Paganism is a nature religion, so it pays to include nature in your celebrations. I like to use flowers at Ostara because they connect strongly to the core concepts of this sabbat, and so many of them are in season at this time of year that it’s easy to choose ones with personal or thematic meanings. Consult the earlier essay for instructions on making flower baskets, candying flowers, and floromancy. It also has tips on flower characteristics to help you select the right ones for your ritual.
Preparation: This ritual may be performed outside or indoors. Any number of people may attend and participate, but this rite is best suited for four or five people to fill the roles of leader and designated quarter callers. Other celebrants (and this is nice for the shy ones) may simply join in the common spoken parts. Make your assignments accordingly or ask for volunteers during ritual prep. Describe a basic outline of the ritual so that people understand what will be happening and what they need to do.
Set up an altar covered with flowery fabric. At each of the quarters, place a flower basket suited to that location; you may match the flowers by element, color, themes you wish to evoke with this ritual, and so forth. For the flower divination, you will need a basket with plenty of flower heads for everyone to choose freely, each one wrapped to conceal it and tagged with a folded card to give its name and meaning. For cakes and ale, you will need a plate with enough candied flowers for everyone, and a chalice full of floral beverage such as dandelion wine or lavender soda.
Ostara Flower Ritual
Cast the circle with flowers. If you are working outdoors, you can choose flowers with many petals; pull off the petals and scatter them around to draw the circle. Indoors, flowers with long stems offer a less messy way to cast the circle as you simply lay them out in a line around the celebrants. As you [the leader] walk, say:
Flowers bright and flowers sweet, cast the circle as we meet.
The caller for the East should face the eastern basket of flowers and say:
I call to the East and the powers of Air,
which make the flowers dance
and carry pollen from bloom to bloom.
May you join us in our ritual today,
and awaken us to the growing season.
Hail and well met!
Celebrants respond: Hail and well met!
The caller for the South should face the southern basket of flowers and say:
I call to the South and the powers of Fire,
whose gentle sunlight beckons the blossoms
to emerge from the warming soil.
May you join us in our ritual today,
and enlighten us this growing season.
Hail and well met!
Celebrants respond: Hail and well met!
The caller for the West should face the western basket of flowers and say:
I call to the West and the powers of Water,
the cool spring showers whose touch
waters the flowers so they may grow.
May you join us in our ritual today,
and flow with us into the growing season.
Hail and well met!
Celebrants respond: Hail and well met!
The caller for the North should face the northern basket of flowers and say:
I call to the North and the powers of Earth,
which support the plants and flowers,
nourishing them to bring forth fruit.
May you join us in our ritual today,
and enrich us this growing season.
Hail and well met!
Celebrants respond: Hail and well met!
Leader evokes the goddess Kore with these words:
Kore, Maiden Goddess
of morning light and spring breezes,
painter of flowers and tender of bees,
bringer of lengthening days,
we call on you to join us today
in celebration of Ostara.
Hail and well met!
Celebrants respond: Hail and well met!
Leader introduces the ritual with a statement of intent, saying:
We gather here on Ostara to appreciate Kore, the Goddess of Flowers, and the blossoms with which she has blessed us. May our actions here today aid the turning of the seasons, in this time when day and night are equal and the light is growing stronger.
Leader carries around a basket for the flower divination. To each celebrant, say:
Take forth a sign for the growing season. May this blossom symbolize the things that you can cultivate, or warn you away from hidden dangers.
Celebrants may choose whether to share the omen they have received, or keep it secret.
Leader then says:
Kore, Goddess of Flowers, we offer you our homage in your season of spring. Hear now the work we intend for the months to come.
Leader then goes around the circle and share everyone’s plans for the growing season. End by saying:
Kore, Goddess of Flowers, thank you for heeding our plans. Nurture them like seeds as we go about our work, that they may flower and bear fruit.
Celebrants respond: So mote it be!
For cakes and ale, serve candied flowers and a floral beverage. When presenting the candied flowers the leader will say:
Taste the flowering year.
When presenting the floral beverage, say:
Drink of the blossoming spring.
Then return the plate and chalice to the altar table.
Leader releases the goddess Kore with these words:
Kore, Maiden Goddess
of morning light and spring breezes,
painter of flowers and tender of bees,
bringer of lengthening days,
we thank you for joining us today
and pray you are pleased with our service.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and farewell!
Celebrants: Hail and Farewell!
The caller for the North should face the northern basket of flowers and say:
I turn to the North and the powers of Earth,
which support the plants and flowers,
nourishing them to bring forth fruit.
Thank you for joining us in our ritual today.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and farewell!
Celebrants: Hail and farewell!
The caller for the West should face the western basket of flowers and say:
I turn to the West and the powers of Water,
the cool spring showers whose touch
waters the flowers so they may grow.
Thank you for joining us in our ritual today.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Hail and farewell!
Celebrants: Hail and farewell!
The caller for the South should face the southern basket of flowers and say:
I turn to the South and the powers of Fire,
whose gentle sunlight beckons the blossoms
to emerge from the warming soil.
Thank you for joining us in our ritual today.
Stay if you will, go if you must,
Hail and farewell!
Celebrants: Hail and farewell!
The caller for the East should face the eastern basket of flowers and say:
I turn to the East and the powers of Air,
which make the flowers dance
and carry pollen from bloom to bloom.
Thank you for joining us in our ritual today.
Stay if you will, go if you must,
Hail and farewell!
Celebrants respond: Hail and farewell!
Leader opens the circle. If you are outdoors, sweep the flower petals out of alignment. If you are indoors, pick up the flowers that trace the circle. As you go along, say:
The circle is open, but unbroken.
Celebrants respond: Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.