Our Ostara/ Mabon gathering was written by Hypatia who will be leading this gathering.
Tuesday, March 20th, 2018
At 6.45 PM CT
Circle starts at 7:15 PM CT SHARP.
30 minutes will be allocated for a chance to talk to our Brothers and Sisters. Please do not enter the chat room once the circle has started. Thank you!
WHERE:
Coven Life’s Chatroom
WHAT YOU NEED:
Preparation for the Northern hemisphere- Ostara:
We are going to be painting eggs…….
- As this is a time for a clean start– consider taking a bath or a shower with your favorite essential oil or other aromatics. You could also infuse fresh herbs like a tea or use your favorite soap. If a whole body wash is not possible please just wash your hands, face or even just change into clean clothes. What will encourage your new growth?
- Hard-boiled egg for decorating. You could do more than one if you like. No more than 3, mainly for time purposes. If allergic please refer to suggestions below.
- Permanent marker pens or small stickers to decorate the eggs. Practice your patters beforehand if you wish, it might make it easier and quicker on the day. Keep it simple, not to thick or elaborate as we will be cracking and eating the egg.
- If you have an egg allergy than please use gloves when handling the egg, crack the egg and place in the nest. You could place it in the earth or just give to a loved one that doesn’t have an egg allergy to consume.
- Freshly picked flowers or herbs to place on you alter.
- Green and Yellow candle. If you don’t have these colours please just use what is on hand. It is the spirit of the Goddess and the God created by the light that we will be using as inspiration.
- A little bowl, egg holder or just a little nest made from cotton wool to hold you egg once finished. Be as creative as you wish. Egg baskets are also great.
- A glass of water to help with the feasting.
Simple flower or leaf motifs will do. Anything that inspires the artist within and brings images of fresh beginnings. Remember to keep it simple as we will be cracking and eat the egg (avoid eating and handling without gloves if allergic, please see above suggestions). In this case please have a glass of whatever beverage you prefer and a piece of simple whole grain bread to feast on. If you have another preference than please do so. Your health is in your hands.
Here are some examples below.
It doesn’t have to be drawn all over the egg.
If you choose to do a Goddess symbols than please do. This is a time for you to connect with the Goddess, the Earth Mother and all the possibilities that she brings.
Simple spirals will even do.
You may even have your own symbol that brings forth the Great Goddess called by Persephone, Brigid, and Eostre.
Preparation for the Southern hemisphere- Mabon:
We are going to be preparing a feast………..
- As this is the time of the fruit harvest we will be using an apple to represent the cornucopia of life.
- Green and red candle. If you don’t have these colors please just use what is on hand. It is the spirit of the Goddess and the God created by the light that we will be using as inspiration.
- A knife to cut your apple, horizontal across the middle to reveal the pentagram within. You can even practice this beforehand if you wish. (Please be careful not to cut yourself, your safety is in your hands).
- A platter for offering and cutting board to cut your apple and other fruits.
Example below.
- A bowl filled with fresh seasonal fruits such as apples, pears and seasonal berries and even dried nuts, depending on their availability, your imagination and of course you budget. Whatever you can get your hands on. Remember it’s your feast dedication to the Great Goddess and God! The remainder of the fruit and nuts could be shared with family, friends or even acquaintances after the ceremony.
- Apple cider or just a glass of water will do.
Don’t forget:
- Athame’ or wand
- Salt
- Water
- Bell
Candles for the God and Goddess the colors specified above, otherwise any color available (don’t forget you candle holders if needed). , use matches (with safety) or you could use a single pillar candle that you have blessed, anointed and inscribed. You use this to light your God and Goddess candles. The choice is yours as it is in the intention.
- If you prefer an alter cloth
- If you prefer a statue pf you Idol/ s
Remember to keep it simple. If you wish to add more depending on you practice and worship than please do so. Just remember to add each magical item in reverence.
So let’s begin:
Ostara is the beginning of spring, the season for new beginnings and the renewal of life through planting. This is the time we can now plant seeds and nurture them throughout the coming months to bare their fruit. What is it that you would like to plant in your life? What are you willing to nurture throughout the growing season? For this ritual as this season is also a time for re-birth, new life and fertility we will be concentrating on the symbology of the egg. The ritual will be dedicated to the Great Goddess, Persephone, Brigid, and Eostre.
Mabon is the second of 3 harvest festivals celebrating the equinox and the harvest of apples. On the day of the equinox, day and night is of equal length. For the next 6 months the nights will be longer than the days. This is such a great time of abundance. All the hard work that it takes to collect the harvest, it is now a time to rest, reap what you have sown and take the time to look at you hopes and aspirations and reflect how they have manifested. Most importantly spend it with the people you love. This is a time of giving, sharing and loving.
Think of the dark and light as the feminine and the masculine. The Goddess and the God resorting your outer and inner balance.
Ritual:
So let’s begin our Ostara/ Mabon Ritual
Hypatia Casting the circle-
To the Guardians of the East:
I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.
To the Guardians of the South:
I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.
To the Guardians of the West:
I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.
To the Guardians of the North:
I call you into our Watchtowers to protect us.
I cast this circle three times three with the assistance of the Great Mother and the Great God.
I call Upon the Guardians of spirit to protect us from above and below. As is above so is below, as is below so is above. May the power of The Great God and The great Goddess join us within this circle now, to protect us and to work with us and allow us to see beyond the veil.
Protect us Great Mother and Great God for all gathered here and those afar who are unable to be with us. Allow no negative energy to touch us, to harm us and that nothing we call upon will harm us and others. We come together in perfect love and perfect trust.
Greeting:
Hypatia – Merry meet brothers and sisters and honored guests.
Everyone – Respond Merry Greet. Please tell us your first name and state or country you are from.
Ceremony:
Please ALL light your candles
INVOCATIONS
Ostara in the N.H-
Now say-
“Hallowed be the Goddess, Our Mother and provider. The bleak winter storms leaving life to flourish outward. It peeps out quietly, refreshed by the God and Goddess’s power. We feel you. We thank you for all your gifts. “
Mabon in the S.H-
Now say-
Manannan son of Lir, Ruler of the Other world, You who gave the Silver Branch and the Golden Cup to King Cormac, I ask your blessings on this celebration of harvest. May it sustain me through the coming winter. Manannan, please accept this offering of food and drink, given in hospitality and in love.”
MAIN WORKING
Ostara in the N.H-
Now do-
Concentrate on the beautiful flowers you have picked, smell, and touch and appreciate this glorious gift from the Great Mother and Father. Take your hardboiled egg in your hands, feel its contours and acknowledge the gift and nourishment that it holds.
Understand that this is a time of regeneration and transformation. This is a time of re-birth and new beginnings. Visualize the creation of all and everything from a single seed a single egg.
Mabon in the S.H-
Now do-
Pick up the apple and hold it in both hands. Feel its smoothness. See its colour. Smell its fragrance.
Think about where the apple came from. Not where you bought it, but where it grew from bud to fruit: a particular tree in a particular orchard in a particular location. Can you see it? Can you feel it?
Visualize the growth of the apple from bud to flower to tiny apple to large apple, compressing the months from spring to autumn into a few moments. Meditate on its growth, and what that growth means to you.
Ostara in the N.H-
Now say-
“May we carry within us a total understanding of all living creatures, both great and small. Mother Goddess, father God, and show us how to worship the earth and all it holds.”
Mabon in the S.H
Now say-
“Lord of the Sun that rides the westerly wild wind. As the seeds flourish and the fall into the waiting earth. I know this to be a time of equals allowing natures scales to come into balance. As the dark winter shadows reveal the wheel-a-turning it unveils life’s glory through a deathly silence.
O Great Goddess, watcher of sacred magic and long gone myths, show me the way to great wisdom. Show me the way Great Goddess!”
Ostara in the N.H-
Now do-
Now prepare your tools to decorate.
As you decorate your eggs meditate on creation, on rebirth and the wonder of life.
Appreciate and acknowledge that this is the place where everything starts from.
Be spontaneous and draw whatever mandala comes to your mind or something that you have already chosen.
Allow yourself to enjoy the energy of creation.
Visualize what you would like to bring into your life.
What you would like to bring into fruition, what you would like to give birth to.
This is a time of great fertility, you hold the egg in your hand, the egg that will give life to your desires.
In your own words give thanks to the great Goddess for her gift of regeneration, rebirth and rejuvenation.
Once finished decorating your egg/s
If allergic- you can place the egg/s in your nest, bowl or holder and give to a loved one after the ceremony or bury in the ground. I will leave that up to you.
Otherwise– crack the egg on the surface, peel the egg and consume as much as you like and with every bite appreciate the gift of regeneration and rebirth. The glory of new beginnings that is gifted from the Great Mother Herself. Keep a glass of water on hand.
Mabon in the S.H-
Now do-
Place the apple on your chopping board and cut across the middle (horizontally) exposing the pentagram.
The pentagram is connected to the 5 elements. Allow yourself time to connect to water, fire, earth, air and spirit as without these we would not exist.
Breathe in the scent. Understand that the apple is a simple reminder of the healing powers of the earth and the restorative energies of the Other world’s.
Slice a portion of the apple and say-
“Manannan mac Lir, please accept this offering.”
Now place in the offering platter
Slice a second portion and say-
“Mighty Ancestors, please accept this offering.”
Now place in the offering platter
Slice a third portion and say-
“Spirits of this place, please accept this offering.”
Now place in the offering platter
Now take a bite of the apple and allow it to nourish you. Feel how refreshing it is and how it is filling you with its nourishment.
Now prepare the rest of you platter by adding from your fruit bowl. This is a dedication to your God and Goddess. Take your time to enjoy and savior the feast that you have prepared. Drink your apple cider, water or what other beverage you have chosen.
In your own words give thanks to the great God and Goddess to this second harvest and all it has brought you.
FAREWELLS
Ostara in the N.H-
Now say-
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Mabon in the S.H-
Now say-
“Manannan mac Lir, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honour between us now and forever. Hail and farewell.
“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.
“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.
And Now before closing the circle.
Lady Beltane-
I would ask that all non-members leave the circle at this time please. You are welcome to return in about 15 minutes to socialize. Thank you.
We will be introducing the newcomer Elders and this is a private initiation.
CLOSING
Dismiss the circle:
- To the Guardians of the East:
I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.
- To the Guardians of the South:
I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.
- To the Guardians of the West:
I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.
- To the Guardians of the North:
I dismiss and thank you from our Watchtowers and give Gratitude for protect us.
As you leave here tonight may the Lady and Lord bless you with all that you need and want.
I bid you Blessings and great Joy Brothers and sisters of the Craft
Thank you
Merry part until we merry meet again.
Enchanted Circle of Witches® 