The kindred gathered on the Saturday immediately following the equinox to celebrate the arrival of Spring and honor the Germanic Goddess of dawn and rebirth. TRK members Darlene, Nichole, Mike, and Patty met together at Mike’s home in Hartford. As always, our kinsman Brian was never far from our thoughts.

Guests included Gerd and Stacey of Axenthof, along with their young miss Kay, of course. Also joining us were Meegan and Melody of Stormlight Kindred, and Ben the Bard with his lady Jen. Special thanks to Darlene’s husband Steve for taking (and enhancing!) photos, as well as to Alice, whose assistance to Mike as cook and co-host was greatly appreciated.

Fire was kindeled in the hearth. As is our custom, a pre-blot discussion was held. It was understandably brief, given the lack of written lore concerning Ostara. Everyone present was invited to hand-decorate a wooden craft egg. These were collected in a wicker basket for offering to Ostara during the ritual.

The folk assembled. Gerd hailed the high ones with fitting words. Patty likewise called to the ancestors, and Mike welcomed the goodly wights. Patty consigned “Old Man Winter,” an effigy constructed from faded Yule greenery, to the flames as all gathered wished him on his way until next year. He quickly departed. Meegan offered a beautiful drawing of Ostara to the flames after reading the poem she had written on it to honor the Goddess. This too was swiftly consumed. Next, the egg basket containing all the decorated craft eggs was placed onto the hearthfire. It burned brightly and completely, without a single egg rolling away... which was taken as a sign of the goddesses’ favor. Darlene blessed the mead. The kindred horn was passed round as all present hailed Ostara and the season. Mead from the horn was libated into the blot bowl and the ritual ended.

There was much good food before and after, with the feast including roast lamb and a spinach and gruyere quiche. In due time, Brian was “drunk dialed.” The horn was refilled and passed as a spirit of glad community was shared well into the evening, with several guests remaining overnight.

On Sunday, Patty continued on to Easthampton, MA and gave a workshop about Freyja at the Awen Tree shop located there. Alice and Mike attend the workshop and enjoyed it.

Reported by: Mike.