04/27/2010 - The Ostara page has been added.
Ostara
Typically celebrated: around March 20th
Vernal Equinox
LInks to the rituals used by Ancient Pathway can be found linked at the bottom of this document.
Typically celebrated: around March 20th
Also Called:Ostara - in American and Celtic traditions;
Alban Eiler - in Caledonii traditions.
This festival celebrates the warrior aspect of the God. It occurs in the
middle of March when the length of day is equal to the length of night. It
is a time of balance, the official end of winter and beginning of spring.
The second of the fertility festivals, Ostara represents the seeding and
preparation for the remainder of the year.
- The season is celebrated by blessing seeds for future plantings.
Eggs are colored and placed on an alter as magical talismans. The
"Easter Bunny" and "Easter Baskets" are both variations of this Pagan
festival. The Bunny represents abundance of planting yet to come and the
baskets are used to gather the new spring flowers, another
representation of fertility. After all, blossoms are a culmination of
combining masculine pollen with feminine pollen. What a better
representation of fertility.
- The season is also represented by light green, lemon yellow and pale
pink. The beginning colors of maturing plants and flowers.
- Twisted bread and sweet cakes are prepared and served at dusk to
represent the abundance of planting for the new harvest.
- Ostara is the second of the Spring holidays that ring in the
festivals for fertility. Not just fertility of self and body as many
non-believers believe. But fertility of the earth for an abundant crop,
and garden, a fertile mind for imagining new ideas and concepts; perhaps
for work or home.
- Ostara occurs in mid-March and represents the warrior aspect of the
God force. This is the festival of balance. The day when the night and
the day are equal in length. It is also the time when the God returns to
life and balances the feminine energy of the universe with his masculine
force. It is the season of courtship, when the God calls upon the Maiden
Goddess and begins to win her heart. It is the season of love and
learning.
Sabbat Symbols:
Span the light shades of green, yellow and pink for your decorations. A basket of Spring flowers, colored eggs can be added to the alter as magikally charged symbols of balance and fertility. That familiar Easter bunny can also be a symbol of fertility for the festival season as well. So don't just discard that chocolate bunny your grandma gave you. Lastly, we make small pouches as gifts for anyone who joins our circle. Inside we give seeds for the coming planting season, such as sunflowers, spring beans, potatoes and a variety of herbs.
Preparations:
Traditionally Sabbat festivals begin at sun set on the eve of the Holiday.
You can use the daytime hours of this holiday eve to clean up your ritual
area and set the alter. We like to use this day to bake cakes and prepare
our ritual wines for the evening ceremonies. We like to symbolize the spirit
of the festival in the offerings we prepare. On this holiday we bake twisted
bread, cinnamon buns or sugar cookies to represent the sweetness of spring.
As for the alter, choose a special yellow candle as your center piece to
represent the warrior God. Along side chose a light green candle to
represent the early sprouts of the growing season. Around the circle we like
to place light pink candles to represent the compassion and love of the
spring season. A yellow or green table cloth covered with a vanilla colored
lace is also an attractive addition on you alter or celebration table. Some
witches include crystals of Amethyst to represent the balancing of yin and
yang energies. A piece of Fluorite to represent the balance of the human
aspect with the spiritual aspect of self. Or add a piece of Garnet or
peridot, which both promote balance and patience. Gold or brass serving
trays and goblets for ritual offerings are also placed on or around the
alter for easy access. Along with the bridal flower arrangements you've
chosen.
Festival Ritual:
There are several ways of conducting a ritual. Each witch should learn many
different methods and then construct your own within the boundaries of the
festival
Links to Ostara information.
If you would like to use the Ancient Pathway Ostara Ritual, you can access that information here.
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