Yule

This ritual requires a red, a white, and a black candle. Altar should be decorated with holly, mistletoe, chestnuts and any other appropriate greenery. White votive candles should ring the circle but remain unlit. If possible all should have small bells available.

Cast Circle

All enter the circle and sit in a circle of darkness. Hold hands and meditate on the cold darkness of winter. After a short time. . .

Priestess: At this time do we know the dark of the year. The season of life is past and all is cold. Emptiness and bleakness are all about. Let us now give honor to the Triple Goddess. That the season may be made better through the birth of the Divine Child, the Golden Newborn Solstice Sun.

Priestess strikes a flame and lights the white candle before the Goddess figure saying:

White do we light for the Maiden, thou divine and joyous child. Fresh and new as the driven snow is the candle which is Her symbol. We give greetings to the Blessed One.

Priestess strikes flame and lights the red candle and says:

Red do we light for the Mother. Thou warm embracing Queen of Creation. Scarlet as the beauty of the winter sunset is the candle which is Her symbol. We give greetings to the Regal One.

Priestess strikes flame and lights the black candle saying:

Black do we light for the Crone. Thou keeper of the magickal mysteries. Ebon as the night of sleet is the candle which is Her symbol. We give greetings to the Wise One.

Coverners move deosil about the circle starting in the North lighting the small candles around the circle. As this is being done the Priest says:

As the light grows about us, so also may the presence of the Old Gods, who come forth now in triumph, glow where we now stand. May magick and mystery and beauty be with us now in this, the Season of the White Goddess and the Divine Child of Light. So mote it be!

All: So mote it be!

Priest goes to the North, holds his arms in greeting. Small bells are jingled and he summons:

All hail to thee, endless realms of snow, frozen tundra, forests in white and mountains sheathed in ice. Rest deeply in glistening silence and mystery. Cast thy spell, O Great Ones, and remain, Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Priestess goes to the East, holds out her arms in greeting. Small bells are jingled and she summons:

All hail to thee, skies of wind and storm. Blow ye clear, cold and sharp over the sleeping land. Cast thy spell, O Great Ones and remain. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Priest goes to the South, holds arms out in greeting. Small bells are jingled and he summons:

All hail to thee, far desert lands and places warm. Return ye soon and with bounty, to bring back the warm seasons. Cast thy spell, O Great Ones and remain. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Priestess goes to West, holds arms in greeting. Small bells are jingles and she summons:

All hail to thee, crystalline lakes and rimed streams. Frozen in glittering beauty. Be ye places of mystery and portals elvish. Cast thy spell, O Great Ones and remain. Blessed Be

All: Blessed Be!

Priest and Priestess stand before the altar, There is a pause of five heartbeats and the bells are jingled twice. The Priest evokes:

O Hearth God of Frost, whose beard is of shining ice and whose staff turns all to crystal. Thou who Are is not of these worlds, be with us we do ask. Give us thy sharp joy. Let us hear the crackling of thy laughter, and may we know better of thy wisdom and thy magick. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be

There is a pause of five heartbeats and the bells are jingled thrice. The Priestess evokes:

O most regal Queen of Snow, whose glistening jewels glitter about us and whose sorceries turn all to sparkling white. Shining Empress whose crown is of the arctic stars and whose mantle is the icy fire of the borealis, be with us, we do ask. May we know thy cold and distant beauty and may we know better of thy wisdom and thy magick. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Coverners take up their places around the quarters. Priestess raps thrice upon the altar and says:

In this, the Season of the White Goddess and the time of the Divine Child, what wisdom says the Watcher of the East?

East: This is a time for entering wilderness and seeking its magickal strengths. A time for standing alone and godlike and seeing all things clearly. It is a season of joy.

After a silence of about 30 heartbeats, the Priest raps thrice on the altar and says:

In this the season of the White Goddess and the time of the Divine Child, what wisdom says the Watcher of the South?

South: This is a time of active seeking. Both without in nature and within oneself. Eagerness and resolution shall concern mysteries and create results. It is a season of Courage!

After a silence of about 30 heartbeats Priestess raps thrice on the altar and says:

In this, the season of the White Goddess and the time of the Divine Child, what wisdom says the Watcher of the West?

West: This is a time for devotion to the Way of the Wild Places and seeking the calmnsess of solitary locales. A time for finding understanding and confiding only in trusted friends. It is a season of meditation!

After a silence of 30 heartbeats Priest raps thrice on the altar and says:

In this, the season of the White Goddess and the time of the Divine Child, what wisdom says the Watcher of the North?

North: This is a time to know the endurance of the hills and to so grow in one's own inner firmness. A time for scrupulousness and thoroughness in considering all things. It is a season of confidence!

At this time cakes and ale are presented.

Priest shall go to the North and hold his arms in salute. Small bells are jingled.

We thank thee endless lands of snow and take our blessings to thy far realms. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Priestess goes to East and holds her arms in salute. Small bells are jingled.

We thank thee skies of wind and of storm and take our blessings to thy far realms. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Priest goes to South, holds arms in salute. Small bells are jingled. Priest says:

We thank thee far desert lands and places warm and take our blessings to thy far realms. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Priestess goes to West, holds arms in salute. Small bells are jingled. Priestess says:

We thank thee crystalline lakes and rimed streams, and take our blessings to thy far realms. Blessed Be!

All: Blessed Be!

Priest and Priestess stand before the altar. There is a pause of five heartbeats and the bells are jingled twice. Priest says:

O joyous God of Frost, we thank thee for thy bright presence here. We have been honored to have your spirit here among us. Farewell and Blessed Be!

All: Farewell and Blessed Be!

There is a pause of five heartbeats and bells are jingled thrice. Priestess says:

O magnificent Queen of Snow, we thank thee for thy crystal presence here. We have been honored to have your spirit here among us. Farewell and Blessed Be!

All: Farewell and Blessed Be!

Priestess puts out the candles before the Goddess and says:

The Goddess, The God and The Child have been honored. This rite of Winter is done. (Pointing up) As above (pointing down) So below, this circle is open but unbroken. Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again.

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