Ostara Ritual

Join Reclaiming LA to celebrate the Spring Equinox! Also known as Ostara, this ritual celebrates the halfway mark between winter and summer, when day and night are equal length. The Spring Equinox marks one of two points in the Earth’s rotation around the Sun when light and dark hang in perfect balance.

In ritual space we’ll come together to celebrate the renewal of life that appears on the earth after winter. This is a time to break free from that which has been holding us back and to make a fresh start in the new season.

Ritual Intention:

From the refuge of the mulch, we bathe in the storm waters and burst forth into bloom.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023

2PM Ritual Begins

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LOCATION

Griffith Park, in the grassy area across the street from the Merry Go Round

Park at: Merry Go Round Lot One, Los Angeles, CA 90027

We’ll be gathering on the grassy part visible from the road as one drives up from Griffith Park Road to Lot One.

NOTE: This is the same area in which we have held other Griffith Park rituals for the Autumn Equinox, but is not the Old Zoo location, where we have held our Ostara celebration in past years. For mapping, the geo coordinates are: 34.132157, -118.281742, and the Plus Code is: 4PJ9+V8 Los Angeles, California.

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INFO

● The ritual will be held fully outdoors.

● You will be invited to sit or lie down on the ground for part of the ritual. Bring a picnic blanket or cloak that will help make you comfortable for this activity.

● There are no seats at the ritual location. Bring a camp chair if you would like to sit.

● Bring percussion instruments for the drum jam if you are called!

● Wear clothes you feel comfortable wearing in a public park (e.g. this may mean shorts and a t-shirt instead of your usual ritual wear), and comfortable shoes.

● Bring a mask that will fit comfortably over your mouth and nose. Celebrants might be asked to mask during parts of the ritual that involve close contact.

● All genders welcome!

● Children welcome with adult supervision.

● To support those in recovery, this ritual is drug and alcohol free.

● Please bring water and food for yourself. This will be a low-impact ritual with no planned potluck or altar.

ACCESSIBILITY

The ritual space is approximately 100-120 yards from the parking lot, with a shallow downhill grade. There is a well-packed dirt trail leading from the lot, as well as a fully-paved street. There is a curb-cut near the ritual site. Street parking may be available directly across from, and level with the ritual space, but street parking can be limited. Organizers are happy to help folks get to the site as best we can. The ritual will be held on a grassy area that is relatively level, but does have small dips and divets. There are very few sound reflective elements near the ritual space that would reflect sound back to attendees. We are likely to complete the ritual around dusk, and there is no street lighting.

We have written this to be as inclusive as possible so that people with accessibility concerns do not have to do the labor of asking. If we have overlooked some aspect, please email us at info@reclaimingla.org.

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2023 Ritual Calendar

Imbolc:  Saturday, February 4 at The Green Man Store

Ostara: Saturday,  March 18 at Griffith Park

Beltane: Saturday, May 6 location TBD

Litha: Saturday, June 17 location TBD

Lughnasadh: Saturday, August 5 at The Green Man Store

Autumn Equinox: Saturday, September 23 at Griffith Park

Samhain: Saturday, November 4 at The Green Man Store

Yule: Saturday, December 16 at Nicholas Canyon Beach

Ritual plans may be subject to change based on the needs of our community. For up-to-date information on upcoming rituals and events, subscribe to the Reclaiming LA mailing list!