Schedule
Ostara Rite will be March 18th, 2023 both on Zoom and at CedarLight Center.
3:00 PM Doors open to the public
5:00 PM Pre-ritual brief and learning the dance. Please try and be there for this part.
6:30 PM Start of rite
- Cost: $20.00 suggested donation
Times are subject to change, please check our website blog, our Event Calendar or our Ostara Facebook event for the most up-to-date information on the ritual. All High Rites are open to the public, so feel free to bring a friend 🙂
Times are subject to change, please check before you leave.
Covid-19 Policy:
CedarLight Grove complies with all COVID-19 requirements of the State of Maryland and Baltimore City.
Updated covid policy—CedarLight will no longer be requiring proof of covid vaccination or a negative covid test result to attend in-person events at CedarLight Grove, or collecting contact information to perform contact tracing. We will still be providing Zoom access to walk with the old ones and high rite ceremonies. N-95 masks and rapid covid tests are still freely provided. We ask that those who are sick please stay home and join us through Zoom. Thank you for bearing with us through the last 2 years. Here’s hoping that the worst has past. The officers will continue to monitor the situation in case things get worse and act accordingly. Good health to all!
Zoom Info
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 468 067 1478
Lore of the Season & Ritual Information
Prayer: The peace of freedom for all of Ukraine
Deities of the Occasion
Pantheon: Slavic
Mother Earth, Zemlyanitsa
Water Spirits of Ukraine
Inspiration: Berehynia, she who inspired an entire nation
Outsiders: Veles/Volos, God of underworld and Nature.
Gatekeeper: Baba Yaha Goddess of initiations and transformations
The kindred: Ancestors, Nature Spirits (the Leshi), & the Shining Ones
Mara, goddess of winter
Vesna, goddess of spring
Offerings
The folk are encouraged to make and bring representations of Mara, in a burnable (no plastic please) rendition of the winter that those living in Ukraine have suffered. Mara is traditionally banished to the underworld in the spring through fire and water. Contact us for more details if you want to craft one.
After she is burned, we will be cleansing ourselves with the wooden eggs we have painted and burning them as well. We will have some extras but encourage folks to make their own. Many craft stores have these, it’s best to use tempura paints.
Any offerings to the goddess of spring would be appropriate. If you bring plants, that’s fine but consider planting them in your own space inside or out. Or check with Phila and the garden committee to see what they might need.
Children and Pets
Children are welcome to all CedarLight events, but small children must be attended at all times because our center is not child proof, there are stairs, fires, candles and small items that could be swallowed. We do not yet have children activities planned for this event however that can change if we know they are coming.
Trained service animals are, of course, welcome.
Pets however, are not allowed because we have learned from past mistakes that not everyone knows how to approach an animal and not every animal will behave predictably with many strangers around. Thank you for understanding.
Suggested Offerings
- Representation of Mara
- Wooden Eggs (decorated)
- Incense, flowers, & herbs
- Seasonal foods
- Bardic works you have created (please let the ritual team know ahead of time so they can slot you in)
- Hand-crafted items
PLEASE NOTE: We take oaths very seriously. Any oaths given as an offering MUST be cleared with the Senior Druid prior to the High Rite. Please see Sean-Paul upon arrival if you plan on giving an oath.
What to Bring
See section on offerings.
A dish that serves at least 6-8 people.
**We have folks with severe allergies and food sensitivities – please include a list of your dish’s ingredients.**
Suggested Seasonal Food:
- Warm dishes, crock pots are easy to bring and easy to take back home
- Eggs, egg dishes, roasted meat, lamb, salads, mushrooms, ramps, trout
- Please take any leftovers and your dishes and serving utensils home with you
There are cans of sodas and bottled water available at the Grove for $1.00 each. Feel free to contribute beverages to the Grove!
The High Rite will be held outdoors; please dress for the weather. If it rains, we will be under the pavilion.
Ritual Etiquette
- Do not honor deities of different pantheons than those being honored at this rite
- PLEASE KEEP YOURSELF MUTED ON ZOOM unless you are giving an individual invocation as part of the liturgy or performing a praise offering. Group call and responses should remain muted unless otherwise requested by the Chief Liturgist. Attendees who continually disrupt the ritual with background noise because they are unmuted will be removed from the Zoom room.
- Offerings will be mainly given in silence as a group, but if you have something you wish to say, sing, or recite, let the Chief Liturgist know ahead of time so they can make time for your offering
- Do not declare any oaths during the rite without expressed permission from the Chief Liturgist well before the rite
- Some rites include a regular renewal oath. This is optional for those who are interested, the text will be available beforehand.
After Ritual
If participants wish to hang out after the rite, the Zoom room will remain open for socializing. Feel free to bring dinner and make it a virtual potluck! We won’t even nag you about washing the dishes!
Cost/Donations
All CedarLight events have a suggested donation of $20 per person. This can be contributed to Dagda’s Cauldron either at the Grove, or online via paypal to cedarlightgrove@gmail.com. All donations go towards CedarLight Center bills and upkeep.
