Heathen Kinship Blessings

The Blessing of Ostara

Materials/Setup: Sword (opt.) / Rite should begin at dawn and/or participants should face East.

Hallowing: 1. Hammer Signing
2. Hammer Rite

(The speaker faces the sunrise while standing in the elk rune posture and says):

"This stead is hallowed for our work here this holy morn. As the god Heimdall wards the Bifrost Bridge, so is this stead warded against all unholy wights and ways!"

(After a short pause the speaker continues):

"Hail Holy Ostara! Hail the daughter born at Delling's door, at the gate of day who bears the morning light! Hail Ostara, Lady of the Spring Dawn!"

Reading: Sigrdrífumál (Hollander's Trans. pg.233)
Sigurth rode over Hindar Fell and made his way South to Frankland. On the fell he saw a bright light, as though a fire were burning there, and it shone to very heaven. When he drew near, he found there a wall of shields, and a banner loomed above it. He entered into this wall of shields and saw that in it slept some one in full war weeds. Sigurth first lifted the helmet off the sleeper's head, and then he saw that it was a woman. Her coat of mail was tight about her as though it were grown to the flesh. With his sword Gram he slit the byrnie, from the neck down, and also both sleeves, and took it off.
Then she awoke and sate up, and beheld Sigurth, and said:
1. "What slit my byrnie? How was broken my sleep?
Who lifted from me the leaden weight?"
He answered:
"'Tis Sigmund's bairn--- on Fafnir's body
raven batten----- tis' Sigurth's brand."
She said:
"Hail to thee, day! Hail, ye day's sons!
Hail, night and daughter of night!
With blithe eyes look on both of us:
send to those sitting here speed!

"Hail to you, gods! Hail, ye goddesses!
Hail earth that givest to all!
Goodly spells and speech bespeak we from you,
and healing hands, in this life."

Rede: (Facing East) "This morning we are gathered to call forth the mighty Lady of the new born light. Warded by the steeds of Sky, she rises and gives us light, love and playful lust. She bears also, a terrible and awesome side...MEAN and MIGHTY! This side our foes do dispute and in it they will find their doom, yet we too, must know this side well and LOVE it well for to wax great in wisdom. This is so just as a man and a woman must know the aspects of the other to wax strong in family and love."

Call: (Speaker raises the sword from the harrow and then salutes the East with these words):

" Ostara, we raise the sign of the sword in thy honor. Come and dwell among our folk! In the dawn we see thy birth, in the day we know thy power and in the dusk we trust that thou shalt turn back to us full well soon."

(Speaker then replaces the sword onto the harrow and says):

"EASTER, MIGHTY AND LOVELY OSTARA...DROTTING OF DAWN WE CALL THEE...QUEEN OF THE HEAVENS...CLOTHED IN WHITE AND GOLD...BREAK NOW FORTH IN ALL THY MIGHT, LET US AGAIN KNOW THY HOLY MAIN!"

(The speaker now lights the three candles in the following order: WHITE-RED-BLACK. While lighting the candles the speaker says):

"We kindle the three-fold fire of spring. On this new dawn of the year we light the flame of its birth. (Light the white candle) We light the flame of its life (light the red candle) and we kindle the lamp of its death (light the black candle)...Here lies the timeless and ever becoming power of our souls."

Loading: (Speaker pours mead into horn and holds it aloft while saying):

"To thee, Awesome Easter, who knows the ways of Wotan, we give to thee the gifts of our works - woven and blended with the might and main of the mead. As we lend you this mead, so in turn lend us thy might and lusts...haunt our hearts, abide in our breaths, make whole our minds and mighty our moods and memories!"

HAIL EASTER!

HAIL THE AWESOME OSTARA!

(All respond):

"HAIL OSTARA! HAIL OSTARA! HAIL OSTARA!"

Drinking: (Done in standard fashion)

Blessing: (The speaker sprinkles the harrow while walking around it three times and then sprinkles the folk while intoning the words):

"The blessings of Ostara be upon us" - (harrow)

(The words used upon blessing the folk shall be at will)

Giving: (Contents of the blessing bowl are poured out to the east with the words):

"To Ostara, Lady of lust and light, we give this gift!"

Leaving: "The work of wonder and love is wrought! The Fires of Spring burn, the power of Ostara shines forth, She blooms in our minds and we move with her might. May we know her blessings throughout the year!”

Speaker: “Hail Ostara!”

(All respond): “Hail Ostara!”

“Thus our work again is wrought. It renews our hearts to do deeds worthy and true…to strive towards our goals with mighty moods, wise words and trust in our own powers and abilities…ever holding our oaths to ourselves and to our folk…(Onward to Sumble and) ONWARD TO ULTIMATE VICTORY!!!!”

(All respond):

"HAIL TO VICTORY! HAIL TO VICTORY! HAIL TO VICTORY!"