COTH Ostara Ritual 2010
Based upon AWC Workshop 2008 for “Coven Of The Spring Phoenix” by Blayze

Set up

8 golden cords. 1 cane hoop covered in vines. 1 small crystal egg. Sheet of gold tissue paper. 2 x tapers. Small cauldron.

Large Cauldron in West is full of water. In it float the exact amount of flowers for all participants (less the Maiden). Also within the cauldron is a Chalice upon a small stand.

Upon the altar is a Flowered circlet for the Maiden, a Horned Crown for the Stag. There is also some anointing oil.

Circle Cast

Quarters

Central Invocation

Power Raising

Power raising is performed as a cord dance with 8 golden cords/ribbons looped together in a wheel. The Maiden (Bec) stands in the West with the Hoop. 

The dance is performed to the Witches Rune. Those not dancing the wheel can drum, stamp and chant.

At the end of the cord dance the wheel is lowered to the ground and then lifted back up after everyone has grounded. They still keep hold of their cords whilst this happens. 

When they raise it back up the introductory poem is spoken

PS1:		The silver'd star on silken thread      
		'twixt night and day doth swing
		But where O where will it come to rest
		When Winter turns to Spring?

P1:		For subtle is the journey
		Of the ash and feathered flame
		That drifts between the dusk and dawn
		In search of Sun's bright ray

PS2:		The feather flies on scented breeze
		As silver'd star doth pause
		In seeking for the Golden Child
		With whom Solstice is reborn

P2:		For now the silver'd star doth swing
		beyond the Earth and Sea
		With mirror'd glimpse of other worlds
		Where bone becomes the seed

PS3:		Where feathered flame consumes the ash
		As the firebird takes wing
		To land upon the crown of He
		Who heralds in the Spring

P3:		So seek now for the Golden Child
		Who with wing'd crown displays
		The changing seasons of the man
		The King who rules the Day. 

The witch who will become the Maiden, then places the hoop over the wheel. Each person then binds their cord ends to the vine woven hoop.

Maiden: Thus is story woven – blessed be! The Wheel Of Life is bound to the journey of the Sun. And beneath the Sun's bountiful rays we shall bloom, as the land blooms. 

HP:	For we are told as of old, in the ancient mysteries, that from the ashes of the winter's hearth the earth will awaken and send forth her flowers. 

HPS:	The flowers of Spring's heady renewal and the flowers that P3 our memory of the greening of the world. So mote it be. Take up a flower that floats within the Cauldron of Cerridwen and bind it to our Spring offering.

Now each witch, in turn moves to the cauldron that is placed in the west. One at a time they spiral out from the Wheel and move to the West. As each person moves, the Maiden takes their place holding the wheel. The cauldron is full of spring water and floating upon the surface are flowers that have either ribbon or florist wire bound to them. There is also a chalice that sits on a small stand within the cauldron. It should be half in and half out of the water. The chalice is filled with either spring water or herb infused white wine or mead. Each witch takes their flower or leaf from the cauldron and returns to bind it to the wheel. 

Any participants not holding the cords then go to the cauldron and take a flower – which they can bind to the hoop.

The Sun Wheel is complete and the Maiden having stood at each place on the wheel, now moves to the Cauldron.

Maiden:	Within the Cauldron of Cerridwen there are no flowers left that I may weave upon the wheel. It is the cup of the wine of life that remains.

HPS: Come priestess, it is you who bound the wheel to the Sun. You hold the essence of all of the flowers within you. Take up the Wheel woven by your brothers and sisters and make of it an offering from all of us here gathered.

The Maiden takes the wheel and carries it from the East to the North to the West. When she arrives at the West she sprinkles it with some of the water from the cauldron and then spins it from the West to the South to the East once more. She places the Sun Wheel before the altar and spends a moment contemplating it.

Meanwhile the 8 witches who have stood in the centre facing inwards, now spin to face outwards and join hands upraised with all those in the circle (do this in the centre of the circle to leave room for the Maiden to walk). All chant as the Maiden walks.

All:	The moon goes round the earth, the earth goes round the sun, when day and night are equal, the greening has begun.

When the Maiden places the Sun Wheel, the witches in the centre drop hands and walk to the edge of the circle, where they turn around to face inwards.

The HPS goes to the Cauldron and takes up the Cup. 

The Maiden moves to stand in the middle of the circle and is met there by the HPS with the cup. 

HPS: Priestess will you drink from the Cup of the Wine of Life? It was not within the well without purpose. It has called to you from the depths of your dreams. 

Maiden: I will drink

Maiden drinks. 

Cup Bearer comes forward and takes the cup. She places it upon the altar and returns to the circle.

HPS:  Will you open your heart and your mind to the fullness of Spring, to the tides and the rhythms of the earth?

Maiden: I will open my heart and my mind.

Oil Bearer comes forward with anointing oil. HPS anoints Maiden on heart and third eye.
Oil Bearer replaces oil upon the altar and returns to the circle.

HPS:  Will you seek the mystery of transformation?

Maiden: I will seek the mystery.

Crown Bearer comes forward with circlet of flowers. HPS places the circlet upon Maiden's head.
Crown Bearer returns to circle.

HPS: 	Then know this.
	All belief comes from within,
	and all truth is sought and found,
	in the Cup of the heart,
	and the Temple of the Spirit;
	in the deep places of the forest,
	where sunlight patterns the leaf-strewn floor,
	and there is only the song of the birds,
	to break the silence of the soul;
	there shall we find our gods,
	beneath tree and leaf and waving bough,
	beneath sky and cloud and in wind and rain,
	reborn of the ever-returning Sun
	like a Phoenix from the Flame.

HPS kisses the Maiden and takes up the Wand from the altar. This she gives it to the HP with a kiss.

He and all the men arrange themselves around the circle with the HP facing the Maiden.

HP Invokes:
	I call to thee O Maiden of the Moonrise
	From beyond the silver'd sea
	reflecting starlight, rainbow hue'd upon the flood

	I call to thee O Maiden
	By thy robes of girdled green
	that bind the sickle of the birth and of the blood

	With the crown of many flowers
	bound thrice upon thy brow
	Thou art rising Queen of verdant blooming

	Thou art winged in spirit's flame
	Seeking form within thy name

	As the wheel is bestowed thy loving kiss

	O Maiden of morning, rise up from ashes' dawning
	Send thy sickle to cut the winter's thread

	Send thy mantle to enfold the land a-warming
	And thy steps to bloom the ground where 'ere thou tread 

	Descend we pray into the body of thy servant and priestess.

The men and the HP withdraw to the edge of the circle.

Maiden:	The tides of Spring are within me
		and the Sun shall dance
		when water merges with fire.

		But where is the Sun?
		I see him not!

Maiden begins to dance slowly around the circle.

Maiden:	I who am the beauty of the Green Earth
		and the white moon among the stars
		and the mystery of the waters
		and the desires of the heart of men
		call unto thy soul.

		O Sun, arise and come to me
		For I am the soul of all nature
		who gives life to the universe.

		From me all things proceed
		and unto me all things must return.

		For before my face, beloved of Gods and of Men
		let thine innermost divine self be enfolded
		in the rapture of the infinite.

The presumptive Stag (P2) moves from the edge of the circle and begins to follow the Maiden around the circle as she dances.

The Maiden takes P2 by the hand and spins him into the centre of the circle.

Maiden:	Why do you follow me?

Stag:		I have heard your call

Maiden:	You are but the shadow of the Sun I seek

Stag:		But the shadow is the sovereign of the land of Dreams
		and I have dreamt of you My Lady.

Maiden:	Are you then the shadow before the light is kindled?
		Are you the spark born at the longest night?

		Tell me then your dreams...

Stag:		Of all the Ladies that I know
		There's only one can please me so
		That all her Looks and all her Ways
		Make music for me all my Days.
		For life, I love her, and adore
		I only saw her once – not more.

		But once I saw her, as I say
		But once, she crossed my Path, my way
		For ever. She will be my Queen
		Where did I see her? - in a Dream.

Maiden:	 I see your dream is true. The land itself tells me so

		For the oak tree dreams of a God with Horns and knows no other King.  		I see the shadow of horns upon your head.

		Are you willing to leave the shadow and take your place as the Sun?

Stag:		I am willing.

Maiden:	Then you shall be properly prepared.

Brendan brings candle to the Maiden. She draws a sigil with the flame in front of the Stag.

She hands the candle back to Brendan who places it on the altar and returns to the circle.

Maiden:	Are you willing to drink from the Cup of the Wine of life?

Stag:		I am willing to drink. For once long ago, my love
		when first we were young beneath the budding trees of springtime
		you gave me the Cup of Life to drink
		And gave me yourself in equal measure.

P1 brings cup from the altar. Maiden gives it to the Stag to drink from. She then hands it back to P1 who places it on the altar and returns to the circle.

Maiden:	Are you willing to seek the mystery of transformation?

Stag:		I am willing to be transformed.

HP brings crown from the altar and gives it to the Maiden, who crowns the Stag. HP returns to circle.

The women come forward and take up the Sun Wheel from the altar.  They bind the Sun Wheel to the Stag as he stands in a star position. 

The women arrange themselves in an inner circle. HPS brings wand to the Maiden and moves to stand behind the Stag.

Maiden then invokes:

	I call to thee O Horned One
	From beyond the silver'd shore
	that lies within the darkness' sweet embrace

	I call to thee O Horned One
	By thy golden ray of flame,
	That bears the spear of kindred's summoned fate

	With the crown of many tines
	bound twice upon thy brow
	Thou art rising sovereign to the Stars and jewelled sky

	Thou art Winged in spirit's fire
	Seeking form within desire

	As the wheel spins again from dusk to dawn

	O Horned One rise up from Winter's ashes
	Send thy spark to match the amber birth anew

	Send thy spirit to enchant the greening forest
	And the magic of the land to be renewed!

Maiden then steps forward and kisses the Sun Wheel at its centre. She then matches his stance and kisses him upon the lips with the Sun Wheel held between them.

Maiden:	Thou art reborn of the ever returning Sun
		Like a Phoenix from the flame.

Maiden steps back. The women unbind the Sun Wheel and return it to the altar.

Stag:		I am as old as time;
		for I sprang forth from the first breath taken;
		yet have I aged not;
		for I am born anew with each gust of wind
		and every gentle breeze.

		Let us kindle the fires together my love, so that the ashes of my renewal may be 		carried far upon the sweet scented breath of Spring.

Maiden:	It shall be so.

PS1 takes up small cauldron and places it between Maiden and Stag.

P3 takes up one candle and lights it at the God flame

PS3: takes up crystal egg and hands it to the Maiden

Claire takes up tissue paper and hands it to Stag

PS2 takes up the other candle and lights it at the Goddess flame

HPS:		Oh Lord and Lady, take from our hands the egg that holds our dreams
		
HP:		And enfold it in your mantle of gold

HPS:		That by the flames of your passion newly kindled
		our dreams may be given flight.

Maiden and Stag wrap the egg in the paper and place it into the cauldron.

P3 gives his candle to the Stag

PS2 gives her candle to the Maiden

Witches step back.

Maiden and Stag light the wrapped egg.
 
Maiden and Stag: 	From the ashes of the fire
			The Phoenix is reborn
			And out of death comes forth new life
			Though in another form

Wait for the fire to die down and the ashes to settle around the egg.

The cauldron is then taken up by the Maiden and Stag. They take it to each witch who in turn takes a small amount of ash and blows it from their fingertip.

The Maiden and Stag can speak inspired blessings to each person as this happens.

After they have walked the circle they take the cauldron back to the centre.

The HPS and HP then take the Chalice and the Pentacle to the Centre.

They give the chalice to the Maiden. The Stag take his blade and holds it above the chalice.	

The HPS and HP kneel on either side holding the pentacle above the cauldron. 

Maiden:	You have passed beyond the gate
		of knowledge and form,
		Found erect the Tower of Truth

		You have journeyed with the Sage
		through the calm and the storm
		to become One with the Temple Of Youth

Stag:		You have passed beyond the gate
		of inspiration's kiss.
		Found fertile the Cauldron and Flame

		You have journeyed with the Crone
		through the Valley of Mist
		to become One with the Hidden Name

Maiden:	O Mystery of Mysteries
		O thought and desire
		Open our hearts to the kindled fire

Stag:		O Mystery of Mysteries
		Beyond flesh, beyond bone
		Open our minds, beyond tree, beyond stone

Stag plunges the blade into the Chalice.

All:		Two become One by the Circle and Sword
		The endless re-union of our Lady and Lord
		The spiral entwines the Lance and the Grail
		Beyond Sun, beyond Moon,
		Beyond Starlight pale.

The Maiden and Stag share the cup and then pass it to the HPS and the HP. They in turn take the cup and the pentacle around circle so that each witch may drink.

The HP and HPS take the cup and pentacle back to the altar.

The HP goes up to the Maiden and says:

HP:		O Maiden of Spring, we thank you for your presence here this day.  

The HPS goes up to the Stag and says:

HPS:		O Stag of Renewal, we thank you for your presence here this day.

HP and HPS take the Maiden and Stag to the South

HPS		O Lord and Lady
		We will honour thee in the South
		When beneath the earth thou dwell

HP and HPS take the Maiden and Stag to the  East. 

HP:		O Lord and Lady
		We will honour thee in the East
		When thou riseth upon the dawn

HP and HPS take the Maiden and Stag to the North

HPS:		O Lord and Lady 
		We will honour thee in the North
		When thy flame it at its height

HP and HPS take the Maiden and Stag to the West.

HP:		O Lord and Lady
		We will honour thee in the West
		When thee we must farewell.

HP and HPS assist Maiden and Stag to remove their crowns. The crowns are left in the West.

Maiden and Stag now join the rest of the circle.

HP and HPS bless the cakes and take them to the Maiden and Stag first. They then take the rest of the cakes around the circle.

Perform standard farewells and close the circle.