Ostara Blessings

We are very blessed here on the East coast.  It will reach 70 degrees here again today and it is perfect Ostara celebration weather!  I am feeling crafty today, so besides the normal ritual celebration of the Sabbat, I will be making something for Ostara this year.  I have taken my craft from The Way of the Green Witch by Ann Murphy-Hiscock.  Although there are some errors and misinformation about Green Witchcraft in her book, I tend to look past that and take the useful information (which there is a great deal of).

So, besides coloring some Ostara Eggs tonight, here is another crafty project that you may want to tackle!  It is pretty involved, but I think it is a cute fun project, especially if you are starting your garden this weekend.

Garden Stepping Stone

You will need:

• Newspaper
• Aluminum Foil Pie Plate (at least 2" deep)
• Small bag of concrete mix (quick setting or a special stepping stone blend)
• Water
• Measuring Cup 
• 1 foot x 1 foot piece of screening
• Rubber Gloves
• Bucket
• Paint stirrer
• Obsidian stones (Michael's and AC Moore have beads made from natural stones - and they are 40% off this weekend!)
• One Tbsp. each of three protective herbs (try angelica, rosemary and cloves)
• Optional Old Serving Spoon
• Optional Twig or Popsicle stick
• Optional Acrylic paints and brushes
• Optional Clear Varnish (spray is the easiest) 

 How to Make

1. Spread the newspaper over your work surface.
2. Cut the screening to fir inside your pie plate.  This will reinforce your stepping stone once it is dry.  Put aside.
3. Blend your herbs together using your mortar and pestle.  Set them aside.
4. Pour the concrete powder into your bucket.  Add the water.  Using the paint stirrer, mix them together.  Follow the directions on your bag of concrete for how much water to the concrete (it's usually 5 part concrete to one part water).  The mixture should be thick and wet, but not splashy; more like drop-cookie dough than cake batter.  Do not use the entire bag.  Only use enough to fill the pie plate (a small bit extra to be safe is fine).
5. Pour or spoon the concrete mix into the aluminum pan.  Fill until it is half-full.  Tap the mold to release air bubbles and use the paint stirrer to smooth out the concrete.
6. Lay the screening on top of the concrete in the mold.  Pour more concrete on top of the screening, filling the mold approx. 2/3 full.  Tap the mold again to release air bubbles.
7. Sprinkle the herbs on the top of the concrete.  Remember to visualize their protective energy while placing them.
8. Pour more concrete on top of the herbs.  This time you will fill the mold completely.  Tap the mold again to release any remaining air bubbles.  (3 is also a magically number)
9. Leave the mold for about an hour.  This will allow it to set slightly and give a firm surface to place the stones.
10. After the hour has passed, place the obsidian stones into the mold.  Make any shape you'd like.  A starburst shape in the middle of the stone is a good shape for the repelling of negative energy or using them for the points on a 5 pointed star is another good shape.  You can trace the star with a stick with the popsicle stick/twig.
11. Now, set the mold aside for 2-3 days to fully dry.  You may want to leave it a little longer to ensure the mold won't crumble.
12. Once the mold has fully dried, pop the stone out of the mold onto the newspaper.  Gently loosen the sides and peel the aluminum pie plate away from the stone.  Turn the stone over so that the obsidian is on top.
13. If you'd like you can paint the stone with acrylic paints.  Once the paint is dry, coat the stone with a clear varnish to protect it from the elements.  Then, you can place the stone in your garden!

I'm going to try to make this today.  When my stone is completed, I'll post the finished product.

Ostara Blessings everyone!