Sometimes it just doesn't go well

So our Ostara Ritual was not all that I had hoped for, but it was a valuable lesson in "sometimes, it just doesn't go well."

Ostara morning in our part of North Carolina dawned rainy, gloomy and cold.  We had planned a possible rain venue, but I was hoping we could make it work outside.  We have a tradition of meeting at a local lake, and this was the first year the weather threatened to make it really miserable, instead of just windy and chilly.

But I wanted to give it a try.  One beauty of modern Witchcraft is the ability to use our cell phones to communicate quickly, and we were all in text contact as we decided, yes, we would give it a go outside.  A few raindrops threatened as we drove to the lake, but they stopped quickly.

We found a covered picnic area, which promised us cover from all the but the most torrential rains, and that meant a sigh of relief, since we wouldn't be suddenly packing and running for the cars .  The rain never took hold, though, and we were able to celebrate in relative comfort of chilly and damp.

The day was just gloomy.  A pall hung over us, and the energies weren't right.  We were chilly, one participant was exhausted from work stress and one was getting sick, it turns out, with a nasty virus.  The rest of us had trouble shaking off the dank gloom, and I saw before us brown, damp woods, dirty picnic tables, and a loud volley ball game, instead of the bright signs of spring at a lake.  The lake itself was too far away to be a real presence.

But we gave it a good try, with brightly colored table cloths, great food, and wonderful company.  I had planned the altar knowing we might be subject to rain and wind, so I didn't use candles.  I set one of the tables with the altar items, using my phone's compass.  (Again, modern Witchcraft has its perks!)  I have pastel-colored bowls in a yellow, pinkish-red, blue, and green that I use specifically for Ostara, and in them I put bird seed, red peppers, lake water, and lake soil.  In the center we had a large pot to hold items for blessing.

We cast circle and called quarters, and then meditated briefly.  I used this opportunity to thank the participants for their role in my life, and I read the poem, "On the Day You Were Born," by Debra Frasier (it is a children's book, but I read only the text).  It's a beautiful story of how all beings prepare for a child's birth.  I love the message that each of us is welcomed here and special.  It's a beautiful book for a baby shower, but I thought it the perfect message to give my fellow celebrants on this spring day of rebirth, to express my gratitude that they are my friends and that we have such an intimate relationship in Ritual.  I also love the beauty that each of us was meant to be here, that we have a glorious destiny that is one with the Universe, and if we are struggling, as several of the participants have been recently, we can remember how eagerly we were anticipated, and how important and loved we are.

Unfortunately, the energies of the poem, which I had been so excited to share, never really took off.  The overwhelming energy of "meh" maintained its hold on us.  But that's ok.  We have many Ostara celebrations ahead of us, and as the sun finally makes an appearance in these parts, we are starting to feel that surge of spring in our bones, and many of us are now celebrating her sunny return. 

Blessed Ostara, on Earth's time, y'all.