Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre

These rituals are run by Mandy and take place on the bottom carpark under Bidston Obseravtory & Lighthouse.

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Ostara

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The Spring Equinox is the first day of Spring, where day and night are of equal length all over the world.

This is the festival of balance: the balance of light and dark, of the inner world and outer world.

This is a time to understand the balanced flow of energy we are all part of — both within ourselves and in the world.

This is a time when the plans which have been incubating since the autumn can now hatch.

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Calling the Quarters

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We call on the light and air at the East

to illuminate and send us winds of understanding.

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We call on the light and fire at the South

to illuminate and send us energy of assertion.

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We call on the light and water at the West

to illuminate and send us flows of sensitivity.

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We call on the light and earth at the North

to illuminate and send us strength of grounding.

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Ritual for Ostara

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The priestess takes a skein of black wool or ribbon and goes to each person in turn asking them “What binds you?”

When they reply — saying for example “guilt” — she binds their wrists lightly repeating “Guilt binds you; guilt binds you.” Then she asks “Where must you go to be free?

Each replies with one of the four directions which embodies the quality they feel they lack most, for example, the East. The priestess replies: “Go to the East and free your mind.”

Each person goes to the appropriate direction with a candle and meditates on its quality, lighting their candle from the candle representing the quarter. After returning to the circle they undo their bindings.

Elements

Air / East : balance, awakening, communication, inner wisdom, the balance of conscious and unconscious.

Fire / South : expansion, spontaneity, expression, movement.

Water / West: receptivity, compassion, caring, nurturing, intuition, mysticism.

Earth / North : germination, consolidation, regeneration, abundance, growth, expansion.

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Part of a spell

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Hear these words.

Hear my cries.

From the land to the seas

And through the skies

Pulled from the moon

And drawn from the Sun

I combine these powers

Into One

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Closing the Circle

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Depart in peace, elemental Air

My blessings take with you.

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Depart in peace, elemental Fire

My blessings take with you.

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Depart in peace, elemental Water

My blessings take with you.

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Depart in peace, elemental Earth.

My blessings take with you.

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