Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Ostara – A Solitary Ritual

Ostara – A Solitary Ritual

Last updated on: March 15, 2015 at 3:00 pm by John Beckett

Ostara – A Solitary Ritual 2015-03-14T12:52:32-06:00 John Beckett

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Holidays and holy days are better with friends and family. But many Pagans maintain solitary practices. Even if you work with a group, sometimes you can’t be with them for one reason or another. Sometimes your group meets on a convenient day but you feel the need to celebrate on the exact day. Whatever the reason, many Pagans will be celebrating Ostara by themselves.

Ostara is the common Pagan name for the celebration of the Spring Equinox. Jason Mankey has a good essay on the origins of the name, which may or may not be connected to Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon Goddess who may or may not be a Goddess of Spring and of the dawn.

As a devotional polytheist I struggled to choose an appropriate deity to honor and petition for this ritual. I have no relationship with Eostre. Persephone is closely tied to Spring, but this working doesn’t relate directly to Her story. Jason suggested that Brighid would be appropriate, but I don’t see Her as a Goddess of fertility. In the end, I chose Danu, partially due to her identification as a Mother Goddess and a Goddess of the Land, and partially due to my long relationship with Her.

You are of course free to choose another deity for this ritual, but if you do please give careful thought at to Who and why.

Planning

This ritual requires some thought and planning. Ostara is the beginning of Spring, the season of new beginnings, of renewed life, and of planting. What do you want to plant in your life? What do you want to plant in the wider world? What are you willing to nurture through the growing season?

You will need seeds, a container (flower pot, planter, paper cup), good soil, and water. You can plant flowers, vegetables, or herbs – whatever seems best to you. Think about what you like, but also what you need and what grows best where you live. Read the instructions: how many seeds to plant, how deep, how close together, and how to care for the plants as they grow.

Setup

I prefer to do this ritual outdoors during the day, but it can be done any time or anywhere.

Set a main altar in the center of your space with with the seeds, container, soil, and water. You will also need matches or a lighter, a bell, a wand or athame, incense, a small bowl of salt water, bread, and an offering bowl. Set candles in the four directions.

Preparation

Ostara is a time for making a “clean start” so consider taking a long ritual bath, washing your hands, or just changing your clothes. I rarely wear robes for solitary ritual, but I do like to wear some of my Pagan jewelry. Do whatever puts you in a ritual frame of mind.

Opening

Approach the altar and pause for a moment of silent meditation. Ground and center using whatever method you find most effective. Then ring the bell three times.

Say “At this time of balance, at this time of the awakening of the Land, I come to celebrate Ostara, the Spring Equinox.”

Pick up the wand or athame, or if you prefer, just use your index finger. Move to the East, pause, then slowly walk the circle clockwise, drawing the circle as you go. See the circle rising in deep blue light. Make a complete circle, and see the ends joining together. Return to the altar.

Pick up the bowl of salt water. Move to the East, pause, then slowly move around the ritual space clockwise, sprinkling the water as you go, cleansing the space. A sprig of rosemary makes an excellent aspersing branch, but your fingers will do just fine. Make a complete circle, then set the bowl back on the altar.

Pick up the incense. Move to the East, pause, then slowly move around the ritual space clockwise, wafting the incense as you go, blessing the space. A large feather make a nice fan, but again your fingers will do just fine. Make a complete circle, then set the incense back on the altar.

Return to the East and light the quarter candle. Say “Spirits of the East, Spirits of Air, I call to you. Join this celebration, I ask, and share your wisdom. At this time of equal day and night, welcome Air!”

Move clockwise to the South. Light the quarter candle and say “Spirits of the South, Spirits of Fire, I call to you. Join this celebration, I ask, and share your inspiration. At this time of equal day and night, welcome Fire!”

Move clockwise to the West. Light the quarter candle and say “Spirits of the West, Spirits of Water, I call to you. Join this celebration, I ask, and share your love. At this time of equal day and night, welcome Water!”

Move clockwise to the North. Light the quarter candle and say “Spirits of the North, Spirits of Earth, I call to you. Join this celebration, I ask, and share your stability. At this time of equal day and night, welcome Earth!”

Move clockwise back to the East, then return to the main altar.

Invocations

Say “Spirits of the land, spirits of this place, you who were here long before me, I invite you to join this celebration of Spring. Accept this offering of food and drink, I ask, given in hospitality and in love.”

Raise the bread and water in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the water into the offering bowl.

“Land spirits – hail and welcome!”

Say “Ancestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, you whose child I am and on whose foundations I build, because of you I have life. You who marked this day as the renewal of life and the beginning of labor, join me in this celebration of Spring. Accept this offering of food and drink, I ask, given in hospitality and in love.”

Raise the bread and water in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the water into the offering bowl.

“Blessed ancestors – hail and welcome!”

Say “Danu, Mother Goddess, Lady of the Waters, I ask You to join this celebration and bless me with Your presence. Giver of Life, be welcome here. At this, the time of equal day and night, I would join in Your Great Work of creating and nurturing life and love. Mother of Gods, please join me in this celebration of Spring. Accept this offering of food and drink, I ask, given in hospitality and in love.”

Raise the bread and water in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the water into the offering bowl.

“Danu – hail and welcome!”

Main Working

Pick up the container. Look at it: contemplate its bottom, its walls, its open top. It is not a plant or a seed, it is not soil or water or anything else to feed the plant. Yet without it, the plant cannot grow.

Think about the containers in your life. Do they give your life form and shape? Do they provide boundaries for healthy growth? Or are they constricting and limiting, perhaps even preventing you from getting the air, water, and light you need?

Say “Danu, Great Mother, please bless this container and the containers of my life.”

Set the container down and pick up the soil. Run your fingers through it, feel its texture and substance. Consider what it is: minerals from the rocks below, organic matter that was once living plants and animals, and tiny creatures that live in it now. Consider what it will do: nurture and support the things that live in and on it. Can you sense the spirit of the soil?

What is your foundation? What nurtures and supports your life? What feeds you even though it died long ago?

Say “Danu, Great Mother, please bless this soil, and please bless all the beings who support my life.”

Set the soil down and pick up the water. Take a sip, taste it, feel it refreshing your body. Contemplate the water: this is where life began, and without it life cannot continue. Consider where your water comes from and what would happen if that source was cut off, or if its capacity was exceeded.

Say “Danu, Lady of the Waters, please bless this water and the water that nourishes my soul.”

Set the water down.

Fill the container with soil and set it down. Now pick up the seeds. Hold them in your power hand – that’s usually the hand you write with. Consider what they are: the potential for new life.

What will you plant in the container of your life? What new life will you bring forth into the wider world? Remember that you are not holding “seeds” – you are holding marigold seeds or cherry tomato seeds or English lavender seeds. The more specific you make your intention the greater likelihood that what grows will be what you actually want and need.

Is this the year to plant the seeds of the college education you abandoned years ago? Perhaps you want to plant the seeds of a new magical study group. Maybe you want to plant the seeds of an interfaith community garden, or a non-discrimination ordinance in your town, or the cleanup of a toxic site. Whatever you choose to plant, think of it now and meditate on what it will bring into the world.

When you are ready, plant the seeds into soil. Remember the instructions: how many seeds, how close, how deep. Pour a bit of water into the container.

Hold the container in front of you. In your mind’s eye, see what will happen: darkness, new shoots, a growing plant. See yourself tending the plant, and see the flowers or fruits that will come from it.

As you do, also see what will happen with your metaphysical planting: the seeds of a suggestion, the beginnings of something new, the steps required to make it a reality, and benefits it will bring when it is fully manifest.

Contemplate the growth – all the growth – that is beginning here and now.

Say “Danu, Mother Goddess and Lady of Life, I ask your blessings on these seeds. May they grow strong and true.”

Set the container down. When you are ready, eat some of the bread and drink some of the water. Give thanks for the blessings you have received.

Farewells

Say “Danu, Mother Goddess, Lady of the Waters, I thank You for your presence and Your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

Say “Ancestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

Say “Spirits of the land, spirits of this place, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

Closing

Say “Spirits of the North, West, South, and East, Spirits of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.”

Pick up the wand or athame, or if you prefer, just use your index finger. Move to the East, pause, then slowly walk the circle counterclockwise, pulling up the circle as you go. See the last of your circle disappear as you return to the East.

Ring the bell three times.

Say “This celebration of Ostara, the Spring Equinox, is complete. Hail and farewell.”

Afterward

Take a breath. Turn on some music. Drink some water. If you were working at night, turn on the lights. Do something to reorient yourself in the ordinary world.

Extinguish the candles and the incense, then begin to pick up and put away.

Dispose of the offerings in an appropriate manner. I prefer to deposit them outdoors in an inconspicuous place where they’ll be eaten by wild creatures. Depending on where you are, you may need to do something else.

You may wish to write about your experience in your journal, particularly if your experience was strong. Focus on recording the experience, not on your interpretation of the experience. You have the rest of your life to figure out what it all means, but you have only a short time before your recollection of the events begins to fade.

Over the coming weeks, tend your plants. Make sure they get plenty of water and sun, but not too much of either. If you start them indoors you may wish to transplant them once the weather is favorable in your area.

May you have a bright and fertile Ostara, and may the lengthening days bring growth and abundance to you and yours!

Previous Post

March 10, 2015

Between the Worlds 2015 – A Call To Action

Next Post

March 17, 2015 Alliances With the Spirit World

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Books Community CUUPS Druidry Foundations and Context Gods and Goddesses Magic Myth Nature Ritual Spiritual Practice Theology Travel Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian principle is shown by the story of the widow's mite?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Give only if rich Never give Give to be seen Generosity from the heart