of life."  

Hades - "Look, you guys don't get it.  This is a win/ win situation for me.  Everybody dies, then I'm the head guy.  You all won't be needed anymore."  

Zeus - "Hades, you know that's not how it works.  Why won't you return her to her mother?"

Hades - "Because she is my wife.  It is within my rights to have her at my side.  I am Lord of the Underworld, and I refuse to let her leave my realm.  Come on Zeus, you've been down there, she brightens up the place.  Besides, she's eaten the fruit of the dead, anyway.  She can't leave.“

Demeter - "She belongs with me.  She is the Goddess of Spring.  It is wrong for you to keep her against her will."

Hades - "She belongs with you.  She belongs with me.  Look, if you let everybody starve to death, that's on you.  I'm outta here."

Zeus - "I am the Ruler of Gods and mortals and I shall decide the fate of this Maiden.  If it is true and she has tasted the food of the dead.  She must remain in the underworld.“

Demeter - "I will not allow stem, nor leaf, nor bud to bloom until my daughter is returned to me."

Zeus - "Very Well, I have a compromise.  For every seed she has eaten, she must spend one month of the year in the underworld, but in the Spring she can return to Mt. Olympus and bring life, hope, and rejoicing to her mother."

Hades - "Cool, so she's eaten 12 seeds.  Hades wins again!"

Zeus - "Hecate, What say you?"

Hecate - "She has eaten six seeds.  She has been in the underworld for six months.  It is time for her to return."

Hades - "Wait, wait!  Zeus, you're gonna believe an old crone over me?“

Zeus - "Hades, Release Demeter's daughter."

Persephone appearing at the gate of the circle carrying a basket of Red Ostara Eggs - "I am here, but I am no longer little Kore, Demeter's  Daughter.   Death has transformed me.  I am Persephone, Goddess of the dead, Queen of all Witches.  I carry the power of rebirth (holding up a Red Egg) from the underworld and breathe life back into the earth."

Persephone – to Demeter "Greetings Mother.  Let us rejoice and together bring fertility back to the earth and her people."  Demeter and Persephone embrace and raise power.

Persephone passes out the eggs to the participants - "Now is the time that the seeds you planted at Imbolg are sprouting.  Inside your egg you will find a clue about how your garden fares.  Break open your Egg and leave the shells to feed the earth."

After all have gotten their message, Persephone leads a Spiral Dance Widdershins Chanting "Now we Banish Winter."  When the Spiral gets to the center Persephone leads back deosil and changes the Chant to "Now we welcome Spring."

Cakes and Wine, Close Quarters, End Circle.

Feast!

Covenant of WISE, Church of Wicca - ATC, Inc. * 2370 Ebenezer Rd. * Conyers * GA * 30094