YULE CELEBRATION 2009
Saturday, December 19th
Gather at 7:00 PM
Start at 7:30 PM
Almanac:
Sunrise: 7:27 AM
moonrise at 9:45 AM
moon phase: waxing crescent with 9% of visible disk illuminated
sunset at 5:25 PM
end civil twilight at 5:52 PM
Set Up:
Quarter candles and lighters at each direction.
Altar: altar cloth,
bell,
Wand,
salt,
water,
Incense and incense burner,
Wreath,
Caldron,
Chalice with mulled apple cider
Cranberry Walnut bread
Gold candles (goddess and god)
Yule log with three candles (red, silver and green),
Holly
Mistletoe
Evergreens
Informal Introduction (Bonnie)
· welcome
· turn off phones and pagers; take off watches
· repeat “blessed be” “so mote it be” “hail and farewell!”
· any other info people need to participate (sheets with chants printed)
Religious Education: Yule Lore
Yule celebrations were just that - celebrations. The longest night was passing, and with each succeeding day the sun’s light grows longer. People would go from home to home in celebration, bringing with them fruits and other food items. The crowning moment in each household would be the lighting of the Yule log which had been harvested specifically for this purpose, and decorated with holly and other greenery. We still observe some of the old traditions in our time. We fill our homes with light, and hang wreaths and give gifts to each other and give kisses under the mistletoe. The elders still sit around and tell tales to the children. Of all the Sabbats, Yule is the one where most of the traditions followed in ancient times are still practiced today.
Kissing under the mistletoe is an old Druid tradition that is part of our tradition also. Mistletoe was considered highly sacred by this culture. They called mistletoe "all-heal" because they felt it had the power of protection against illness and bad events, and also because they believed mistletoe spread goodwill. Mistletoe berries were considered to be a powerful fertility substance. A kiss under the mistletoe meant love and the promise of
marriage.
Yule is the celebration of the birth of the God. The wheel of life has come full circle with his rebirth and the Goddess is now resting. Yule is a time for the celebration of life. It is a moment we take to gather with friends and family to catch up on each other’s accomplishments and reminisce about shared pasts.
Tonight we honor the god Herne, the horned one, father of the sun and the Earth Goddess, Gaia.
The Yule Log :
The Yule log is a central part of the Yule festivities. Usually the log is kindled from the remains of the previous year’s Yule fire. The Yule Log symbolizes the light returning to conquer the darkness. According to tradition, the Yule Log was harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift…but never bought. It was placed in the fireplace and was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale and dusted with flour before being set ablaze. It would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days before being ceremonially put out.
Traditionally, an oak log was used, but it can be made from any type of wood. Each type of wood releases its own kind of magic. Tonight our log is a pine log, which signifies prosperity and growth.
Since we do not have a fireplace and burning a log in the sanctuary would be frowned upon, we have different type of Yule Log meant for modern day folks who may not have a fireplace. It holds 3 candles, red, green and silver. The red is for the season and the returning Sun God. The green represents the evergreens that were used to decorate the homes and the silver is for the Mother Goddess.
Part of the ceremony of the Yule Log is the telling of the story of the Holly King and the Oak King. They were the sacrificial gods who in the manner of such deities, are two aspects of the same being, the Horned God. The Holly King represents the waning year and battles the Oak King at Midsummer for ruler ship. Likewise the Oak King is the god of the waxing year and battles the Holly King at Yule for the same honor.
Formal Opening:
Winter is a time of darkness.
But it doesn't last forever.
It is only a stop on the Wheel
And soon the Wheel will turn again
And bring us back to Spring.
This is the lesson the Earth teaches us,
That no matter how dark it gets
The light always returns.
The night will always end
And a new day begin.
Winter Solstice, Yule, the longest night of the year, tonight we celebrate the Sun’s return. May the Gods and Goddesses shine their Light upon our endeavor here tonight. May this night remind us that no matter how dark our lives become, the spark of hope shines ever brightly within our soul. As we share this ritual together, we give thanks for the many blessings we have received and for those who have graced our lives with their love. Let us begin our ritual ever mindful of our place on our chosen path.
Blessed Be.
Interlude: Vocal Magic (song)
Let us now begin….
ring bell 3 times.
Grounding Meditation:
Put your feet on the floor and get comfortable in your chair….take several deep breaths and as you breathe out, let go of all concerns and cares about the physical world…. Visualize a brilliant white ball of Light…the Great Central Sun….above your head. It sends its rays of Light down through your crown chakra…. Send that Light down your spine, through all of your chakras, cleansing, and healing your body of all negativity….transmuting all worries and negative energies with Love, Light and Peace.
Now visualize that Light energy circulating through all of the cells in your body, filling them with Light and Love… The Light flows down your body into your legs and feet…out the bottom of your feet, into the earth…down to the center of Gaia, Mother Earth…. Your energy mingles with the energy of the Earth….feel her Divine Fire….her heart beating and pulsing with Divine Energy of the Goddess, Gaia…. Bring that energy back up through the Earth and back into your feet….back up through your body….to your heart chakra…. Send a beam of Light from your heart chakra to the center of the circle…. Feel your energy mingle with your sisters and brothers here present within this circle….flowing from you into the center and back out from the center into your heart chakra.
See the energy rise forming a canopy of Light above. It envelopes us in a wheel of Light and Love….Let this energy fill you, fill the room and flow out to the center of the circle and like a fountain of Light that rises up and touches the stars….. Let that energy flow back downward into the room….encircling all of us together in a glow of the pure Light of the God/Goddess/All That Is.
Each of us remains within a cocoon of White Light energy, protected, whole and complete within yourself…. Drop your neighbors’ hands and bring your consciousness back into the room,…back into your body and be here now.
Blessed Be. (All repeat: Blessed Be)
Casting the Circle:
Let us now cast the circle, to create sacred space within which to work our magic.
(3 people walk the circle together….one carrying using the athame (or wand) to draw the circle, one aspersing water and salt (earth), one carrying incense to represent fire and air.)
All say together:
Lady weave your circle tight.
Spin a web of glowing light.
Earth and air and fire and water,
Bind us to you.
Father in the coming night
Gather in you ancient might
Sage and Warrior, Horned Hunter
Guide us to you.
Great Ohm from whom all things come,
In you Lord and Lady are one.
Earth and air and fire and water
Bind us to you.
Calling the Quarters:
Please stand as you are willing and able as we call the Spirits of the Directions and Elements to join us in our circle:
East
Hail Spirits of the East, Powers of Air.
Morning Star of our lives,
Come blow in us, cleanse us
Awaken in us that which has slept too long.
Let us begin our journey with the blessing of your Light.
Hear us old ones and attend!
South
Hail Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire,
Golden glow of the noon day sun.
Come, open our spirits with your heat.
Stoke the flame of our good will until it grows amber hot.
Give us the blessing of your strength.
Hear us old ones and attend!
West
Hail Spirits of the West, Powers of water,
Bottomless, fathomless, ancient abyss,
Come, wash us, flow through us, permeate our being.
Carry us through our days - the ebb and flow of our existence.
Give us the blessing of vibrant Life.
Hear us old ones and attend!
North
Hail Spirits of the North, Powers of Earth.
Deep unseen mystery made manifest in all that surrounds us,
Dark mirror that reflects no image, yet gazes back at us with our own eyes,
Come, give us the blessing of your wisdom.
Hear us old ones and attend!
The Charge of the God:
Listen to the words of the Horned God, the guardian of all things wild and free:
I am the fire within your heart, the yearning of your soul,
the hunter of knowledge and the seeker of the Holy Quest.
I, the consort and mate of her we adore, say this to you:
You who dare to find me, know that I am the untamed mind,
the fury of the storm.
Call unto me in the forest wild and on hilltop bare and seek me in the darkness, bright. Look in the wild places, I am there.
Look at the smallest seed pushing up concrete, I am there.
Look into your heart, I am there, Seek me with pride and humility,
but seek me best with love and strength, for this is my path
and my fury is saved for the weak and the fearful.
Keep this ever full in your mind, it is better to fall upon my sword, than to live with fear in your heart.
The Charge of the Goddess:
I am the quickening of the seed in Springtime, the glory of ripe fields in Summer, and the peace of the quiet woods as the snow calms the Earth in Winter.
I am the lilt of the maidens’ melody in the morning, the patient hand of the Mother and the deep river of the mysteries taught by moonlight.
I give the creatures of the earth the gifts of song rising from the heart, the call of the drum in the dance.
To you I give the joy of creation and the companion of beauty to light your days.
Go forth in joy and the light of my love, turning to me without fear when the darkness threatens to overcome you,
and turning also to me to share your triumphs and your achievements,
and know in your heart of hearts that we are together in blood and spirit
‘til the last star darkens in the sky and winter comes to the universe.
Invocation and Offering to the Goddess:
Light Goddess Candle then lift cup and plate with offerings as you say:
Great Earth Mother Goddess, Gaia,
As you rest in preparation for your labor,
Grant us your blessing and your presence here
For our celebration of the return of the Sun.
Please accept this offering of bread and cider as a token of our hospitality.
We greet you and bid you welcome.
(Crumble bread and pour cider into caldron)
Welcome and Blessed Be.
Invocation and Offering to the God:
Light God Candle then lift cup and plate with offerings as you say:
Herne, Horned God, Winter God, Father of the Sun,
With frost on your beard and the blazing of the Yule Fires in your eyes,
Grant us your blessing and your presence for this,
Our Celebration of the return of the Sun.
Please accept this offering of bread and cider as a token of our hospitality.
We greet you and bid you welcome.
(Crumble bread and pour cider into caldron)
Welcome and Blessed Be.
Interlude: YULE
By Rachel May
An
expectant hush falls on the earth
though many know not why
a
wonderful thing is taking place
though many pass it by
through
death, life is reborn anew
the Mothers' Sun emerges
like a
phoenix from the fire
he rises from the ashes
Mother,
daughter, father, son
the longest night goes by
it heralds
rebirth and life returns
as we call - now Sun Arise!
Rite of the Bringers of the Light
Adryna:
We are each of us at a transition point at this time of the year. We stand on the brink of the new year, when the sun is reborn anew. We look back over the past year with joy and sorrow. We look ahead with eager anticipation.
The earth is in transition also. It is obvious that there is not only a seasonal change, but changes are taking place in the physical world and in our lives. Tonight we will call the LIGHT in our highest natures, our true selves, for we are the Lightworkers called at this time in our history to assist our planet and our fellow humans and the animals in making the transition smoothly. Therefore, let us begin our Ritual of the Bringers of the LIGHT…..
Dolores:
This is the long night.
This is the dark night.
This is the cold night.
This is the night turning from darkness.
This is the night of turning toward Light.
Come to us Oh Spirits, our guides and masters
Come and bless our endeavor.
Come and fill us with Love and Light and Peace.
Blessed Be.
It time for our Light to shine. We can no longer hide behind veils of mystery and silence. The Sun is brightening our future. Let us follow suit, for each one of us is a Being of Light. This is our true self, our true nature. It is time to acknowledge it in our everyday. It time to be a channel of Light to every person we meet for the highest good of that person and our planet.
We will process one at a time to the table with all the tealight candles. We ask that you light one of the candles. When you do, ask yourself what blessing can you bring from within yourself that you would wish to see in manifest in our world this coming year. What change, strength, joy in you would it take to be a Bringer of the Light to this world.
Let that blessing be represented by the candle you light. As you light your candle, hold it high that all may see, as it represents the Light in you
When your candle is lit, bring it back with you to keep and remind you of your Light.
(All will process to light their individual candle and bring it back to their places. During this, Dave will be playing music on his harp. When all have lighted candles, repeat 3 x’s the following:)
We are Bringers of the Light.
The Light is bright in me.
Mother Goddess, Father God, Please bless the fire of these candles and the intention it represents that we might bring blessing and peace to our world.
So Mote it Be.
(Extinguish candles)
The Eternal Flame burns in you. Though we extinguish this representation of that Light, the Light in each one of us continues to burn brightly.
Blessed Be.
Interlude 2: Vocal Magic
Hymn of the Holly King and the Oak King
Sing we of a mystery, now as long ago.
Blood red holly berries, blood upon the snow.
The Oak king shall rise, the waxing year to bring,
Therefore bid we farewell to the Holly King.
Now in deep midwinter, all seems in a trance.
Comes the golden Oak King in his age old dance.
Comes he to slay, yet honor he does bring,
To his fallen brother the darksome Holly King.
In the bright midsummer, the year’s wheel turned around,
Then shall be the Oak King’s blood upon the ground.
Ever it comes, once more the years waning,
Then shall be victorious the Darksome Holly King.
Sing we of the mystery now as long ago.
Blood red holly berries, blood upon the snow
The Oak king shall rise, the waxing year to bring
Therefore we bid farewell to the Holly King.
Blessing and Lighting of the Yule Log:
Dolores:
(light silver candle)
I light this flame in your honor Great Mother. You, who have kept the silver light shining on the darkest nights. The nights may grow shorter, but you still sine as brightly through the darkness. May your light always guide us to the truth.
Blessed Be
(light the red candle)
In this holiday season, friends and family surround us. This flame is lit to spark the kinship we hope to carry with us throughout the coming year, and to allow us to live passionately and with courage. May the flame of this candle remind us of the fire within ourselves.
Blessed Be.
(light the green candle)
The evergreen trees are decorated with lights and the boughs are strewn with holly, reminding us that even in the cold season, the earth is still alive and fertile inside. Though the green of the Earth is dear and sometimes hidden, may this flame remind us that it is always there.
Blessed Be.
Mother Goddess, Father God,
We call on you during this sacred time of our year
To come and bless our Yule Log, symbol of the returning Sun.
May it’s Light remind us of our commitment to the path of Love and Light,
And to be shining Lights to everyone we meet.
As I will, so mote it be.
All: So mote it be
Simple Feast:
(during the Simple Feast, Dave plays music on the harp, keeping the meditative spirit of the ritual)
(hold tray of cups with mulled cider)
Gaia, Gracious Goddess of Earth,
Herne, Horned One, Father of the Sun
Bless this cider and infuse it with your love,
In Your names, Mother Goddess and Father God
I bless this cider.
(hold tray of bread)
Gaia, Great Goddess of Earth,
Herne, Horned Hunter of the Moon,
Bless this bread and infuse it with Your love.
In your names, Mother Goddess and Father God,
I bless this bread.
Distribution of bread and cider, saying “may you never hunger”; “may you never thirst.”
Dolores:
Reversing the Ground Meditation:
Once again, make yourself comfortable, …..close your eyes,…. and breathe deep…. Find your center, that spot deep inside where the essence of you resides…Feel the currents of energy running through you, connecting you to the wheel in the center of the circle. Pull your energy back into your center, the energy is slowing….diminishing. Send whatever excess energy you have left into Mother Earth.
See the wheel receding, dissolving and remember that while the circle fades, the vision and energies of our rite are there always for you to use and carry with you into our common world.
Thanking the Goddess
O Goddess of both Moon and Star
Who rules all planets near and far,
Who rules the Earth and all within.
Who set the time our lives begin.
Who brings us happiness and mirth,
Who gives us value and self-worth,
With every loving touch you give
Unto the plane on which we live.
We thank you for your presence here.
Farewell and Blessed Be.
Thanking the God:
O Great God of places wild and free,
Who sows the seed that we might be,
Who fertilizes all on Earth,
And brings us pleasure, joy and mirth,
Who is the Sun that shines above,
Who warms us with His Light and Love
Who brings good health, prosperity,
And changes all as it should be.
We thank you for your presence here.
Farewell and Blessed Be.
Closing:
Releasing the Guardians:
Spirits of the East, South, West, North;
Powers of Air, Fire, Water, Earth,
We thank you
For joining our circle
And we ask for your blessing
As you depart.
May there be peace between us
Now and forever. Blessed Be.
Uncasting the circle:
What has here been made is now unmade.
What has here been conjured may now fade.
We who were between the worlds are now in the world again.
The circle is open, but unbroken,
May the peace of the Goddess and God
Go in our hearts.
The circle is open, but unbroken,
May the peace of the Goddess and God
Go in our hearts.
Merry meet, and merry part.
And merry meet again.
Blessed Be.
Benediction/Formal Closing:
The solar year has run its course and this cycle is complete. We have come far in the past year. We leave behind its pain and take with us the joy of a new birth of the LIGHT within us. We give thanks to the Goddess and God for their blessings and wisdom. May we walk together in peace, love and joy in the coming days.
Blessed Be. Ring bell, 3x’s
The rite is ended. Go in peace, walk in wisdom.
Informal Closing (John)
thanks for coming
plug for next CUUPS event: Imbolc, Saturday, January 30, 2010
plug for DUUF
tomorrow’s service
request for donations
plug for CUUPS membership