Yule--Winter Solstice

Hello and Welcome to this episode of the Energy, Tarot and Magic podcast. Today’s episode addresses Yule and includes a ritual and crystal grid to help you celebrate.

Yule--Winter Solstice

Yule is a celebration of birth and the start of new cycles. It is the time when the day begins to overtake the night once again and when the old man of winter gives way to the young man of spring, though he won’t come into his own power for some time.

Just like the rest of the holidays of this season, Yule is a celebration of family and life and light. Many of those who celebrate yule in favor of other winter holidays do so in ways that bring together those whom they love and cherish. The ritual I’m going to share with you in this podcast is more for the small group or individual practitioner than for the family.

I have done rituals over the years for and including children. The only changes I made to my usual ritual habits was to make the candle battery operated so there would be no accidents with children brushing up against flames.

Something that might help to include children in this kind of ritual is the remember that ritual is supposed to be a celebration. Have fun. Laugh when something funny happens during the ritual, let things take their own course and be open to a little chaos.

I hope that you and yours are enjoying your holiday season and I wish you all a happy new year.

The Ritual

December 21st Yule represents the death of the Holly King and the beginning of the reign of the Oak or Sun God. This is the time when the Goddess gives birth to the Sun God so she may take him as Consort during her transition from Maiden to Mother.

Yule is an excellent time for personal renewal and honoring our family and friends.

Materials:

• Yule Incense

• Red, White and Green Candles

• Oats

Preparing the Altar: Place the white candle on the left of center of your altar and the red candle on the right of center.

Place the green candle slightly in the front of the the white and red candles and centered.

The white candle represents the Goddess, the red the Holly King. The green candle represents the Oak King.

Arrange the rest of your altar as you normally would.

The Ritual:

1. Open your ritual as you normally would.

Hail and Welcome to the spirits and powers of the North, East, South and West. I ask you to join me this night as we mourn the passing of the Holly King and rejoice in the birth of the Oak King.

2. Light the White Candle

Holy Mother, your love and light blesses my life with each moment you place your hand on my heart. This night we will mourn the loss of your consort and rejoice in the birth of your son. Hail and Welcome.

3. Light the Red Candle

To the Holly King, I offer my welcome and love. Your love and light has been felt each day of your reign. This night while we mourn your passing, we do so with the joy of knowing your child of the Sun will be reborn. Hail and Welcome

4. Take time to contemplate your life and the lives of your friends and family. Consider your blessings of the past year and thank the Divine for these blessings. Meditate on these blessings and consider how you might continue to bring these blessings to you and your loved ones.

5. When you are ready, take the green candle in your hand and prepare to light it from the flame of the red candle. As the days grow longer, the blessings of my life will grow. We now mourn the closing of the reign of the Holy King, knowing that as each cycle passes, it brings new blessings and opportunities with it. Just as the Holy King passes his power to his son the Oak King, so too will the Goddess and her son guard and love me through this cycle. The birth of the Oak King is a blessing each year at this time. The depths of winter are lit by your light and your love sustains us through this time. Hail and Welcome.

6. Light the green candle from the flame of the red candle. Set the green candle down. My lord Holly King, your blessings have brought so much to my life this year. I thank you for your influence and your love. I wish you peace as you rest and look forward to the time of your return. Hail and Farewell.

7. Make the offering.

My lady and lord of this winter cycle, your love lights us and warms us. The days now grow longer and the earth will live again. Thank you for all you give to your children. I offer to you this sustenance as you offer your love to sustain me. (make the offering of oats).

8. Meditate for a few moments on your plans for the coming year. You do not need to be specific now, but consider the direction your year will take. Think about how you will work in accord with the power of the Goddess and her Son to make the coming year better.

9. When you are ready, thank the divine for their presence.

My Lord and Lady, thank you for your presence here this night as well as your constant presence in my life. With each step I take, I see and feel you walking with me. You are the light and love of the universe. Hail and Farewell. (Extinguish the white and green candles).

10. Release the elements.

To the powers of earth, air, fire and water, I thank you for your presence here this night. Your love and energy has helped me to celebrate this changing cycle. Hail and Farewell.

After the Ritual:

Set the three candles from this ritual aside to be used in later sabbats of the year. Remember they are representative of the Goddess, her Consort and her Son, so store them with honor.

I have created a Yule Materials Packet you can download for free from HERE.

My show notes are available in the description for this episode.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this sample Yule ritual. If you’d like a copy for yourself, please click the link in the description of this episode to download the Yule Materials Packet I’ve prepared as my gift to my listeners this season. It includes this ritual, a crystal grid you’ll want to use in your home during this season and a fun check list of things to do before the holiday.

Thank you for joining me for this episode. If you haven’t already done so, I hope you’ll subscribe to this podcast to get notice when there is new content. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. You can use the voice message feature on Anchor.fm or find me on Facebook. Just search for Energy, Tarot, and Magic and you’ll find me.

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Thanks for listening and I hope to see you next time. In love and Light I wish you a Merry Yule and Happy New Year