Yule Lore and Rite
Pronounciation: YOOL
Date: On or about December 21
Other Names: Solstice, Winter Solstice
A time of rejoicing. The God is born of the Earth-Mother Goddess as the Sun Child. Just as there will now start to be more daylight than night, the God's presence and power now begins to grow. It is customary to exchange gifts with loved ones to celebrate His birth, and decorate with candles and evergreens. Ornaments on trees are a form of sympathetic Magick, reminding the plants to bear fruit come Springtime. The word “solstice” loosely translates to “sun stands still,” conveying the idea that the Sun pauses at this point before resuming its travels across the Heavens.
YULE RITUAL
For Group Work: Needed for this ritual are a cauldron of Earth in the South, a candle (gold, evergreen, or white) for each participant, and a black cloth large enough to effectively cover the P.
For Solitary Work: Black cloth only needs to be large enough to drape over the cauldron. Place several extra candles in the cauldron.
Set the altar and cast the Circle as usual. Ignore the "P/S" speaking distinctions if this is done as a Solitary rite.
If this is a Group rite, P sits, PS covers him.
If this is a Solitary rite, cover the cauldron.
PS: TONIGHT IS ONE OF GREAT JOY, FOR OUR LORD RETURNS FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH. REBORN AS THE SUN CHILD, HE BRINGS BACK THE LIGHT TO THE WORLD! LET US AID HIS ASCENT!
All should hold their unlit candles as the dance around P/cauldron and sing.
ALL: JOY TO THE WORLD!
THE LORD IS COME!
LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM
AND HEAV’N AND NATURE SING
AND HEAV’N AND NATURE SING
AND HEAV’N AND HEAV’N AND NATURE SING!
if this is a Group rite, the PS will halt the dance and light her candle from the Goddess candle, then the God candle, and then place it into the cauldron. She assumes the Goddess position before it.
If this is a Solitary rite, halt the dance when you feel the energy is raised, light your candle from the God candle, and stand before the cauldron.
PS: CHILD OF PROMISE, CHILD DIVINE, EMERGE NOW FROM THE MOTHER’S WOMB, FOR BORN ARE YOU TO WAKE THE LIGHT!
If this is a Group rite, all should cheer as PS lifts cloth and P stands. He should then raise the candle from the cauldron, and light the others’ candles as he speaks.
If this is a Solitary rite, remove the cloth from the cauldron and light the rest of the candles inside as you speak, replacing "I" with "Him/His" as appropriate.
P: FOLLOW ME AS MY LIGHT NOW WAXES TO DISPEL THE DARK AND REVIVE THE WORLD! I CELEBRATE MYSELF AND SING MYSELF, FOR DIVINE AM I, INSIDE AND OUT. EVERY ATOM BELONGING TO ME AS GOOD AS BELONGS TO YOU, AND IS FORMED FROM THIS SOIL, AND THIS AIR; TURBULENT, FLESHY, SENSUAL, EATING, DRINKING AND LOVING, FOR I STAND NOT ABOVE YOU NOR APART FROM YOU. I MAKE HOLY WHATEVER I TOUCH OR AM TOUCHED BY. YOU MAY HARDLY KNOW WHO I AM OR WHAT I MEAN, BUT COME IN, AND KNOW ME BETTER. UNTAMEABLE, UNTRANSLATABLE, EACH MOMENT THRILLS ME WITH JOY. AND SO UNSCREW THE LOCKS FROM THE DOORS, AND THE DOORS THEMSELVES FROM THEIR JAMBS, FOR BEHOLD, IT IS THE DAYBREAK OF MY BIRTH! BLESSÈD BE!
ALL: BLESSÈD BE!
Cheer as so moved.
Now to Cakes and Wine, including singing other appropriate songs (“Deck the Halls,” etc.).
Date: On or about December 21
Other Names: Solstice, Winter Solstice
A time of rejoicing. The God is born of the Earth-Mother Goddess as the Sun Child. Just as there will now start to be more daylight than night, the God's presence and power now begins to grow. It is customary to exchange gifts with loved ones to celebrate His birth, and decorate with candles and evergreens. Ornaments on trees are a form of sympathetic Magick, reminding the plants to bear fruit come Springtime. The word “solstice” loosely translates to “sun stands still,” conveying the idea that the Sun pauses at this point before resuming its travels across the Heavens.
YULE RITUAL
For Group Work: Needed for this ritual are a cauldron of Earth in the South, a candle (gold, evergreen, or white) for each participant, and a black cloth large enough to effectively cover the P.
For Solitary Work: Black cloth only needs to be large enough to drape over the cauldron. Place several extra candles in the cauldron.
Set the altar and cast the Circle as usual. Ignore the "P/S" speaking distinctions if this is done as a Solitary rite.
If this is a Group rite, P sits, PS covers him.
If this is a Solitary rite, cover the cauldron.
PS: TONIGHT IS ONE OF GREAT JOY, FOR OUR LORD RETURNS FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH. REBORN AS THE SUN CHILD, HE BRINGS BACK THE LIGHT TO THE WORLD! LET US AID HIS ASCENT!
All should hold their unlit candles as the dance around P/cauldron and sing.
ALL: JOY TO THE WORLD!
THE LORD IS COME!
LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING!
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM
AND HEAV’N AND NATURE SING
AND HEAV’N AND NATURE SING
AND HEAV’N AND HEAV’N AND NATURE SING!
if this is a Group rite, the PS will halt the dance and light her candle from the Goddess candle, then the God candle, and then place it into the cauldron. She assumes the Goddess position before it.
If this is a Solitary rite, halt the dance when you feel the energy is raised, light your candle from the God candle, and stand before the cauldron.
PS: CHILD OF PROMISE, CHILD DIVINE, EMERGE NOW FROM THE MOTHER’S WOMB, FOR BORN ARE YOU TO WAKE THE LIGHT!
If this is a Group rite, all should cheer as PS lifts cloth and P stands. He should then raise the candle from the cauldron, and light the others’ candles as he speaks.
If this is a Solitary rite, remove the cloth from the cauldron and light the rest of the candles inside as you speak, replacing "I" with "Him/His" as appropriate.
P: FOLLOW ME AS MY LIGHT NOW WAXES TO DISPEL THE DARK AND REVIVE THE WORLD! I CELEBRATE MYSELF AND SING MYSELF, FOR DIVINE AM I, INSIDE AND OUT. EVERY ATOM BELONGING TO ME AS GOOD AS BELONGS TO YOU, AND IS FORMED FROM THIS SOIL, AND THIS AIR; TURBULENT, FLESHY, SENSUAL, EATING, DRINKING AND LOVING, FOR I STAND NOT ABOVE YOU NOR APART FROM YOU. I MAKE HOLY WHATEVER I TOUCH OR AM TOUCHED BY. YOU MAY HARDLY KNOW WHO I AM OR WHAT I MEAN, BUT COME IN, AND KNOW ME BETTER. UNTAMEABLE, UNTRANSLATABLE, EACH MOMENT THRILLS ME WITH JOY. AND SO UNSCREW THE LOCKS FROM THE DOORS, AND THE DOORS THEMSELVES FROM THEIR JAMBS, FOR BEHOLD, IT IS THE DAYBREAK OF MY BIRTH! BLESSÈD BE!
ALL: BLESSÈD BE!
Cheer as so moved.
Now to Cakes and Wine, including singing other appropriate songs (“Deck the Halls,” etc.).