Ostara 2011
Written by Bird
Invokations by Bird 

Items Required
•	Altar set up 
•	Elemental representations to be passed around the circle 
•	Eggs for egg hunt 
•	Baskets for egg hunt 
•	Flowers for around the edge of the circle 
•	Musical instruments and noise makers 
•	Hoop for decorating 
•	Ribbons, cords, eggs to decorate hoop
•	Cakes and Ale

Ritual Set Up
•	Eggs are hidden throughout the garden before participants arrive for the ritual
•	The altar and circle are decorated with flowers
•	The hoop and decorations are beside the altar

Ritual Briefing
This ritual begins with us creating and blessing our circle by passing around the elements and welcoming them to our circle, as each element is passed to you welcome the element and visualise our circle forming. The ritual has two parts where the children will be led on an egg hunt through the garden while the adults stay in the circle. The children will then return to the circle where we will finish the ritual with a chant and close the circle.

Practice chant
The moon goes round the earth
The earth goes round the sun
When day and night are equal
The greening has begun

The children then choose a musical instrument and a basket that they will use in the egg hunt. They place these on the edge of the circle with them while the circle is being cast.

The Ritual
Everyone stands in a circle and the HPS takes the elements in turn (air, fire, water, earth) and blesses them and passes them around the circle.

As each person receives the element they can say something to welcome the element to the circle. Everyone is instructed to handle the element, to feel it, to see it coming into our circle. 

The elements are then returned to the altar.

HPS says : Our circle is cast, blessed be.

Everyone turns to the quarters in turn (air, fire, water, earth). The HPS says

(east) Take a deep breath in, feel the element of air as we welcome the element of air to our circle.

(north) Clap you hands and stamp your feet, feel the passion of fire as we welcome the element of fire to our circle.

(west) Feel your heartbeat, feel the water which is your blood as we welcome the element of water to our circle.

(south) Feel your bones and your body as we stand here and welcome the element of earth to our circle.

Everyone holds hands as the HP and HPS perform the invokations.

HP steps forward and says:
O glowing one we call the thee
By the warming earth 
And the faery lea

Thee that is seen where the leaves are grown
Where the soil is tilled 
and the seeds are sown

Thee that is found in the heart of the earth
In the warmth of the stone
Afire on the hearth

O glowing one we cal to thee
Goddess Gaia 
We invoke thee

HPS then steps forward and says
O warming one we call to thee
By the standing stones
And the growing trees

Thee that is seen where the rays doth shine
Where the plant do grow through 
through space and time

Thee that is found in the hearts of men
In the warmth of the touch
In the hand of the friend

O warming one we call to thee
God of the Green
We invoke thee

HPS says
Welcome to the season of Ostara, a time of balance, where the light and the dark are equal for a moment, before the wheel turns towards the light. We come out of the dark half of the year to reawaken the light within ourselves and to watch it grow again.

The essence of spring is found in the symbol of the wheel and the egg. As the wheel turns, the potential of the egg is realised. 

The children will now be led on an egg hunt to help find the essence of spring hidden among the blooming garden. There they will find the hidden potential and return to us to help us turn the wheel from the balance of the equinox into the blossoming of the spring season.

Children are led on egg hunt by HP.

While the children are away on the egg hunt the adults take the plain wheel of the year sitting by the altar and dress it up with seasonal flowers, cords and ribbons. 

HPS says
This wheel symbolises the sun and the earth and the turning of the seasons. As we decorate the wheel, infuse into it the essence of the blooming season around us.

When the wheel is finished the adults stand in a circle holding the wheel.

HPS says
Here we stand at the equinox, awaiting springs rebirth that is symbolised in the egg, as we wait, ground yourself and feel yourself connected to the awakening energies of the land. When the children return with the mystery of spring feel the energy of the land begin to rise as the wheel begins to turn....

HPS continues with inspired utterance.

When the children return they place their egg baskets by the altar and then run around the adults, yelling and making noise. The aim is to get the adults to turn in a circle with the wheel. 

As the circle begins to turn the HPS begins the chant
The moon goes round the earth
The earth goes round the sun
When day and night are equal
The greening has begun

When the chant peaks the HPS and HP send the energy throughout the land to awaken the spirit of spring.

The wheel is then lowered to the ground as the energy settles.

HPS takes up an egg from the altar and says
We have turned the wheel and the season returns anew. 

HPS breaks open an egg and shows the circle
Here in the egg is the mystery of the season, the sun returning from the womb of the earth, life is renewed once more.

HPS passes the egg around the circle to each person and then places the egg in the middle of the wheel that is on the floor in the middle of the circle.

Happy Spring Equinox, everyone, may your season be filled with the blessings of the season

Cakes and Ale

Everyone faces each quarter in turn (air, fire, water and earth) and silently thanks and farewells the quarter.

Everyone faces inwards again and say together

By the earth that is her body
By the air of her sweet breath
By the fire of her bright spirit
And by the water which is her blood
May this circle be open but unbroken
Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again

Close circle and feast