Ostara Ritual at Belknap Hot Springs

Ostara celebrates the Spring Equinox.  This year CUUPs decided to do some traveling for our celebration on that day.

We all met at Elan’s apartment at 9:30 AM, on March 20th. After discussing carpooling arrangements, and directing those who would be late over the telephone, we headed out to Belknap Hot Springs.
On the way, we stopped to visit the site for Emerald Valley Beltane. We spent about 30 minutes looking over the site and offering comments and suggestions. We spent more time than we had planned there due to a miss-communication between Elan and the drivers, but once we got everything worked out, we set out on our way.

We arrived at Belknap Hot Springs at 12 PM and discussed what we wanted to do first. Consensus said that we wanted to have lunch first, so we proceeded to set up an area for all of us to eat around. Two picnic tables were placed together and food spread out so we could eat.

Our late comers arrived just as we finished lunch. As we put things away, they ate. After lunch was concluded and everything put away we decided to hike to the ritual space first, and then swim in the pool later.

The ritual took place in a location called the Circular Garden. Everyone placed items that were sacred to them around a circular fountain. Elan provided colored eggs that were placed around the items on this alter. Everyone stood around the fountain/alter and held hands. The spirits of the east, south, west and north were called to join the circle as well as many gods and goddesses named and unnamed. A candle was lit after the calling of spirits, gods and goddesses, for the spirit of community. Blessings were shared all around the circle, and we sang Happy Birthday to Elan whose birthday fell on Ostara this year.

Water and cupcake communion was then performed where each member of the circle drank from the water and said to the next person in the circle “Drink Deep.” The next member replied with “Never Thirst.” Then each member gave a blessing to the next and fed them a piece of cupcake.

Next, Elan suggested a part of the ritual where we each paired with a member that we did not know very well and stare into each others eyes for around a minute.

Elan then provided us with a colored egg tradition followed by her family. We tossed the eggs into the fountain and then later into the river. The eggs serve as a reminder to the fairies to come and help everything bud and bloom.

Finally the circle was closed by putting out the candles and inviting the spirits, gods and goddesses to go or stay as they chose and for community to please remain.

Then everyone hiked back to the pool and spent the rest of the afternoon having a swim. During the time in the pool, those who were willing, journeyed to find power animals for CUUPs.