A Ritual for Ēostre

Explanation 

This Ritual was performed at our monthly In-Person Moot and is based on the reconstruction of Ēostre done by Daniel Bullard that was presented at last month’s virtual meeting. Ēostre is a goddess of the dawn, but since we were performing this ritual at 5pm, symbolism was needed. The structure of the ritual mirrors a symbolic day, from dawn to dusk, with sections that each address an important aspect of Ēostre. The Waking highlights Ēostre’s role in banishing darkness and her healing power. The Labor is her call to work, for our benefit and for the benefit of others. The Truth-telling represents her aspects as an All-Seeing dawn goddess. The Sacrifice is central to every major ritual, but also speaks to Ēostre’s role in the the lighting of sacrificial fires. Finally, The Dusk is the end of her day, and is the symbolic transitory period from her time of power to her time of rest. 

Translations

Some words used in the ritual are in Old English. Translations are provided here:

Thunor- Anglo-Saxon god that corresponds to Norse Þorr

Frumlēoht- First Light

Middangeard- Middle Yard, our human realm of existence  

Ēosturdæg- Ēostre’s day

Bēomōder- Bee Mother

Blōstmberere- Blossom Bearer

Wihtas- wights, a supernatural spirit of an animal, place, or thing

Gastas- ghosts/spirits

Setup

An altar with cloth, with water basin, water carafe, cups, hammer, sun idol, lighter/matches, and candle in lantern(if outside). Offerings of flowers, seeds, a drink, and honey. A Mortar and pestle along with dyed eggshells for grinding and some sort of small package for people to take some powder home with them. Slips of paper and a pen and a fireproof container to burn the paper. Can be set up outside or inside, ideally with the altar facing East. 

The Ritual 

The Waking

[Officiant takes the hammer and assistant takes the carafe. They walk in a circle around the whole group from North to East, stopping at the 4 cardinal points]

Officiant: [At each cardinal point, holding Hammer aloft] (Thunor/Thunderer/Earth’s Mighty Son/Hammer Wielder) hallow and hold this sacred stead. 

Officiant: Hail Thunor! [Places hammer on table and takes carafe from assistant]

Assistant: [picks up lantern and lighter/matches]

Officiant: 

Hail Ēostre, Radiant Dawn

Reborn resplendent in the early darkness

Marshal of stars, light your lantern

And banish all gloom and darkness

Assistant: [lights candle and holds lantern aloft, before placing on altar. Picks up sun idol]

Officiant:

Sky Daughter, Sunne’s Sister

Rouse your sibling to shine upon the Earth

Assistant: [Stands behind altar to the east and lifts the Sun idol above their head]

Officiant:

Frumlēoht, with shining hand

Draw from the Earth your healing water

[pours water from carafe into basin]

Assistant: [Lowers sun idol and places it on the table. Passes out cups to everyone]

Officiant: 

It is said that when the light of the sun is cast upon the springs and wells of Middangeard on Ēosturdæg, the first morning of Summer, they become fonts of healing. Come forward to receive this gift of the Dawn Rider and her blessing of good health. 

[People may come to the altar and scoop some water into their cups to drink] 

The Labor

Officiant: 

Early-Born Ēostre calls us to work; to kindle the hearthfires, set about our tasks, and raise our prayers to the immortal gods. Our labor is a gift to our families and communities to ensure our longevity and health. Let the Maiden of the Morning give you strength and the will to do those things which must be done. 

Assistant: [brings forward mortar, pestle, and eggshells] 

Officiant: 

We can take our turns grinding this shell into powder. We will divide up the result of our labor to give everyone a part of the ritual to take home. Blessed by our ritual, sprinkle this powder on the ground around your home to bring the protection of the goddess and to return the nutrients of the egg to the land. 

[Participants can come forward and take turns using mortar and pestle to grind the dyed shells into powder, When finished, the officiant and assistant can divide the powder into packages that the participants can each take home] 

Officiant:

Earth Daughter, bless our good works

Grant us the strength to do what must be done

In our homes, workplaces, and communities,

Provide for us our fair share of Mother Earth’s bounty,

That we and our loved ones may live in safety and comfort, 

And give good gifts to the gods, spirits, and our dead. 

[Gesture for the participants to form a circle]

The Truth-telling

Officiant:

All-Seeing Maiden, gazing over the wide world,

The truth of our lives are laid bare to you,

Help us to speak truths when they are hard,

And to find the hidden truth when we are struggling.

Some truths can be empowering, especially when they are hard to see. I ask that we take turns turning to the person to our right and saying a kind and genuine truth about them. Take a minute to reflect and compose your thoughts, and may your truth lift the spirit of your kinsperson. 

[participants take turns, going around the circle, speaking a kind truth about the person to their right]

Some truths within us are difficult to bear. In sharing such secrets, it can also share some of the burden of bearing them. If you wish, you may write one such secret on a slip of paper and offer a portion of your burden to the goddess’s sacrificial flame. 

[participants may take a piece of paper and write on it a secret they wish to offer. No one else may read these, and they should be burned in front of the whole group or with a witness. No one should be forced to participate]

Light of the Heavens, witness our truths and our secrets 

The Sacrifice

Officiant: 

First Riser, you call us to sacrifice,

To give gifts for gifts received,

Day by day, to gods and men,

Make sacred now our offerings to you.

We have been called to wake, to labor, to speak truth, and now to sacrifice. This is Eostre’s place in the cycle of reciprocity, for if we neither wake nor labor, what gifts could we give? 

Bēomōder, guardian of honeybees, 

Your busy children bless our crops,

And cause the flowers to grow,

Accept this gift of honey from their labor. 

Assistant: [Brings honey to the altar] 

Officiant: 

Blōstmberere, blooming every morning,

Flowers spread from your outstretched hand,

Bring the gift of color to this gray land,

And life to fields and gardens all around

Assistant: [Brings flowers to the altar] 

Officiant: If you have brought an offering of seeds or other gifts, bring them forward now. 

[Participants may come forward to make their personal offerings] 

The Dusk

Officiant: 

Our day is swiftly coming to an end. This day was a gift, and we have given our gifts in return. Let us now give thanks for the blessings and safe conduct we have received here today. 

Wihtas and gastas, of land and home

Spirits seen and unseen, we know you,

Thank you for your friendship and safe conduct, 

Accept these gifts of food and drink

Hail the Wihtas 

Ancestors, Ancient Ones, Fathers and Mothers

Whose bones are our bones,

Whose blood runs in our veins,

We thank you for your presence here today

Accept these gifts of food and drink

Hail the ancestors

Holy ones, shining ones, gods and goddesses all

We thank you for your presence here today

And thank you for your constant blessings

Accept these gifts of food and drink

Hail the gods

Ēostre, Radiant Dawn

All-Seeing Maiden of the Morning

Thank you for your many gifts,

For flowers, bees, growth and health

Accept these gifts of food and drink

Hail Ēostre

All:

From the Gods to the Earth, to Us,

From Us to the Earth, to the Gods, 

A gift for a gift