Yule Ritual
Starwyn
Purify and cast the circle but do not light the candle in the cauldron.
Priest: Let it be known that the circle is about to be cast, let none be here but of their own free will.
Priestess: This is the night of the solstice, the night that the darkness is triumphant over light, and yet on the morrow, the dark begins to give way and the light will return. The spirit of nature is suspended. All living things wait the transformation of the Dark King into the Infant light. We watch for the coming of Dawn, when the Holy Mother will again give birth to the Divine Child, the Sun God, who is the bringer of the life of Spring and the promise of Summer. We call the Sun from the womb of night. Blessed be!
All: Blessed Be.
The appropriate quarters-callers then invoke the Guardians.
North: Oh Lords of the great icy towers of the North, we do summon, awaken and call you up to guard the circle and protect us in our rite. We ask you to come to us now on the cold winter wind and breathe into us the spirit of the pure joy of life. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be.
East: 0h Lords of the great towers of the East, we do summon, awaken and call you up to guard the circle and protect us in our rite. We ask you to come forth from the fertile bosom of our Blessed Mother Earth, and nourish us so that our faith may grow in strength. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be!
South: 0h lords of the firey towers of the South, we do summon, awaken and call you up to guard the circle and protect us in our rite. We ask you to come forth from the fires that warm the planets heart, from the fires that protect us on this winters night. Kindle within us the warmth of spiritual awakening. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be!
West: 0h Lords of the towers of the West, we do summon, awaken and call you up to guard the circle and protect us in our rites. We ask you to come forth from the frozen streams, from the driven snow, from the vast expanse of your watery realm. Bring to us the water of life to wash awav our fears and resentments that we may find peace of mind. So mote it be!
All: So mote it be.
God Invocation (Priestess): Horned God, Winter God, Father of the sun, with frost upon your beard and the blazing of Yule fires in vour eyes, you bless us with your prescense. We invoke and greet you!
All: So mote it be.
Goddess Invocation (Priest): Sister, Mother, Grandmother, I greet you and ask your blessings upon your people gathered here. We invoke and adore thee!
All: So mote it be.
The priest then takes the wand and starting at the north, draws it along the entire circle deosil back to the north point, saying:
The circle is sealed, and all herein
Are totally and completely apart
From the outside world,
That we may glorify the Lord and lady whom we adore.
Blessed Be!
All: Blessed be!
The priest now holds the wand out in salute towards the north for a moment and then hands it to the Priestess, who also holds it out in salute. She motions to the group to repeat the following lines after her:
All:
As above, so below..
As the universe, so the soul,
As without, so within.
Blessed and gracious Lord and Lady,
On this day we do consecrate to you
Our bodies,
Our minds,
And our spirits.
Blessed Be!
Priestess: To die and be reborn, the wheel is turning. What must you lose to the night'?
All: Fear
Priestess: Fear is lost to the night. To die and be reborn, the wheel is turning, what must you lose to the night?
All: Fear is lost to the night, the light was born, and the light has died.
Priestess: Everything passes, all fades away.
The Holly King rises in the West, assumes the position of Horus the Younger, giving the sign of silence. At this point the Mother will circumbobulate and raise the Holly King up. He will recount his life while dancing after the Mother thru the wheel.
Holly King: At Yule I'm born and at Yule I'll die, round and round the wheel, forever flying through the sky, ever mindful of what must be.
All: So turns the wheel.
Holly King: At spring I nourish the seed and hide therein, growing with the light! Round and round the wheel. Forever flying thru the sky, ever mindful of what must be.
All: So turns the wheel.
Holly King:In summer the young stag am I, in love and lust I seek the Goddess, our union and bliss sustains the world. Round and round the wheel, forever flying thru the sky, ever mindful of what must be.
All: So turns the wheel.
Holly King:In fall as I weaken with the sun, the grain is cut for Harvest, that all may carry on. Round and round the wheel, forever flying thru the sky, ever mindful of what must be.
All: So turns the wheel!
Holly King: In winter, old and tired am I, dying with the light. Round and round the wheel, forever flying thru the sky, ever mindful of what must be.
All: So turns the wheel!
The spiral dance begins while chanting:
We all come from the Horned One
And to Him we shall return,
Like a flash of flame,
Ascending to the heavens....
Hoof and horn, hoof and horn,
All that dies shall be reborn.
Wine and grain, wine and grain,
All that is, still remains. (repeat)
All light is extinguished and the Mother wails for the loss of the God. The Holly King, now Lord of the Underworld, lights his candle.
All: Start chanting the "It is Winter, It is night" chant.
The Holly King goes around the circle and places salt on the tongue of each covener saying:
Holly King: My body is salt, taste the breath of death.
ALL: (Chant, being sung starting at the lighting of the candle above:)
It is winter, it is night,
We await the sun,
We await the light.
In the darkness
In this night,
We await the warmth,
We await the light.
This continues until Holly King is finished and then with one final round of the chant.
The Mother, kneeling in the east moans in labor.
Mother: I am the great Mother, worshipped by all creation and existent prior to their consciousness. I am the primal female force, boundless and eternal, Goddess of the Moon, Earth and seas. My names and strengths are manifold and pour forth magick and power, peace and wisdom. I am the Mother of all and send you blessings of limitless love. I am the Giver of light, and tonight I give light back to the world as I mourn the death of the God and rejoice in his birth.
The cauldron is lit as are all candles, yule log, and yule tree - resulting in more light then before. Everyone will be chanting; Watchtowers will light all candles in room at this time.
All:
Lady weave your circle tight,
Spin a web of glowing light.
Earth and air, fire and water
Bind us to you ever! (Repeat until all candles are lit)
Mother: I have given birth to the light, created life from death, warmth from cold.
While the Mother circles with the honey placing it on each coveners tongue, all will be chanting:
All:
It is winter, it in night,
We await the sun, we await the light.
In this darkeness, in this night,
We await the warmth, we await the light.
Mother: Taste the sweetness of life! (As she places it on tongue)
The Oak King rises.
Oak King: Newly born am I!
All: Hail! Ever returning God of the Sun!
Oak King: I am the bringer of light, come to dispel the darkness. I am the hope of the New Year and bring the gift of new life. The wheel has turned and I who had grown old and died now live again to fulfill the cycle of rebirth and regeneration.
Oak King: Greetings guardians of the East! What wisdom says the watcher of the East to aid me and those gathered here with me? (Facing appropriate quarter)
East: This is a time for entering the wilderness and seeking its magickal strengths. A time for standing alone and Godlike and seeing all things clearly. It is a season of Joy!
Oak King: What wisdom says the watcher of the South?
South: This is a time of active seeking, both without in nature and within oneself. Eagerness shall concern mysteries and create results. It is a season of courage!
Oak King: 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 calmness of solitary locales. A time for finding understanding, and confiding only in trusted friends. It is a season of meditation.
Oak King:What wisdom says the watcher of the North?
North:This is a time to know the endurance of the hills, and to grow in ones own inner firmness. A time for scrupulousness and thoroughness and considering all things. It is a season of confidence.
All:The wheel turns, life will continue!
The priestess now faces the altar, takes the goblet of wine in both hands, raising it in offering to the Lady and the Lord saying:
Priestess: We give thanks to the Gods for the fruits of the vine and the water of life that sustains us.
The priest then faces the altar, takes the plate of cakes and offers it to the Lord and the Lady saying:
Priest: We give thanks to the Gods for the fruits of the earth that nourish and sustain us.
All: So be it. May we ever be aware of all that we owe to the Gods.
The priestess now holds the goblet with both hands and raises it in salute to the Goddess while facing the altar saying:
Priestess: 0 Holy Mother, bless this fruit of the vine for use in our rite, that we may call forth the light.
The priest then holds his athame upwards in both hands while facing the altar saying:
Priest: 0 Great Lord triumphant, bless this athame that we may have its use in calling forth the Light, so the wheel shall not pause in its eternal turning.
The Priest and Priestess face each other - The priest, holding his athame between two palms, point down, slowly lowers the point of the athame into the wine, saying:
Priest:In a similiar fashion from time eternal, before the memory of mankind, did the God join with the Goddess to keep the wheel of life turning.
Priestess: For the continued turning of the wheel of life, and to let the fruit of the union once again reign as the bringer of light and the warmth of spring, that life again will arise from dormancy to again blossom on this planet.
Priest:Let all be filled with the bounty of peace, happiness and good will, and may your example be spread throughout all lands.
The Priestess holds the goblet for the priest to sip the wine,and the priest holds it for the Priestess, replacing it on the altar. The priest then takes the cakes holds them before him, turning to the Priestess. She touches each of them with the point of her athame saying:
Priestess:This food is the blessing of the Gods to nourish our bodies, so that our souls shall have a healthy temple.
Priest: 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.
The priestess then takes a cake and eats it, offering one to the priest who also takes a cake. The priest then turns the goblet and offers the wine to each of the coveners in turn as the Priestess then offers them each a cake.
Priestess: Eat and drink. Be happy in the bounty of the Lord and Lady, share and give thanks. So mote it be!
All:So mote it be!
Dismissal of Watchtowers
North:0 Lords of the watchtowers of the north, returning now to your icy realm on the brisk winter winds which are brimming with the excitement of the years climax and the promise of the life to come. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!
All:Hail and farewell!
East:0 Lords of the towers of the east, return now to the earth where the seeds nestle awaiting the warmth of spring and the return of the abundance of the Great Mother. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell.
All:Hail and farewell!
South: Lord of the towers of the south, return now to your firey realm from whence the fire of life will flow again to warm the hearts of man with faith. 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 your watery realm from whence the water of abundant life will once again flow with the returning warmth. Take with you our blessings and thanks. Hail and farewell!
All:Hail and farewell.
Priest:We came together in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, in love and friendship, let us depart in the same way, let us spread the love we have known here outward to all; sharing with those we meet on our separate ways.
Priestess:Lord and Lady, we give you our thanks for sharing this time together in our rite. We give you thanks for watching over us, for guarding us and for guiding us in all things. Love is the law, love is the bond, merry did we meet, merry do we part; and merry will we meet again.
The priestess then takes the wand and taps each candle out, starting north and going deosil.
Priestess: Our rite draws to its end. Oh lovely and Gracious Goddess, be with us each as we depart. Go if You must, stay if you will, but remain in our hearts forever. So Mote it Be!
All: So mote it be!
Priest: Our rite comes to a close. 0 Lord of the Sun, be with us and protect us as we depart. The circle is open, but unbroken, so mote it be!
All: So mote it be! Merry meet, merry part, merry meet again. May the Lord and the Lady be always in your heart.
