Ritual in Theory and Practice

Ostara is the festival of Spring, and as a rule people incorporate Spring themes into their decorations.

The vivid colors of the dawn are often used at Ostara: they show up in many colored flowers, dyed eggs, and colorful altar cloths. Flowers, all kinds of foliage, and the image of the Green Man are also common elements in Ostara decor, as are images of baby animals. In recent years the idea of Ostara trees decorated with colored eggs has become popular in some circles.

Because Ostara once coincided with the Suns apparent entry into Aries, the Ram is still a symbol associated with the holiday, as is the image of Young God as shepherd. To the Romans this feast was known as Palilia and was especially associated with shepherds and with the shepherd God Pales. Fire jumping was one aspect of the Palilia -as it was among more northerly Europeans as well- which is still associated with the holiday today.

Of course Ostara is the Vernal Equinox, and the theme of perfect balance between light and dark is also quite appropriate. Parti-colored themes in polar colors such as black and white, black and red, or red and white are very fitting.

Remember too that in some Wiccan Traditions Ostara rather than Samhain is the beginning of the Liturgical year, and so New Year’s themes can be adopted as well.

As always, choose what works for you.

AIR

Begin by clearing and releasing all excess energy, as usual. Release all tensions and anxieties. Just let them flow through and out of your body, like a gentle wave of energy, exiting through the soles of your feet.

Begin by cleansing the Salt: make three tuathal circles above it while visualizing yellow-white light. Imagines the light forcing out all negative or unfocused energy from the Salt. She speaks words to the effect of:

“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Earth, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within.”

The Salt is then Blessed: make three deosil circles above it, while visualizing blue-white light. Speaks words to the effect of:

“And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!”

Next cleanse the Water, making three tuathal circles above it while visualizing yellow-white light forcing out all negative energy. Speaks words to the effect of:

“Behold, I exorcise you, O creature of Water, casting out from you any impurities which may lie within.”

Then bless the Water, making three deosil circles above it and visualizing blue-white light. Speaks words to the effect of:

"And I do Bless and Charge you to this work!”

Address the Salt, saying:

“Behold, the Salt is pure!”

Then address the water, saying:

“Behold, the Water is pure!”

Now takes three pinches of salt and add it to the water, saying something like this:

“Purity into purity then, and purity be blessed!”

Taking the mixed Salt and Water walk deosil around the ritual space, asperging the area while doing so. Visualize yellow-white light filling the area and forcing out all negative or unfocused energy. Say something like:

“I cleanse you…. I cleanse you…I cleanse you…”

When finished asperging, return the Salt and Water to the altar.

Now we will cast the Circle. For this ritual we will cast our Circle using visualization. You will need to lead everyone in visualizing the creation of the Circle, which might go something like this:

“Let us join hands.

“Become aware of your Heart Chakra. Imagine a ball of clear white light in your Heart Chakra: beautiful, clear white light. And in that light feel strength, and love, and peace. Have this image clear in your mind, feel the energy strongly. Now let that energy begin to move and expand within you, filling your body. Let the energy fill you, move within you, filling and suffusing you with beautiful, clear white light.

“Now feel a bit of that energy within you begin to move out from you –see it begin to flow deosil around the Circle. Feel the energy connect with the energy of the other people present, forming a circle of white light, moving from hand to hand around the circle. See the circle of white light moving from person to person around the circle, growing stronger and brighter, moving faster and faster.

“Let the circle begin to expand beyond us –see it move out to the edges of our ritual space. See the circle expand and grow brighter and stronger as it does so, moving deosil around the ritual space: moving faster and faster. See the white light expand upward, forming a wall or moving light around us –a battery and a focusing barrier to strengthen our working and increase its effect. See this boundary clearly, feel its energy, and the focusing effect it has upon the energy of the circle.

“Behold, we do cut apart a place between the realms of humankind and of the Mighty Ones: A Circle of Art to focus and contain the powers we shall raise herein! The Circle is cast! So Mote It Be!”

ALL
”SO MOTE IT BE!”

Now release hands and continue.

FIRE

The Quarters are now called, beginning in the East:

The Priestess first asperges the Quarter with the Salt and Water, visualizing the area suffused with yellow-white light. She says something like:

Priestess: “By the powers of Earth and Water, I do cleanse and purify the Quarter of the East.”

The Priest then censes the Quarter with the burning Incense, visualizing the area suffused with blue-white light. He says:

Priest: “By the powers of Fire and Air do I charge the Quarter of the East.”

Begin in the East. Use a Wand, Sacred Tool of Fire, or if you prefer, use your fingers. Raise the Wand, imagining as you do so a column of pure white light arising in the East, at the border of the Circle. See the column as strong and pure and filled with energy. Say something like:

EAST
“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, Powers of Air and Inspiration! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our minds and our eyes and strengthen our thoughts as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

SOUTH
“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, Powers of Fire and Manifestation! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our courage and passion and strengthen our resolve as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

WEST
“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the West, Powers of Water and Compassion! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our hearts and our emotions and strengthen our sensitivity as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now move to the next Quarter. Again raise the Wand and imagine a column of pure white light arising in the Quarter. Say something like:

NORTH
“Hail unto You, O Guardians of the Watchtower of the North, Powers of Earth and Integration! We invoke You, and ask You to be with us this night, to share with us Your love, Your guidance, and Your inspiration. We pray that You will help us to open our souls and our Higher Selves and strengthen our understanding as we go forward this night. We bid You hail and welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now it is time to invoke Deity. Since the Lesser Sabbats are Solar ceremonies, the God will be invoked first. In this case we shall invoke the God not in any particular form, but in His Archetype as Hero. You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Apollo, Mars, and Thor.  

The Priest raises his arms to call upon the God. He might say something like:

PRIEST
“Hail unto You, O God! We do invoke You in Your form as Hero -Lord of the Rising Sun and of the Waxing Year! Master of Rebirth and New Beginnings! Trailblazer, Who forges ahead where others fear to go! Lead us with You into the future! The Doors of the House of Dawn are opened, and Spring is upon us -let us move forward and embrace it! O Hero, with love and with respect we do bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now imagine the God entering the Circle -imagine it in any way which makes sense to you –perhaps by imagining the God in human form, or as a shower of glittering light, or as a ball or tower of light appearing in the Circle.

Now let us invoke the Goddess in Her archetype as Maiden. You will remember from First Degree studies that some Personal forms of this Archetype include Athena, Hathor, and Erzulie.

The Priestess raises her arms to call upon the Goddess. She might say something like:

PRIESTESS
“Wise and beautiful Maiden Goddess, we do invoke You! Goddess of creativity, beauty, and all arts -Guide and Guardian of Heros- we pray that You will join us and guide us in our holy rite. Even as You guided the Heros of old we pray that You will guide us to fully embrace all our potential, even as now You guide the Earth to rebirth and renewal! We bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”

Now visualize the Goddess entering the Circle.

Finally, invoke the Ancestors. You might say something like:

“O Mighty Ancestors, Beloved Ones Who have gone before, We invoke You and ask You to join us and to Bless us! Ancestors of the Correllian Tradition, Priestesses and Priests, Mothers and Uncles of the lineage, Spiritual family which aids and supports us –lend us Your inspiration and Your love, Your guidance and Your aid this night, we pray. Beloved Ones, we bid You Hail and Welcome!”

ALL
“Hail and Welcome!”