Yule Ritual

Sample Ritual for Winter Soltice, about December 21st. Called Alban Arthuan by the Druids. Also called Yule.
Special Notes: Time of the Goddess of the Cold Darkness and the birth of the Divine Child, the reborn Sun god. A time of rebirth and the turning of the earth force tides.
Altar Supplies: incense; burner; chalice of water; salt; pentacle; dagger or sword; 4 Element candles; cauldron; chalice of wine; bell. Green candle in the cauldron with a red, a white, and a black candle arranged around it.

Put everything you need for your altar and spellworking inside the ritual area. Place on or near your altar everything needed for specific spells; as well as the items listed above. After the circle is cast, unless it is an emergency, do not cross the boundary until the Elements are dismissed.
The candles of the four elements in Celtic Magic are red (east), white (south), grey (west), and black (north). In Wiccan and magical tradition, the colors are yellow (east), red (south), blue (west) and dark green (north). In the following ritual, the Celtic colors are listed first, with the Wiccan colors in parenthesis.
Set the altar in the center, facing east. The Celtic peoples honored the east as a place of renewing power because of the daily rising Sun in that area. Play soft instrumental music to help create atmosphere. Relax, and take several deep breaths to center yourself.
Taking your magical dagger in your power hand and starting in the east, visualize that powerful, protective silver-blue flame shooting from the tip of the ritual blade. Aim it at the floor; move clockwise from the east, drawing the magical boundary. Remember to overlap the ends in the east when you finish. Note that in casting the circle it is acceptable to use a dagger (as demonstrated), a sword or the forefinger of your power hand. While you are drawing the circle, say:

"I consecrate this circle of power to the Ancient Gods. Here may they manifest and bless their child."

Move back to the altar, facing east. Raise your dagger or wand in greeting and say:

"This is a time that is not a time, in a place this is not a place, on a day that is not a day.
I stand at the threshold between worlds, before the veil of the mysteries.
May the Ancient Ones help and protect me on my magical journey."

Set the water chalice on the pentacle disk. Hold your dagger over it and say:

"Great Mother, bless this creature of water to your service.
May I always remember the cauldron water of rebirth."

Hold your dagger over the salt and say:

"Great mother, bless this creature of Earth to your service.
May I always remember the blessed Earth, its many forms and beings."

Sprinkle a little salt into the water, then hold the chalice up high and say:

"Great Mother, I give you honor!"

Beginning in the east and moving clockwise, sprinkle the water-salt mixture lightly around the edges of the circle. Replace the chalice on the altar.
Hold your dagger over the lighted incense burner, saying:

"Great Father, bless this creature of Fire to your service.
May I always remember the sacred Fire that dances within the form of every creation."

Hold your dagger over the incense, saying:

"Great Father, bless this creature of air to your service.
May I always listen to the spirit winds that bring me the voices of the Ancient Ones."

Put the incense on the lighted charcoal.(This is not to be confused with barbeque charcoal; this kind comes with incense.) Do not put too much incense in the burner, as a little goes a long way in an enclosed room! Using the attached chains, touch the burner briefly to the pentacle disk, then raise the burner high, saying:

"Great Father, I give you honor!"

Carry the burner around the circle clockwise, beginning in the east. Return it to the altar.
Go to the eastern quarter of the circle. Light the red (yellow) candle and hold your hand up in greeting. You may also salute the Element with your dagger, sword or wand instead of your hand and say:

"I call upon you, Powers of Air, to witness this rite and to guard this circle."

In the southern quarter, light the white candle and greet the Element:

"I call upon you, Powers of Fire, to witness this rite and to guard this circle."

Move to the west; light the grey(blue) candle and hold up your hand in greeting:

"I call upon you, Powers of Water, to witness this rite and to guard this circle."

End by going north; light the black(green) candle and greet the Element:

"I call upon you, Powers of Earth, to witness this rite and to guard this circle."

Move back to the central altar, and stand facing east. Raise your arms in greeting:

"This circle is bound,
With power all around.
Between the worlds, I stand
With protection at hand."

Ring the bell three times. Say:
"This is Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Darkness reigns triumphant, yet gives way and changes into light. The Sun King has gone into Emania. Yet, within the sacred cauldron of rebirth, he is once more transformed into the newborn Divine Child of Light."
Put a little more incense on the coals.
"All is cold, and I await the coming of dawn. As the Sun rises, the Triple Goddess once more gives birth to the Divine Child. In silence and wonder I stand before the sacred cauldron of rebirth, knowing that one day I too must pass through the cauldron and be reborn. For this I now give honor to the Triple Goddess."
Light the white candle near the cauldron.
"White is for the Maiden. May you plant your seeds of joy and new beginnings within my life."
Light the red candle near the cauldron.
"Red is for the Mother. May you grant me gifts of creative ideas and the strength to bring them to completion."
Light the black candle near the cauldron.
"Black is for the Crone, the Wise One. May you give me the wisdom to understand the magical mysteries."
Light the green candle inside the cauldron.
"Green is for the newborn Lord of the Forests, the Divine Sun Child who comes once more into the world. I welcome you, child and consort of the Goddess."
Take the bell and go to the east. Ring the bell once.
"Rejoice, O Powers of Air! Welcome the Divine Child."
Go to the south and ring the bell once.
"Rejoice, O Powers of Fire! Welcome the Divine Child."
Go to the west and ring the bell once.
"Rejoice, O Powers of Water! Welcome the Divine Child."
Go to the north and ring the bell once.
"Rejoice, O Powers of Earth! Welcome the Divine Child."
Go back to the altar and stand facing the east. Ring the bell three times.
"Hail, O God of the woodlands and new life! I give you honor and ask your blessing."
Stand in silence to receive the blessing. Ring the bell again three times.
"Hail, Triple Goddess, bringer of light out of darkness and new life out of the cauldron of rebirth. I give you honor and ask your blessing."
Again stand in silence to receive the blessing. Place the wine chalice on the pentacle for a few moments, then lift it high, saying:
"To the Old Gods! Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again."
Drink the wine, saving some to be put outside for the little people.

When everything is completed, hold your hand or dagger over the altar and say:

"By the powers of the ancient Gods,
I bind all power within this circle
Into this spell. So mote it be."

When you are ready to end the ritual, go to the east and extinguish the red(yellow) candle. Say:

"Depart in peace, O Powers of Air,
My thanks and blessings."

Go to the south, extinguish the white(red) candle. Say:

"Depart in peace, O Powers of Fire.
My thanks and blessings."

Go to the west and put out the grey(blue) candle. Say:

"Depart in peace, O Powers of Water.
My thanks and blessings."

Finish by going to the north and extinguishing the black (green) candle. Say:

"Depart in peace, O Powers of Earth.
My thanks and blessings."

Return to the altar in the center and say:

"To all beings and powers of the visible and invisible, depart in peace.
May there always be harmony between us.
My thanks and blessings."

Cut your circle with a backwards movement of your dagger or sword to release all remaining traces of power for manifestation. Say:

"The circle is open, yet ever it remains a circle.
Around and through me always flows its magical power."

Put away all magical tools and clear the altar. Leave any candles or objects which must remain either to burn out or be empowered for a stated period of time.
Celtic Magic, by D.J. Conway

This was just one version of a ritual for Yule, or the Winter Solstice, find what makes you feel right...including picking and choosing from this. Only YOU know what is right in your heart...never allow anyone to dictate your faith.

Bright blessings...Danae

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