Yule 1995
STARS OF WINTER
tHera Brid Amber Arrow
Look for ORION in the winter months, one of the most easily recognizable constellations. It rises toward the East, sails in brilliant splendor between the horizon and the zenith, and sets almost due west. Four of its' stars form a quadrilateral, in the midst of which are three stars nearly as radiant, slanting downward. Its' brightest star, at the top left-hand corner of the quadrilateral, is ALPHA ORIONIS or BETELGEUSE (Giant's Shoulder) which glows with red ember light. RIGEL, the star in the lower right-hand corner, glitters with a blue-white radiance and is more vivid than BETELGEUSE; it is Orion’s second star and was once less powerful than the Giant's Shoulder. Its' name means Giant's Leg. In the top right-hand corner is the star BELLATRIX (Female Warrior). The quadrilateral's southeast corner is formed by SAIPH. The Great Nebula in ORION is famous, and is located in the Scabbard of ORION- just below the line of three stars forming the belt. It is the birthplace of new stars some 1,500 light-years from Earth.
The Giant's Shoulder forms a beautifully luminous equilateral triangle with SIRIUS in the Great Dog (Canis Procyon Major) and in the Little Dog (Canis Minor). This Great Triangle is one of the most vivid constellations of the heavens. Procyon is golden, while SIRIUS glitters with a snow-and-sea blue-white radiance. SIRIUS, the Dog Star, is the most powerful in the star group of Canis Major, as beautiful and brilliant as our own rising sun when viewed through a telescope. The intensity of light is due to its' being a new star.
ORION was a great hunter, noble and beautiful. He was blinded by an enemy (Enopion), but the god Vulcan sent Cedalion to be his guide, and his eyes were healed by turning them to the sun. Dianna (Female Warrior and Huntress), killed him, and he was transfigured into one of the constellations. He is attended by stormy weather, representative of the passions that played about his mortal life. Every hunter has a Horse and Dog; the dogs that accompany ORION are well known features of the Heavens; less well know is the Horse head Nebula in the constellation of ORION, which literally resembles a Horse's head.
Before the Ritual has begun, an appointed covenor must smudge (cleanse) all attendees.
All covenors will now take a few moments of silence to meditate and ground thyselves
HPS: Lights BLACK candle and says: This candle will draw to Earth all the bounty and balance of the Universe.
Lights WHITE candle and says: This candle will send the God's light to the World to bring bounty, balance & peace.
Lights GOLD candle and says: This candle will bring the light of the Sun.
Lights SILVER candle and says: This candle brings the light of the Moon to this sacred space. Lord and Lady, renew thy light once again. BLESSED BE!
GODDESS INVOKATION
HPS: Beginning Ritual Blessing -(left hand opened up)
We invoke Thee, Luminous Lady in White; Sweeping mount and vale with falling flakes;
As your winter- wand scatters upon us, a spell of sparkling snow...
We invoke Thee, Ice Enchantress; Star Studded Goddess of Northern Lights; your frosted garments, shimmering, in the slumber- still visions of December dark; as you guard the gateway to the Portal of Polar Mysteries.
We invoke Thee, Crystal Queen; Crone of cold and arctic climates; in this season of barren woodlands and naked branches upraised to gray-veiled sky;
WE INVOKE THEE, WE INVOKE THEE, WE INVOKE THEE, BE HERE AMONGST US NOW!!!!!
GOD INVOKATION
HP: Beginning Ritual Blessing -(left hand opened up)
We invoke Thee, Antlered and Ancient One; Lord and Victim of the winters' Hunt; giver of self for the Love of us; in this season of sacrifice.
We invoke Thee, Shape- shifting Solar Stag; your hoof prints brushed away by driven snow; As you guard the gateway; to the invisible…
We invoke Thee, winter reigning Forest- Phantom; as we celebrate this turning of thee Solar Wheel;
WE INVOKE THEE, WE INVOKE THEE, WE INVOKE THEE, BE HERE AMONGST US NOW! ! ! ! !
ALTAR CONSECRATION
HPS: With athame draw the pentagram over the altar and recite the following:
I consecrate this Yule altar, so that it be of positive energy and pleasing to thee Ice Enchantress Goddess and thee Solar Stag God.
Bless this solid surface, for our focused energies are of purification and thy ancient warship.
SALT AND WATER CONSECRATION
Maiden: Raised left hand- hold salt dish
Raised right hand – hold water dish
(Recite the following)
Salt from the SEA, by the Sparkling Snow Goddess be Blessed!
Water from the RIVER depths, by the Ice Goddess be Blessed!
HPS: With athame draw the pentagram into the salt dish and take out 3 purges of salt, place into water dish and recite:
Cleanse from Thee- all contamination!
Preserve us with purity!
Protect us with power from thy Ancient Ones!
By the power of thy Goddess and thy God
SO MOTE IT BE!
All Covenors: SO MOTE IT BE!
Anointment of all: HPS holds the sprig of Holly in Right Hand, dips it into the Blessed Water and sprinkles all covenors with it. Then traces the Pentagram onto the HP. (Recites- Blessed Be!) Then the HP traces the Pentagram onto the HPS. (Recites- Blessed Be!)
All anoint each other Blessed Be!
INCENSE PURIFICATION
Covenor from the East, lights the Incense and recites the following:
With this Incense we are guarded with thy power of thy Ancient Ones. May we be Purified and Blessed. We are the hope that never dies. Blessed Be!
Covenor from the East walks around (deosil) with Incense along the outside of the covenors for their purification smoke. Returns to their appropriate place.
CASTING THE CIRCLE
HP: With athame and sprig of Holly in hand, walks (deosil) and recites the following:
I cast this circle, to protect us from all negative and positive forces that may come to do us harm. May we be guarded by thee astral mist of Winter- a circle of Spirit Shields of Protection surrounds us.
I charge this circle to draw un perfect harmonious forces and energies most Spiritual with us, as a sacred space between the Worlds, a place of perfect love and perfect trust.
SO MOTE IT BE!
All Covenors: SO MOTE IT BE!
WATCHTOWER GUARDIANS
(Remember to light your candle first before reciting)
East (Air): All Hail to Thee!
Yellow Skies of Wind and Storm
Blow thy clear, cold and sharp breath over thy sleeping land.
Cast thy spell, Ancients of the East and Remain!
Blessed Be!
All Covenors: SO MOTE IT BE!
South (Fire): All Hail to Thee!
Red Far desert lands and places warm.
Return to us soon and with bounty to bring back the warm seasons.
Cast thy spell, Ancients of the South and Remain!
Blessed Be!
All Covenors: SO MOTE IT BE!
West (Water): All Hail to Thee!
Blue Crystalline lakes and rimmed streams, frozen in glittering beauty.
Be thou places of mystery and portals of elves.
Cast thy spell, Ancients of the West and Remain!
Blessed Be!
All Covenors: SO MOTE IT BE!
North (Earth): All Hail to Thee!
Green Endless realms of snow, frozen tundra, and mountains sheathed in ice.
Rest deeply in glistening silence and mystery.
Cast thy spell, Ancients of the North and Remain!
Blessed Be!
All Covenors: SO MOTE IT BE!
HPS: As above, so below, the circle is cast, the ritual has begun.
ANCIENT WICCAN RITE
EAST: We are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time. Where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow all meet as one.
SOUTH: We meet in perfect love and in perfect trust. Remember always the Wiccan Rede: “ AN, IT HARM NONE, DO WHAT THOU WILT. “ Remember this in whatever you desire, whatever you would ask of the Gods,
WEST: Whatever you would do, be assured that it would harm none, not even yourself, and remember that as you give, so shall it return threefold.
NORTH: Give of yourself, your love, your life… and you will be thrice rewarded. But to send forth harm, and that, too, will return thrice over.
GUIDED MEDITATION
HP: Guide all covenors with 3 deep breaths. Led by a moment of silence. Slowly read meditation as if in a dream state.
Drummer: Drums a slow soft heartbeat through meditation and ends with 3 LOUD beats.
HP:
Now we all shall meditate in silence on the cold darkness of winter, of the season for turning inward, and on the ways in which our distant PAGAN ANCESTORS celebrated this season in times long past.
(Pause a moment before reciting on)
This is the night of the WINTER SOLSTICE, the longest night of the year. Now darkness triumphs, and yet, gives way and transfers into light. The breath of nature is suspended. All wait while within the cauldron; the Dark King is transformed into the Infant Light. We watch for the coming of the Dawn, when the Great Mother again gives birth to the Divine Child Sun, who is bringer of hope and the promise of summer. This is the stillness behind motion, when time itself stops, the center, which is the circumference of all.
Drummer end meditation with 3 LOUD beats.
All Covenors shall recite the following 3 times:
"We turn the wheel,
To bring the Light in,
We call the Sun,
From the Womb of Light!"
LIGHTING OF THE YULE CANDLES
HPS: At this time do we know the Dark of the Year? The season of life is past and all is cold. Let us now honor the TRIPLE GODDESS, that she may enrich our lives with the birth of the Divine Child, the golden newborn Solstice Sun.
(HP does not light a candle yet).
MAIDEN: Lights the WHITE candle and recites:
White is the light for the Maiden. Thou divine and joyous child. Fresh and new as the driven snow is the taper which is her symbol. We give greetings to thee Blessed One!
MOTHER: Lights the RED candle and recites:
Red do we light for the Mother; warm embracing Queen of Creation, Scarlet as the beauty of thy Winter Sunset is the taper which is her symbol. We give greetings to the Regal One!
CRONE: Lights the BLACK candle and recites:
Black do we light for the Crone, the keeper of the Magickal Mysteries, Ebony, as the night of sleet is the taper, which is her symbol. We give greetings to the Wise One!
HPS: Lights one BLACK candle and recites:
Tonight we celebrate these candles. For the infant Solstice Sun, through the long dark months of winter, may our Lord bear the blessing of thy Lady, as he guards us and guides us through the days ahead.
To do that we add a further prayer: (2nd BLACK candle is lit and recite)
One light to take him into the winter. One flame to pierce the darkness. A ray of hope. A symbol of thy light within us all.
(Green candle is lit and recite)
And another to lead us back
All Covenors: Behold the light that can never die.
Reborn anew in the Solstice Sky!
WINTER MEDITATION
Covenor: In this season of the White Goddess, and the birth 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 seeing all things clearly. It is a season of Joy!
Blessed Be!
Covenor: In this season of the White Goddess, and the birth of the Divine Child, what wisdom says the Watcher of the South?
SOUTH: This is a time of active seeking. Both within nature and within one’s self. Eagerness and resolution shall concern mysteries and create results. It is a season of Courage!
Blessed Be!
Covenor: In this season of the White Goddess, and the birth of the Divine Child, what wisdom says the Watcher of the West?
WEST: This is the time of devotion to the ways of the wild places. And seeking the calmness of solitary locales. A time for finding understanding, and confiding in trusted friends. It is a season of meditation!
Blessed Be!
Covenor: In this season of the White Goddess, and the birth of the Divine Child, what wisdom says the Watcher of the North?
NORTH: This is a time to know thy endurance of heels, and to grow in one’s own inner firmness. A time for thoroughness, and considering all things! It is a season of confidence!
Blessed Be!
HP: Let us give from the strength of our SPIRITS to the fledgling light of winter’s night.
As the light grown 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!
All Covenors (repeat 8 times to represent each spoke of the SOLAR WHEEL of the YEAR).
The YULE Light Burns and the Sun Wheel Turns!
So Mote it Be!
HP: The Goddess and God plus the New Child have been honored. This Ancient Wiccan Rite of Winter is done…
So Mote it Be!
CONSECRATION OF CAKE AND WINE
CAKES
HP holds dish of CAKES while HPS draws a Pentagram over dish and recites:
Oh Queen most sacred, Bless this food into our bodies. Bestowing Health, Wealth, Joy and Peace, and that fulfillment of Love, which is perfect happiness...
HPS feeds cakes to HP and recites: May you never hunger!
HP feeds cake to HPS and recites: May you never hunger!
This dish of cakes is passed around to all covenors and feast while reciting one by one: May you never hunger!
WINE
HPS holds the CHALICE of Wine in both hands while the HP lowers his ATHAME blade into the Chalice and draws the pentagram and recites:
As the Athame is to the male, so the cup is to the female. Together they become one in TRUTH!
HPS then continues to hold the sacred CHALICE, lifts it up in Honor of the Goddess and takes a sip, then passes it to the HP and recites: May you never thirst!
HP then holds the sacred CHALICE, lifts it up in Honor of the God and takes a sip, then passes it to the next covenor and recites:
May you never thirst!
The sacred CHALICE is passed around to all covenors and drink while reciting one by one: May you never thirst!
HPS: Glimmering Goddess. Once again you have given birth to thee Celestial Sun. Once again you have brought forth the Sun that we may live in the light. A light, which can never be extinguished, even by the longest winter night. Light that will grow into glory. Waxing strong despite the cold chill to come. For this we give thanks, rejoicing at this Solstice and always!
So Mote it Be!
HP: Horned Lord of Winters' darkness companion of thy Lady of White. We give thee thanks! For teachings of inner mysteries through the cold, dark and the foreboding spell of winter we rejoice in Solstice Joy!
Blessed Be!
DISMISSAL OF THE GUARDIANS OF WATCHTOWERS
(Remember to extinguish candles after reciting the closure)
(Widdershins)
NORTH: Earth Our Lord of Mountains and Fields, Host of the Midnight Sun, Guardian of the Wisdom of the Ages; we thank thee for thy blessings!
Blessed Be!
WEST: Water Our Lady of the Ocean Tides, Host of the Setting Sun, Guardian of the Passions of Man; we thank thee for thy blessings!
Blessed Be!
SOUTH: Fire Our Lord of Fire and Flame, Host of the Mid-Day Sun, Guardian of the Fires of Life; we thank thee for thy blessings!
Blessed Be!
EAST: Air Our Lady of the Whirling Winds, Host of the Rising Sun, Guardian of the Spirit of Light; we thank thee for thy blessings!
Blessed Be!
HPS: (extinguishes all candles except one altar candle)
These flames are a form of energy, which, like all energy cannot be destroyed, merely changed from one form to another. As these candles are extinguished, we transmute that energy from the flames without to the Divine Flame within each of us. In doing so we reaffirm our dedication to seek the Path of Light knowing that the goals we seek, we shall attain empowered by the flame within.
HP: (takes down the circle)
HPS: The circle is open yet it ever remains a circle. Around and around flows its magickal powers.
May the peace of the Goddess and God go in our hearts
All Covenors: Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again.
Blessed Be!
Thank you all for coming to Twilight Fire’s Yule celebration. Lets all join in feasting and merriment.