Yule Ritual as done by my circle.05:09 Dec 20 2005
Times Read: 521
Cleansing & Consecration of Salt & Water:
ROWAN uses Athame to take out some drops of water, representing removing the negativity from water
HP(R): Creatures of water, I cast from thee, Doubt, hesitation, fear & distrust. I cast into you, Strong will, Hope, Warmth & Friendship
(R) uses Athame to charge the water with positive energy. Then HPS(J) uses Athame to take out some grains of salt, representing removing the negativity from salt. (J) Creatures of salt, I cast from thee, Doubt, hesitation, fear & distrust I cast into you, Strong will, Hope, Warmth & Friendship
J.) uses Athame to charge the water with positive energy. And then adds 3parts of salt to the water using the Athame. (R & J)Salt joins with water, As lover, joins with beloved, As we, all join with the universe.
Sweeping the Circle :Maiden sweeps the outside of the circle.
(J) follows with salt water that she sprinkles on the ground, and the HP(R) follows with lighted smudge stick
Maiden (M): Sweep away what blocks our life Sweep away all stress & strife. Sweep away what blocks our life Replace the void with happiness And prepare the way for new success.
Casting the Circle …..
R) lights his candle from the seasonal candle on the altar, the Maiden lights her candle from ROWANs candle and then the next participant lights their candle from the Maidens candle and so on ,….whilst HPS(J) casts the circle with the athame…
J): I conjure thee O’ Great circle of power So that you may be a boundary Between the realms of men and the realms of the mighty spirits A meeting place of perfect love and perfect trust. To contain all the power we raise within thee. As above, so below, the circle is cast, so mote it be.
Calling the Quarters All turn to face each quarter as it is called...
East: Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, we summon, awaken. Element of air, Come to us now on the cold winter wind and breathe into us the spirit of the pure joy of life. Lend your inspiration and spontaneity to this ritual. Come share our fun and join us in this celebration, We call upon you to guard the circle and protect us in our rite.. So mote it be!"
South: Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, we summon, awaken. Element of fire, Come forth from the fires that warm this winter's night. Kindle within us the warmth of spiritual awakening. Lend your passion and creativity to this ritual. Come share our fun and join us in this celebration and call upon you to guard the circle and protect us in our rite. So mote it be!"
West: Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, we summon, awaken. Element of water, Come forth from the frozen streams, from the driven snow. Bring us the water of life to wash away our fears and resentments that we may find peace of mind. Lend your transformation and love to this ritual. Come share our fun and join us in this celebration. We call upon you to guard the circle and protect us in our rite. So mote it be!"
North: Lords of the Watchtowers of the North we summon, awaken.Come forth from the fertile bosom of our blessed Mother Earth., Lend your strength and nourish us so that our faith may always grow. Come share our fun and join us in this celebration. We call upon you to guard the circle and protect us in our rite.. So mote it be!"
Completing the Circle J, R & Maid: I am air, (I am air,) I am fire, (I am fire,) I am water, (I am water,) I am earth. (I am earth.) I am all things, (I am all things,) All things are me. (All things are me.) I am the Goddesses perfect child, (I am the Goddesses perfect child,) And I am free! (And I am free!)
Inviting the Goddess HPS(J) lights Goddess candle from the central sabbat candle…
HPS(J): Great Goddess, Mother, Gracious Lady & Lover You who are called by so many names in so many guises We invite you to join us in celebration this Yule And to witness the rebirth of the sun Hail & Welcome! (Hail & Welcome!)
Inviting the God HP(R) lights God candle from the central sabbat candle…
HP(R): Great God, Father, Young Lord & Consort, You who are called by so many names in so many guises We invite you to join us in celebration this Yule And to witness the rebirth of the sun Hail & Welcome! (Hail & Welcome!)
Statement of Intent
HPS(J):Since the beginning of time we have gathered in this season To celebrate the rebirth of the Sun.On the Winter Solstice - the darkest of nightsThe Goddess becomes the Great Mother, And once again gives birth to the Sun Beginning the yearly cycle anew Bringing new light and hope to all the World. On the longest night of winterFlares the spark of hopeThe Sacred Fire,The Light of the World,We gather here to welcome the new light.As we join the Goddess in greeting the new Sun We also welcome the new light within ourselves.
Maid: These candles represent the spark of light, which we can see on the horizon, our hopes and our wishes for the future. Close your eyes and meditate with us for a minute, Imagine that you were alive 12,000 years ago. It is winter. You are cold and probably hungry. The days are getting shorter. You light a fire, sit by it and think about the past year. Its successes.., its failures.., In an earthenware pot in the corner of your dwelling are the seeds you have carefully preserved..,These seeds mean life or death to you and yours..,Today your “seeds” are projects, and ideas you hold within you since Samhain..,waiting for the right time to be planted. This is a time for shedding that which is no longer needed.Take a few moments now to consider which things you would leave behind as you go into the coming year.(pause): As the old year dies away so to will these old ways will fade into memory. In the beginning we came from the darkness of the womb. There we were created, nourished and prepared for our birth into the light. Within us, we still carry that fertile darkness. there we hold the seeds of hopes and dreams to come. There we nourish are hopes for love, joy and peace for all. We shield these tender roots until they are strong enough to come forth and flourish in the light. Spend a little time now tending these creations to come. Name them, nurture them for they will grow with you and bloom in the coming year.
(pause)
Think of those who you would send positive energy to: Loved ones perhaps, those in need of healing or added strength. Perhaps people who's names you do not know, who are living with war or hunger. You may wish to focus on that which important to you, your values, Perhaps the earth itself, or the animals who share it with us Whatever it is you wish to send your healing energy to. As we chant we will build the our energy with the turning of the wheel. As you chant feel the energy of change resonate within you. As the sun strengthens above, so will our new ways grow.
As the days get darker you wait, and wonder if the Sun will ever return so that you can plant your seeds. When you are ready open your eyes and see the spark of light in your hand, your candle, your new hopes, and your new life…
HPS(J): Let us welcome the new light by illuminating the Yule Log
HP(R): Great God of the Sun, Of the days so bright We welcome your return On this Midwinter’s Night We look forward to the light that you will bring And in thanks to you We now sing! All sing while one by one each person places their candle in the Yule log.
Maid: But there is another story to be told before this night is over… Pray silence my sisters and brothers, And take heed of our play, We will make a merry rhyme, All on this Solstice Day. Listen to us and you shall hear The story of the wheel’s turn, So take your ease and listen, While the Yule Log it does burn.
HPS(J): There are two kings that rule the year, Its waxing and its waning, The Holly King for when the Sun goes down, The Oak, to watch its gaining. But don’t just listen to what I say, Walk in Oak king, and clear the way.
Oak King: In comes I, the Oak King, From the other side of the year I came, With my crown of leaves and acorns, A king of greatest fame. I watched over the year’s waxing, But since June in the ground I’ve lain, And not I come this Solstice Night To fight the Holly King again. I took an oath that he should die. I’ll knock him down all in his prime And banish him away until another time.
Holly King(R): In comes I, the Holly King, In the year’s darkest time, of me they sing. My berries red and leave of green thorn Give people hope on the darkest morn. I reign through the waning of the year And I’ll fight the Oak king, if he be here. His leaves are gone, his branches bare, Buy my leaves shine in the frosty air. Oak King, you cannot challenge me The days are yet dark, my people agree.
Oak King: King Holly, your people long for the light, They don’t wish their days to be turned into night. They need the Sun to banish the frost and snow, For trees to leaf and crops to grow. My leaves may now be cast asunder But my branches bear buds for summer splendour. And now as ruler I must take my turn, Hold up your stave, and this lesson learn.
Holly King(R): I’ll hold up my stave to defend my throne, And I’ll fight well for the crown, before I’m done.
HPS(J): See how they fight long and hard for the crown, But the King Holy has won; the Oak King goes down.
HPS(J): No wonder it looks like King Holly has won, For the people need cheering when the day’s without Sun They need his red berries and green thorns sharp To garland their feast and shine in the dark. But the wheel it must turn, the year must go round, So I call on the Robin to heal his wound.
Robin: In comes I, Robin of the wood, I come to heal the Oak King, for the peoples and the years good.
Maid: How will you heal him, Robin?
Robin: I’ll pluck from my breast some feathers red, The colour of blood, to raise the dead. I’ll lay them on his wound so deep. Their magick will bring him round from his sleep.
Maid: And so the Oak King rises, tall and strong. And once again the battle is long. But now the Holly king is down, The Oak king has won the waxing years crown.
HPS(J): But the people still need their Midwinter cheer, They can’t see the Oak’s splendour at this time of year. They want shiny berries and leaves that are green, So I call on the Wren, the Greenwood Queen.
Wren: In come I, the Wren so small. The Holly is my master, so I come at your call. I can heal him, so he will stay And cheer all our hearts until the Twelfth Day. Although Oak is the King, Holly’s Lord of Misrule, To gladden your hearts at this festival of Yule King Holly has a lady, with ivy in her bower, With jet black berries and sweet scented flower. Her leaves are as green on a dark winter’s morn As those of the Holly, but without any thorns. When the Lady Ivy lays down by his side, The Holly will rise and take her for his bride.
HPS(J): Together they will grace our Midwinter Halls Till on the Twelfth Day they will leave us all.
HP(R): Then the days will lengthen again And the Oak King can truly begin his reign. At Imbolc, when the green shoots rise, The Holly will seem to go out of our lives.
HPS(J): But soon once more the wheel will turn, And the old story again we’ll learn.
Maid: And now our story we have told, A tale of wisdom for young and old. From the parts we played let us be set free And our own true selves we now shall be.
The Great Rite HPS(J) kneels in front of HP(R) holding her Chalice. Then HP(R) slowly lowers the Athame in to the Chalice as they speak…
HP(R): As the Athame is to the male
HPS(J): So, the chalice is to the female
HP(R): For what one lacks
HPS(J): The other can give
HPS(J)&HP(R): For there is no greater magick in all the world than that of love! Blessed Be!
HPS(J):For the happiness of both, and let the fruits of the union promote life,"
HP(R):"Let all be fruitful and let peace, happiness and good will be spread throughout all lands."
HP(R) then raises the athame, replacing it upon the altar. Then HPS holds the goblet for ROWAN to sip the wine, and then R holds it for HPS(J), she then replacess it upon the altar.
HP(R) then takes up the plate of cakes, holds them before J, turning to J, touches each of them with the point of her athame, saying:
HPS(J):"This food is the blessing of the Gods to our bodies," Let us partake of it freely, and as we share, let us remember always to see to it that what we have we share with those who have nothing."
HPS takes a cake and eats 1/2 offering 1/2 to ROWAN who also takes and eats cake.
HP then offers wine to each of the members of the circle in turn ,as JADE offers them each a cake.
HPS(J): "As we enjoy these gifts of the Gods, let us remember, without Them, we would have nothing,"
HP(R): "Eat and drink. Be happy. Share and give thanks. So Mote It Be."
All: Blessed Be!
Farewell to the Goddess;HPS(J) uses the candle snuffer to extinguish the Goddess candle…
HPS(J): Great Goddess, Mother, Gracious Lady & Lover, we thank you for joining us as we celebrated Yule. We hope that you will bless us with your presence as we continue these celebrations and we extinguish this flame, knowing it as but a symbol of you.
Farewell to the God : HP(R) uses the candle snuffer to extinguish the God candle…
HP(R): Great God, Father, Young Lord & Consort, we thank you for joining us as we celebrated Yule. We hope that you will bless us with your presence as we continue these celebrations and we extinguish this flame, knowing it as but a symbol of you.
Farewell to the Quarters
East: Lords of the watchtowers of the East, return now to the brisk Winter winds which are brimming with the excitement of the year's climax. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"
All: "Hail and farewell!"
South: "Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, return now to the fires of the Winter Hearth. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"
All: "Hail and farewell!"
West: "Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, return now to the frozen streams and snow fields. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"
All; "Hail and farewell!"
North: "Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, return now to the Earth where seeds nestle awaiting the warmth of Spring. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!"
All: "Hail and farewell!"
Closing the Circle HPS(J) walks the perimeter of the circle using her athame to “draw in” the circle...
HPS(J): Great Circle we thank you… All laughter contains magick and all magick should contain laughter! The circle is open but never broken. We are the people, We are the power, We are the change, in this and every hour. So Mote it be!
HP&HPS(R&J): let us feast.
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