YULE RITUAL Prepared by Eustacia Blackstar Performed December 14, 1997

Transcription

1 - YULE RITUAL Prepared by Eustacia Blackstar Performed December 14, 1997 IS (enter ritual circle unadorned.) (lights two altar candles and incense.) S (mixes salt with water) " Oh water, I cast out from Thee all uncleanliness, in the names of the Lord and the Lady." "Blessings on Thee, oh Salt. May your purity and goodness aid me in the use I make of Thee in this rite, in the names of the Lord and the Lady." S (prepares the Circle with the Besom.) IS (bless each other with crystal) night. " "Bright blessings be with you on this longest (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 Crystal Blessing. Let none be here but oftheir own free will." CRYSTAL BLESSING (as participants enter ritual space, and S touch each head with a crystal) "Bright Blessings be with you on this longest night. Be silent and meditate." (As participants sit silently, "The First Song" by Andras Corban Arthen is played on tape.) (As the tape plays, IS dress in ritual robes) (At the end of the tape, rings bell three times. IS process to altar with lit golden candles) PRELUDE: S "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." Higher as the fire climbs other places, other times, as we celebrate tonight will be remembered in this rite (refrain)

2 S S S We come together on this night to perform an ancient rite, as our mothers did before throughout the world, in days of yore. We look back now and look ahead. We mourn because the Sun God's dead. (refrain above) 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. (refrain above) 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: S (with athame) "In sacred space, we all invite. To welcome Yule, this longest night." IS (cast circle with incense and salt water. All chant as above.) (when circle is cast) "As I will it, so mote it be." CALLING THE QUARTERS (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.

3 S (while lights Quarter torches) 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: (rings bell twice) The Lord and Lady we invite to guard and guide us on this night. S Oh Mother, this we light for Thee. Mayall your children blessed be! 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. ( lights Triple Goddess candle) (S lights God candle) SI (read Charge together)

4 The God says: I am the Sun. I am the Stars. CHARGE OF THE GOD AND GODDESS The Goddess says: I am the Earth. I am the Moon. I am the God, and I love you. I am the Goddess, and I love you. I love you like a brother. I love you like a father. I love you like a grandfather. I love you like a sister. I love you like a mother. I love you like a grandmother. Talk to me when you are sad, or mad, or scared. Think of me, and thank me, when you are happy. Talk to me when you are sad, or mad, or scared. Think of me, and thank me, when you are happy. You can find me in the forest. You can find me in the sea. You can find me in the fire. You can find me in the wind. You can find me in your heart. You can find me in your heart. And remember, whatever you look like, If you are a boy or a man, you look just like me. And remember, whatever you look like, If you are a girl or a woman, you look just like me.

5 THE DEATH AND REBIRTH OF THE SUN KING: S "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." (S places mask on and give him a crystal) "I am the sun of the old year sinking now into darkness to my rest. Stay not my path, for it is ordained as the Wheel turns to Winter. But before I depart to my sleep, I offer 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 me now, and I will take them with me to the Summerland, there to be returned to the Cauldron of Rebirth. Let any who have such, come forward now." S "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." S (when all are finished) "The Wheel turns, the year has flown. Rest now my Lord in the dark of the night." ( is covered with a veil) COVENER "The sun is gone! The earth is cold! How will we survive this darkness?" S "Did not the Sun King speak of resting, and of the Cauldron of Rebirth? COVENER "But when will he awaken? How long must we wait? S "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) S "Welcome Lord. You who have died are now reborn. Lend us your light and warmth through the winter months as we await the spring. " "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, these candles will contain the luck of the log for you to take home. ( light Yule log. He lights a white candle for each participant. S passes them.) (Yule Carols are sung. removes mask.)

6 "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: (Ginger ale and Yule cookies are past) "Now is the time to give thanks for the light and all that sustains us. " S "May we ever be aware of all that we owe and be grateful." "Eat and drink. Be happy. Share and give thanks. So mote it be!" S "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 coming year) (something you wish to accomplish or manifest during the "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 say, "As we will it, so mote it be!") OPEN CIRCLE: "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) S "Powers ofthe East and Air, we thank you for joining our Circle. We ask you blessing as you part. May there be peace between us, now and forever. " S "Powers of the South and Fire etc. "Powers of the West and Water etc. "Powers of the North and Earth etc. S "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."

7 "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. L~ '~" Alt(;lrsetup: Yule cloth, seasohal decorations, athames, chalices, altar candles, God and G~ddess candles, water/salt dishes, il!cense'burner/incense, two crystals, besom, mask, veil, bell <Quarter torches/candles, lighter/matches 'Tape Tecordefltape..- Cauldron, incense/chi;l:~~'2~1 and candle, parchment/pens, holly ;. Yule log/candle holders/four candles/ white candles for everyone.,"~-.~.' v' <.-"... Yule attire: capes, crowns, gold candle holders/candles ~ Guita~/so"t;gcopies.,.Copl~s:-songs, ch~t, Charge _ Basket/coOkies,' Cups/ginger ale, pitcher k::-:-;-"......,...""""""--

8 This Winter's Night - Lyrics by Eustacia Blackstar (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. 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 another year. Of, Goddess, we will remember. Now fast away the old year goes, We banish all our cares and woes, All Hail the New Year, hope it brings, Oh, Goddess, we will remember. Deck the Halls (traditional) Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la! 'Tis the season to be jolly, Don we now our gay apparel, Troll the ancient Yule tide carol, See the blazing Yule before us, Strike the harp and joint the chorus, Follow me in merry measure, While I tell of Yule tide pleasure. Fast away the old year passes, Hail the new year, lads and lasses, Sing we joyous all together, Heedless of the wind and weather.