Ostara

Cedar Moon Ostara Ritual 2014

EVERYONE PARTICIPATING IN THE RITUAL NEEDS TO BRING:

1. A Sacrifice/gift for Old Man Winter ( ideas; a hand written poem or drawing, a baked good, a special stone or similar item etc)
2. If you like to drum, please bring one along

This is a child friendly Ritual.

~*~

(One person is dressed as old man winter and is sitting solemnly in a chair at the far side of the fire. One person is dressed as Spring and is in front of the altar. Everyone else makes a circle around the fire, on each side of winter and spring. )

Spring: Good Fey you are welcome!

Spring: Greetings Friends! Welcome! It is the Spring equinox! A time of Celebration and joy!

Winter: (gruffly) It is not! It is winter!

Spring: (back at Stan) No, it is Spring!

Winter: (standing up menacingly) bah! Do I look dead?? It is still Winter and it will stay that way until I say so!

Spring: (Pleadingly) Now come on, be fair, it's the Spring equinox, it's time for winter to let go and spring to come. It's a time for flowers, and birds...

Winter: Flowers! Bah! Stupid things! It's a time for snow! (throws snowballs at people )

Spring: Now, come on, you are being unreasonable, it is time for the world to be reborn, it is a time for rebirth, the wheel turns.

Winter: Phoooey! (throws snowball at Spring)

Spring: Ok, how about we make a trade? We understand that it is a sacrifice for you to let go, so we are willing to sacrifice in turn. We have all brought something for you.

Winter; You would sacrifice for me, as I for you?

Spring: yes, yes we would

Winter (sits) Then bring me your gifts, your sacrifice, and I will judge if it is worthy.

(Each person comes up one by one and makes their sacrifice to Old Man Winter)

Winter: (inspects sacrifices). These are good sacrifices. In turn, i will sacrifice for you. I will allow life to return and the world to be reborn!

Winter: (jumps up and discards winter garb to revel spring garb. Picks up basket of flowers and hands out up to each person in the circle)

Spring: Let us rejoice Spring has returned!

Winter: Drummers ! Play us a beat! Come dance with me! Rejoice for Spring! Celebrate life!

~*~


Child Friendly Ostara Ritual 2012

This is a very upbeat and fun Ostara Ritual that is family friendly. It is held outside around a fire and requires three people to lead it (2 people to lead it and an old man winter); however, it could be done with two people (1 leader).

(Everybody should form a line just outside the circle)

LEADER1: Let it be know the Ostara Ritual is about to begin, please let no one join us but those who come of their own free will and please come only with joy and love in your hearts, leave all negativity behind. Today is a day of Celebration, of Mirth and Merriment! Today, we celebrate spring!

LEADER2: Good Fey, Welcome you are to join us in our Celebrations! Happy Ostara to you!

LEADER1/LEADER2:
(says to each person as they enter the circle) Leave winter behind, step into spring!

(Cleanse each person with smudge and give them a empty paper bag)

LEADER1: Welcome all! Today we Celebrate Ostara! We Celebrate Life renewed, we celebrate Spring returned! Our laughter and joy is in tribute to Spring and to the God and Goddess who we thank for all life

LEADER2: The awakening of the world always amazes me, all the beautiful colors and sounds and scents. The buds on the trees, the greening grass, the returning birds, the spring flowers, they are all amazing and give me such hope and joy. One of the hardest thing about spring is Old Man Winter, some years he just doesn’t want to let go. Some times it seems that every time we just start to get some color back in the world, he comes along and covers it in white and grey and steals it away.

(picks up blue jelly bean) I love the blue skies that come with Spring.

(eat jelly bean)(pass bowl of jelly beans to Leader1)

LEADER1:
(Pick up pink and blue jelly Bean) I love the blue skies (drop blue jelly bean in bag) and the pink tulips that Spring brings.

(eat pink jelly bean and pass bowl of jellybeans to next person)

(next person in the line should take the jelly beans and say they like the blue skies (drop blue jelly bean in bag), pink tulips (drop pink jelly bean in bag) and whatever matches their jellybean color and then they may eat their jelly bean. Once done they should pass the bowl to the next person who will repeat the process, adding their own “ Like” to the list.)

(If anyone messes up the list “Old Man Winter” will come and take their jellybeans away.)

(* children: young children can take a couple of beans to put in their bag and if they are old enough they can say something they like about spring. They do not have to repeat what everyone else has said and “Old Man Winter” will not take away their beans.)

(Once the bowl makes it back to Leader2, she will send it back around the circle the opposite direction one last time. Old Man Winter will stalk the outside of the circle, stealing anyone’s jellybeans if they mess up)

(Once the bowl has made it around the circle twice)

LEADER1: Spring is full of wonderful colors and life! it’s a time of hope and joy! Spring brings summer which means campouts and barbeque, festivals and revel fires! I think its about time that Old Man winter packs up his snow and heads elsewhere!

(LEADER2 will pass around snowballs)

LEADER1: Lets send Old Man Winter packin’! Its time for him to take his snow and go!

(Everybody should throw their snowball at “Old Man Winter”)

LEADER2: All hail winter passed!! All hail the Sun returns!! All Hail the ever turning wheel!!!

LEADER1: Spring is finally here! Winter is behind us! Let us step into the light half of the year with joy and love in our hearts! May the spring and summer ahead be filled with exciting adventures, creativity and filled with laughter and cheer! Blessed be!

LEADER2: Our thanks and love to all! Happy Ostara! Blessed Be!!