First Day of Spring

Begin by casting a circle about nine feet in diameter, using white chalk or paint. Erect an altar in the center of the circle facing north. Place a candle of the appropriate Sabbat colour on the middle of the altar. To the right (east) of the candle, place a censer of the appropriate Sabbat incense or a thurible containing a hot charcoal block whereupon sage can be burned. To the left (west) of the candle, place a bowl or hard-boiled eggs decorated with runes, fertility designs, and other magickal symbols. Before the candle (south), place a consecrated athame and a consecrated ceremonial sword.

After sprinkling a bit of salt on the circle to purify it take the ceremonial sword and trace the circle in a clockwise motion, starting in the east. As you trace the circle, say:

BLESSED BE THIS SABBAT CIRCLE
IN THE DIVINE NAME OF OSTARA
ANCIENT GODDESS OF FERTILITY AND SPRING
IN HER SACRED ANEM
AND UNDER HER PROTECTION
IS THE SABBAT RITE NOW BEGUN.

Return the sword to the altar, and then light the candle and incense. Take the athame in your right hand and kneel before the altar with the blade of the athame held over your heart, and say:

BLESSED BE THE FERTILTY GODDESS,
BLESSED BE HER SPRINGTIME RITE.
BLESSED BE THE SUN GOD KING,
BLESSED BE HIS SACRED LIGHT.

Place the blade of the athame over the Third Eyes region of your forehead, and say:

THE SUN HAS CROSSED THE CELESTRIAL EQUATOR,
GIVING SUN AND MOON EQUAL HOURS.
GODDESS SPRING IS REBORN AT LAST,
HER BEAUTY GIVE LIFE
TO THE TREES AND FLOWERS.
BLESSED BE THE DIVINE GREEN GODDESS
SHE IS THE CREATRESS OF ALL LIVING THINGS.
BLESSED BE THE LORD OF THE GREENWOOD.
TO GODDESS AND GOD
THIS SONG I SING.
AWAKEN ONE, AWAKEN ALL
AND HEAR THE VOICE OF THE GODDESS CALL.
BLESSED BE OUR HOTHER EARTH,
MAY SHE BE FILLED WITH PEACE,
MAGICK, AND LOVE.
THE GODDESS BREATHES LIFE.
THE GODDESS GIVES LIFE.
THE GODDESS IS LIFE.
SHE REIGNS SUPREME.
SO MOTE IT BE!

End the rite by putting gout the candle and uncasting the circle with the ceremonial sword in a counter-clockwise motion.

The eggs may be eaten as part of a Spring Equinox Sabbat feast and the shells cast into an open fire or buried in the ground as an offering to the Earth Mother.

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