YULE RITUAL (Prelude) Performed December 10, 1999 Designed by Eustacia Blackstar (Eustacia1@aol.com) The ritual was performed at my home. As participants arrived, my son stationed outside and wearing a wolf's mask, pointed out a message taped on the front door. It was entitled, Final Instructions: "Go immediately to the pool area in back of the manor. If you have gifts for exchange, place them in the baskets on the table there. Give the food that you brought to the Gatekeeper. The darkness and cold is upon you in this midwinter season. Just as your ancestors, you have many fears. The wolves will protect you in their cave. When you see them, do not be afraid but go with them. Meditate in silence on the significance of the season. When the time is right, all will be made clear. Blessed Be." In the pool area, participants were met by the Gatekeeper and my daughter who also wore a wolf's mask. She indicated another message on the door leading to a back bedroom i.e. the cave: "Fear not. Enter into the darkness of the wolf cave. Sit on the floor and experience the warmth and protection. Meditate in silence on the significance of the season. Listen for the Sage. Bright Blessings be with you." Recorded chanting could be heard as all were seated in the candle lit room. The HP and HPS read the following prelude from a location unseen by the group: PRELUDE (The Prelude is an adaptation from a writing by Timothy Roderick, Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar, 1998.) HPS: My Wise One, have you noticed that the light of the Sun has vanished little by little? Now darkness and night hold us in their grasp. HP: Fear not, my Lady. This is a sign that we must prepare for one of the great mystical hinges of the year. This tide of darkness marks a season of celebration that our ancestors called Yule. HPS: Ah yes. It was long ago, when our guides and mentors in the ways of spirit, would conjure at the sacred moss-clad stones, as the Sun was reborn from the womb of night. These people of the art celebrated a midwinter festival that we, their children, recreate in their memory. After their magics, the elders gathered to tell stories of their own ancient teachers, who were seers that lived long before any of us can remember. They were known to harvest green sprigs of mistletoe from their barren sacred oak trees, in honor of the season. How they must have seen that mistletoe as a spark of life, in the midst of death! HP: As this tide approaches I see rivers and lakes freeze over. The trees are frosted with snow. They lie dormant, while animals sleep and dream for countless nights. Know that the season of Yule is the same tide of darkness and rebirth as it was for our ancestors. Look out at the silent, still world! It is from this ice and sleep that the glorious Sun, that quickens the world once more, is reborn. HPS: And it is wise to learn from the Sun, my Lord. It teaches that even in the darkest of life's circumstances there are always green sprigs of light and hope, just like the mistletoe. The birth of light happens when you recognize your own "sprigs" of potential and life at the center of darkness. Still, many ask, "how do we recognize these?" HP: Then we must tell them, that even when a tree is dormant, or when an animal takes on the winter sleep, it lives still. Though it may appear dead, it has simply retreated from the world of visible activity for rejuvenation and renewal. HPS: Yes, we must help them to become as the sacred oak and move into their inner core. They must journey within, to their spiritual center, where they too can find a place of life's renewal, hope and rebirth. HP: They must tread the path of Yule and attune to the magic and power of the season. Speak to them, my Lady. Show them the way. (HP leaves to go to an interior bedroom door to admit participants into the house. The house was well decorated for Yule.) HPS: (Meditation) All who lie in darkness, within the sound of my voice, breathe deeply and close your eyes. Imagine that you have journeyed to an ancient oak grove that stands tall in the stillness of winter. Snow covers the ground and the bark of the tree appears black from the saturation of rainwater and snow. Stand at the base of the tree and think of a situation in which you need guidance. Imagine that you project this situation like a movie onto the trunk of the tree. Once the scene has finished and faded from the tree trunk, notice the sprig of mistletoe that has grown from the spot. A word is written on one of the leaves. This word is the key to the resolution of your situation. Once you have read it you may open your eyes. Use the message of the mistletoe to help you move into Action. And now the time has come to move from the darkness into the light. All stand and heed the words of The High Priest. YULE RITUAL Designed by Eustacia Blackstar Performed Dec. 10, 1999 (Eustacia1@aol.com) (This is the main body of the ritual. Through a back entrance, HP returns to the ritual area inside the house, during the HPS' meditation. When she is finished, he opens the interior (cave) door to admit participants. As HP performs the Blessing, HPS moves to the front door of the house, preparing to enter.) HP (raise athame toward participants) "Be it known, the Temple will soon be erected. The Circle is about to be cast. Let all those who desire attendance receive the Blessing of the Mistletoe. Let none be here but of their own free will." MISTLETOE BLESSING (as participants enter ritual space, HP touches each head with mistletoe.) "Bright Blessings be with you on this longest night. You may be seated." (Gatekeeper passes out Quarter Calls, chants and carols.) (Maiden sweeps the ritual area with the besom.) (As participants sit silently, "The First Song" by Andras Corban Arthen is played on tape. This is the story of "Yule.") (At the end of the tape, three knocks are heard on the front door. Maiden moves to admit HPS. HPS appears with lit golden candle.) HP "All rise. The Lady approaches." HPS "In the Beginning, there was the Mother Goddess. She brought forth the God who was the Sun and light of the world. From this, some say, all life began." HP (chant, leading participants) Higher as the fire climbs other places, other times, as we celebrate tonight will be remembered in this rite. (refrain) HPS We come together on this night to perform an ancient rite, as our elders did before throughout the world, in days of yore. We look back now and look ahead. We mourn because the Sun God's dead. HP (refrain above) HPS Through Winter's gauntlet we have come. This longest night, we seek the Sun. The Season's Wheel must turn again, if all this darkness is to end. And so we build the fires high to guide the Light back to the sky. HP (refrain above) HPS So now we come with hope, to bring rejoicing for the Newborn King. The Mother Goddess births Renewal. With joyful hearts, we welcome Yule. CAST CIRCLE: HPS (with athame) "In sacred space, we all invite. To welcome Yule, this longest night." HP/Gatekeeper (cast circle with incense and salt water. All chant as above.) HPS (when circle is cast) "As I will it, so mote it be." CALLING THE QUARTERS HP (ring bells four times) Earth and Air Fire and Water: Guard and Guide your sons and daughters. We evoke you on this night. Assist us with this sacred rite. (Four participants will call the Quarters) All hail to Thee, oh Eastern Powers! Guard us. Guide us in these hours. As we wait this longest night, with your breath, keep safe the Light. All hail to Thee, oh South and Fire! Give us now what we desire. Help us guide the Sun's return. Blessed Fire blaze and burn! Oh Western Waters, hail to Thee! From Her womb all life shall be. As we attend the Sun God's birth, from all that harms, wash clean the earth. Oh Earth, the Northern Powers, hail! We've come this far. We must not fail. The Turning Wheel brings forth renewal. We've come with hope to welcome Yule. INVOCATION AND CHARGE*: HP (rings bell twice) The Lord and Lady we invite to guard and guide us on this night. HP Oh Mother, this we light for Thee. May all your children blessed be! (HP lights Goddess candle) HPS Now we invoke the Lord of Light. The Yule log will be blazing bright. And with it every hope and fear will be made right in this New Year. (From overhead, the Lord of Light appears on the stair landing. He descends the stairs and sits on a "throne" near the altar.) HP All hail the Lord of Light! HPS/HP (read Charge* alternating lines) THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF THE SUN KING: HPS "Children of the Lord and Lady. Have you noticed that the light of the sun has vanished little by little. This is a sign that we must prepare. Soon darkness and night will hold us in their grasp. This tide of darkness marks the season of the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. The Sun King has reached the end of His reign, and now bids us farewell." (HPS gives a crystal to Lord of Light) HP "The God is the sun of the old year sinking now into darkness to His rest. Stay not His path, for it is ordained as the Wheel turns to Winter. But before He departs to sleep, He offers to perform one last service for thee. If there is anything with which you have finished in this cycle, be it emotions, habits or workings, give these to Him now, and He will take them to the Summerland, there to be returned to the Cauldron of Rebirth. Let any who have such, come forward now." HPS "Visualize the work or emotion, that which you are releasing. Hold your hand over the crystal and will the energy of the thing into it." HPS (when all are finished) "The Wheel turns, the year has flown. Rest now my Lord in the dark of the night." (God is covered with a veil) Gatekeeper "The sun is gone! The earth is cold! How will we survive this darkness?" HPS "Did not the High Priest speak of resting, and of the Cauldron of Rebirth? COVENER "But when will The Sun King awaken? How long must we wait? HPS "The Sun King will be reborn through the Goddess. Let us aid his passage through her and back to the light by chanting." All Chant** (Veil is removed) HPS "Welcome Lord. You who have died are now reborn. Lend us your light and warmth through the winter months as we await the spring." Sun King "My thanks to you all for your care and devotion. To bring good fortune to your hearths for the New Year, let us now light the Yule Log and pass the flame to each of you. Once having burned with the Yule fire, the candles will contain the luck of the log for you to take home. (Maiden brings the Yule log to the altar. Ours was actually a cake made to look like a log, with three candles in it. HP lights Yule log. Maiden passes white candles to participants. HPS lights a candle from the log, then lights individual candles..) (Yule Carols are sung.***) HP "Though we must now extinguish these candles, carry their flame in your hearts until you light them again in your own homes." CAKES AND ALE: (Participants seated) (Spiced cider and Yule cookies are passed) HP "Now is the time to give thanks for the light and all that sustains us." HPS "May we ever be aware of all that we owe and be grateful." HP "Eat and drink. Be happy. Share and give thanks. So mote it be!" HPS "And as we share, let us remember to see to it that aught that we have, we share with those who have nothing. So mote it be!" PREPARE PARCHMENT (something you wish to accomplish or manifest during the coming year) (Iron cauldron is lit.) HP "Come each of you with your desires to the Cauldron of Rebirth. Visualize your wish as accomplished. We will chant together OM as we raise the energy." ( When everyone is finished burning the parchment all say, "As we will it, so mote it be!") HANDMADE GIFT EXCHANGE OPEN CIRCLE: HP "And now as the Sun returns to the sky, we have kept the faith with our ancestors and it is time to open the Circle." (ring four bells) (Participants will dismiss Quarters as before) "Powers of the East and Air, we thank you for joining our Circle. We ask your blessing as you part. May there be peace between us, now and forever." "Powers of the South and Fire etc. "Powers of the West and Water etc. "Powers of the North and Earth etc. HPS "Lord of the Sun, Lady of Rebirth, we thank you for joining our Circle on this longest night. We ask your Yule Tide Blessings. We have come together in love and peace. Let us depart the same way. Remember, all there is, is love and in every moment there is wisdom." HP "We have stood before the sacred Cauldron of Rebirth, knowing that one day we too must pass through the Cauldron to be reborn. All honor to the Lord and the Lady! Bright blessings of Yule be with you. Merry meet, merry part, merry meet again. The Circle is open, but unbroken. Altar setup: Yule cloth, altar candles, seasonal decorations, athames, chalices, God and Goddess candles, water/salt dishes, incense burner/incense, crystal, besom, veil, bell, mistletoe Quarter candles, lighter/matches Tape recorder/tape "The First Song" Cauldron/sterno, parchment/pens, Yule log cake/ white candles for everyone Guitar Copies: songs, chants, quarter calls Basket/cookies, spiced cider *CHARGE OF THE GOD AND GODDESS (This dialog, created by EB, was inspired by a poem. The author of the poem is unknown.) HP The God says: I am the Sun. I am the Stars. HPS The Goddess says: I am the Earth. I am the Moon. HP I am the God and I love you. HPS I am the Goddess and I love you. HP I love you like a brother. I love you like a father. I love you like a grandfather. HPS I love you like a sister. I love you like a mother. I love you like a grandmother. HP Talk to me when you are sad, or mad or scared. Think of me and thank me when you are happy. HPS Talk to me when you are sad or mad or scared. Think of me and thank me when you are happy. HP You can find me in the forest. HPS You can find me in the sea. HP You can find me in the fire. HPS You can find me in the wind. HP You can find me in your heart. HPS You can find me in your heart. HP And remember, whatever you look like, If you are a boy or a man, you look just like me. HPS And remember, whatever you look like, If you are a girl or a woman, you look just like me. Blessed Be. **CHANT FOR RETURN OF THE SUN BY EB The night is dark, the sun is gone, Yet we know the Wheel turns on. Through midnight's hour, solid dark Within our hearts remains a spark. (refrain) Queen of Winter, Mother of All, Hear us as our voices call. Send your fire back to Earth As we will the Sun's rebirth. (refrain) Who will light the sacred fire, Bringing back our hearts'desire? Sacred fire, kindled bright, Lead us back into the light. (refrain) As the flames around us glow, So may love within us grow. Waken Sun King, be reborn! Bring us light this Yuletide morn! As we will it, so mote it be! *** THIS WINTER'S NIGHT -Lyrics by EB (sung to the tune of Greensleeves) It's been so long, this Winter's Night. We can't survive without the Light. The Season's Wheel must turn once more. Oh, Goddess, we will remember. (Refrain) Hail! Hail, the Sun God King, Rejoice. We now can dance and sing. Hail! Hail! Let's bring Him praise, The child , the son of the Lady. The Yule log burns. The candles blaze. We drink our wassail to brighter days. We've kept the faith for another year. Oh, Goddess, we will remember. (Refrain) Now fast away the old year goes. We banish all of our cares and woes. All Hail the New Year! Hope it brings. Oh, Goddess, we will remember. (Refrain)