Yule
Winter Solstice

Generally, the Wheel legend begins with the son (sun) of the goddess born into the world on the Winter Solstice or Yule. This is the longest night of the year and from this night on, light returns to the earth with the lengthening of the daylight hours after the long dark of winter. So too, does the goddess in her aspect of the Enchantress of the Mystery return the Sun Child to be born to the world after her long sojourn in the underworld where she went seeking to bring life from death, light from darkness. The world celebrates this return as a promise of the light of life and growth to come.

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YULE
(Winter Solstice)

A sabbat of celebration upon the return of the light to the world. The days lengthen with the promise that life and growth will again return to the land. A traditional time for renewing hopes, dreams, and aspirations which may have been ignored or forgotten.

Wheel Legend: The light of the world is reborn with the return of the Sun Child and the cycle of life begins anew.

Purpose: To celebrate the return of the sun, and call forth in yourself, those qualities you want to renew.

Needful Things: a "Yule Log" set with candles inscribed with the qualities you wish to see renewed in your life and sweet warm things like hot chocolate or spiced cider for the simple feast.

Decorations: With Holly, Evergreen and Mistletoe, Reds, Greens, Silver, and Gold

Cleanse: With warm "sunny" scents like cinnamon, bayberry, or orange etc...

Quarters and Aspects: Call wintry aspects, like the snow queen, frosty crystalline forms, etc...

Hearthkeeping matters: You will leave the Yule Log to burn out the whole night. At dawn rise to greet the sun and release the candle stubs to the elements.

Here is an example of a ritual you may use in your own Yule observance

Shield Envision a spiral of crystalline snowflakes circling to protect you.

Center Take extra care to be fully in this moment and aware of yourself and your purpose. When ready, step into your ritual space.

Cast Circle Envision a stream of "Sparkle Snow" from the tip of your hand, wand, or athame as you cast from your projective hand beginning at the northern quarter and moving deosil.

"And though the world is wrapped in sleep
and bitter wind and icy blast
the snow may fall both hard and deep
I sorrow not this too shall pass."

Call Quarters facing north

"Earth beneath a blanket white
mountain peaks in frozen night
Bring Stability be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Earth, Welcome."

light the green candle

Call Quarters Facing east

"Winter gales of blizzard chill
silent, frozen, dark, and still
Bring Clarity be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Air, Welcome."

light the yellow candle.

Call Quarters Facing south

"Flame and heat defy the cold
hearthfire burning warm and bold
Bring Purity be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Fire, Welcome."

light the red candle.

Call Quarters Facing west

"Frost and ice and fallen snow
crystal waters frozen flow
Bring Empathy be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Water, Welcome."

light the blue candle.

Invoke the Sun raising projective hand in the symbol of the sun (first finger and Little finger extended, like horns, other fingers folded beneath thumb)

"Winter King reborn this night
a sun child to return the light
Be with me now until the dawn
renew the light Welcome the Sun."

light the gold candle

Invoke the Moon raising receptive hand in the symbol of the moon (hold your whole hand in a "c" shape like the crescent moon)

"Enchantress in the frozen dark
give birth to life, return the spark
be with me now until the dawn
light from the womb Welcome the Moon."

light the silver candle

Invoke your Guardian tracing a pentagram in the air before you with your hand, wand, or athame

"Spirit that is within, be with me now as the sun returns to the world with the passage of this the longest night. This turn of the wheel brings the renewal of light and life without, so be it within."

light the incense

Complete the circle with your purpose sit or stand as you please

"The circle is cast and we stand between the worlds
beyond the bounds of time where
dark and light, joy and sorrow,
day and night, the past and tomorrow
meet here as one. Blessed be.
I come now between the worlds, midwife to the rebirth of light. As the sun child is reborn I too renew my spirit with this turn of the wheel."

light the cauldron candle

"Light from dark
warmth from cold
life from death
new from old"

take the candle with the renewal inscription on it and light it from the cauldron candle

"I light this candle that a light may be reborn in me to warm and illuminate the world.
Harming none, this be done.

repeat for each renewal candle you have inscribed and place each renewal candle on the yule log to burn the night through.

Ground (touch something from the earth with your projective hand, or just feel the excess energy drain from your body back through your feet to replenish the earth below you)

Simple feast Sweet things and Hot Chocolate or Mulled Cider

Thank the Guardian Make the sign of the pentagram with smoke from the incense stick (if it is still burning) or trace it in the air before you with your wand, or hand

"Spirit within, my thanks for your charge and the blessing of your attendance.
Stay or go as you shall please.
Hail and farewell"

Thank the Moon raising receptive hand in the symbol of the moon (hold your whole hand in a "c" shape like the crescent moon)

"Enchantress, mother to the light, my thanks for the blessing of your attendance.
Stay or go as you shall please.
Hail and farewell"

quench the silver candle

Thank the Sun raising projective hand in the symbol of the sun (first finger and Little finger extended, like horns, other fingers folded beneath thumb)

"Shadow lord reborn Sun child, my thanks for the blessing of your attendance.
Stay or go as you shall please.
Hail and farewell"

quench the gold candle

Thank the Quarters facing the appropriate directions as you thank and release them and quench their candles as you bid them farewell.

"Crystal waters frozen flow
Hearthfire burning warm and bright
Winter gale of blizzards blow
Earth of frozen mountain might
My thanks for guidance granted me
stay or go as you shall please
hail and farewell, and blessed be."

Release the Circle beginning at the northern quarter and moving widdershins draw the energy into your receptive hand, wand or athame. When you have finished re-calling the energy, compress it into a little ball in your receptive hand and absorb it into your body.

"The circle is open
yet still unbroken
merry met, and merry part,
and merry meet again."

Ground (touch something from the earth with your projective hand, or just feel the excess energy drain from your body back through your feet to replenish the earth below you)