Ostara 2007 
by Kat.

Props
Jug of Milk
Cups
Platter of bread or hot cross buns.
Four drummers
A fire
Goddess
Basket of eggs.
Sticks with bells and ribbons
Small pieces of offering wood for the fire

Setup
Before the circle everyone draws a slip of paper from the cauldron. On it will be written piece of Ostara lore. They will also be given a small piece of wood to use in offering to the fire.

Everyone in a circle

Circle cast by HPS

Quarters are called:

Air: 	Air is the bringer of life, the breath, without which we would not survive. As day is balanced by night and night is balanced by day, so the breath is given without and within, the sustaining power of creation. I call upon the Breath of Spring, Powers of Air guard us as we call to the East... Hail and Welcome!

Fire: 	Fire is the bringer of life, the force of destruction, without which - life cannot be renewed. As day is balanced by night and night is balanced by day, so the flames contain the spirit of death and rebirth. I call upon the Flame of Spring to witness our rite, Powers of Fire guard us as we call to the North... Hail and Welcome!

Water: 	Water is the bringer of life, the liquid essence, without which – all life withers and dies. As day is balanced by night and night is balanced by day, so must the river of life giving water be contained in the cauldron of all creation. I call upon the Waves of Spring, Powers of Water guard us as we call to the West... Hail and Welcome!

Earth: 	Earth is the bringer of life, the force that sustains us – without which there is no growth, no harvest and no body.  As day is balanced by night and night is balanced by day, so must we begin and end in the nurturing arms of the mother. I call upon the Soil of Spring, Powers of Earth guard us as we call to the South... Hail and Welcome!

HPS: 	Each of you holds in your hands a piece of wood. I ask you to make of it an offering to the Spring Fire that it may be kindled in love and lore. As you make your offering of wood, offer too what Ostara means to you.

List of Ostara lore.
•	Time of great activity in the fields
•	Time of playing for the fertility of the land and livestock
•	This is made flesh in the hatching of chicks and ducklings at this time
•	The rabbit and the hare are symbols of fertility and multiplication
•	Rebirth of nature
•	The gathering of early signs of spring are thought to bring luck and protect the house from harm through the coming year.
•	The colours white, red, and green, red and white are associated with the Goddess of nature and the faery Queen
•	The hot cross bun containing dried fruit pre-dates xtian times having been eaten at the time of the Spring Equinox in honour of the Spring Goddess.

HP: 	I now ask the children of our community to wake the Maiden of the Land”. 

Give the children a stick with bells and ribbons and they go to the coldest point of the circle to tap the ground saying:

Children: “Wake up, Wake up”

They go back into the circle.

HP: 	“We now build energy for the Maiden so that she may hear our plea and come forth to give us her blessings for the season.”

Spiral dance.

All Chant:	“Maiden, maiden hear us,
		Awake, awake see us
		Awake, awake bless us”

They finish in a circle.

The drummers start up at each quarter. 

HP:	 I now ask one of the Maiden's suitors to come and light the fire of promise.

HP comes forward and lights fire while the narrator speaks...

HP: 	Ostara is a time for balance when night and day are equal. The forces of light are gaining power over the darkness. The God and Goddess are starting to court. A relationship that will be consummated at Beltane. It is traditionally a time when the light turns inward and enlightens the heart and spirit.

Everyone claps and cheers.

HP: 	“I can feel the Maiden approaching, I can hear her.”

Maiden cries a ululation.

HP: 	“Our chanting and magic has enticed her.

Maiden gives another cry.

HP: 	Make way for the maiden of spring!

Everyone is ushered into making a guard of honour for her to enter the circle.

HP: 	Make way for the maiden of spring. Let her hear our cries of welcome.”

Maiden is lead in behind a rose bearer, maiden saunters and is quite flirty.

The maiden reaches the fire and the drumming stops.

The handmaidens come forth with the bread and milk.

Handmaidens: “We honour you with these gifts Maiden.”

She drinks the first of the milk for the season and the first of the bread of the season. They curtsy to her.

Maiden nods in appreciation and she eats and drinks.

All: 	Hail to the Maiden.

She gives hot cross buns and milk to maidens to pass around.

Song is being sung as food is passed around

HPS sings “Kindle the flame”

Maiden: 	May you never hunger, may you never thirst, may this year be ever bountiful.

Maiden walks around circle throwing eggs (Chocolate) for everyone to catch,.

Dancing to drums.

Maiden: 	May the land be fertile and ever fruitful”

She saunters off with her handmaidens.

HP: 	Ostara is a time for balance when night and day are equal. The forces of light are gaining power over the darkness. The God and Goddess are starting to court. Awaken the young warrior within you, awaken the youthful maiden within you. Awaken your desires for, Beltane will be upon us soon.  Happy Ostara

Farewell Quarters

Air: 	I thank the Breath of Spring, the Powers of Air for witnessing our rite. From the East we bid thee Hail and Farewell!

Fire: 	I thank the Flame of Spring, the Powers of Fire for witnessing our rite. From the North we bid thee Hail and Farewell!

Water: 	I thank the Waves of Spring, the Powers of Water for witnessing our rite. From the West we bid thee Hail and Farewell!

Earth: 	I thank the Soil of Spring, the Powers of Earth for witnessing our rite. From the South we bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Close circle.