Preparing the Sacred Space

The coven gathers, grounds, and takes a group breath.

“This is the night of the Solstice, the longest night of the year. Now darkness triumphs; and yet, gives way and changes into light. The breath of nature is suspended: all waits while within the Cauldron, the Dark King is transformed into theInfant Light. We watch for the coming of dawn, when the Great Mother again gives birth to the Divine Child Sun, who is the bringer of hope and the promise of summer. This is the stillness behind motion, when time itself stops; the center of which is the circumference of all. We are awake in the night. We turn the Wheel to bring the light. We call the Sun from the womb of night!”

Guest 1: Lights the lamp of art, and says, “The fire is lit, the ritual has begun.”

Dedicant: Salt-water purification.
Take up the chalice of water and say, "Blessed be thou creature of water." Then, take up the bowl of salt and say, "Blessed be thou creature of Earth." Using your athame, mix the salt and water together in the chalice.

Go to each of the four quarters, starting with the North, and say, “With salt and water, I cleanse the North (East, South, West).”

Guest 2: Charging with fire and air.
Take up the incense burner, sprinkling fresh incense on the charcoal, saying, "Blessed be thou creature of fire and air."

Take it around the circle, starting in the north, saying, “With fire and air, I charge the North (East, South, West).”

Wolfwings: Casting the circle.
Starting and ending in the North, walk deosil around the circle, casting it with these or similar words:
"I do hereby cast this sacred circle on the Sabbat of Yule. We are now between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as one.”

Invocation of the Elements
*Note-you may use your own appropriate imagery, if you wish.

Foxglove: Invokes the North
“Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North,
Powers of Earth,
Hard-working gnomes,
Black bull of Midnight,
North Star,
Center of the whirling sky,
Stone, mountain, fertilefield,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Light the Northern Quarter Candle

Dedicant: Invoke the East.
“Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East,
Powers of Air,
Free-flying sylphs,
Golden eagle of the dawn,
Star-seeker, whirlwind, rising sun,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Guest 1: Invoke the South.
“Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South,
Powers of Fire,
Flame-leaping salamanders,
Red lion of the noon heat,
Flaming one, summer’s warmth, spark of life,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Blackwood: Invoke the West.
“Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West,
Powers of Water,
Graceful undines,
Serpent of the watery abyss,
Rainmaker, gray-robed twilight, evening star,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Guest 2: Invoke the Center.
“Hail, Guardians of the Void,
Powers of Akasha,
Primordial, omnipresent element
Of eternal starlight,
We invoke you and call you,
To join our ritual,
Hail and welcome!”

Coven echoes, “Hail and welcome!”

Invoking the Gods

Foxglove: Invocation of the Goddess:
“O most regal Queen of Snow,
Whose glistening jewels glitter about us,
And whose sorceries turn all to sparkling white,
Shining empress whose crown is of the arctic stars,
And whose mantle is the icy fire of the borealis,
Be with us, we do ask.
May we know better of your wisdom and magick.
Hail and welcome!”

Blackwood: Invocation of the God:
“O Powerful God of Frost,
Whose beard is of shining ice,
And whose staff turns all to crystal.
Be with us, we do ask.
Let us hear the crackling of your laughter,
And may we know better of your wisdom and magick.
Hail and welcome!”

Sabbat Ritual

Wolfwings:
“Since the beginning of time, pagans have gathered in this season to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun. On the Winter Solstice, the darkest of nights, The Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth to the Sun and the new yearly cycle, Bringing new light and hope to all on Earth. On the longest night of winter, and the dark night of our souls, there springs the new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of the World. We gather tonight to await the new light.”

Foxglove:
“Yule is the end of the old solar year and the beginning of the new one. Traditionally, the end of the year is a time to look back and reflect. It is a time to look ahead to the future, to make plans and set goals.”

On your piece of paper, write something you hope to accomplish during the coming year. When you are finished, attach the slip of paper to the Yule Log. Ignite the Yule log within the cauldron using long matches or a taper. As the flames leap up say:

“We light this fire in Your honor,
Mother Goddess
You have created life from death;
warmth from cold;
The Sun lives once again;
the time of light is waxing.
Welcome, ever returning God of the Sun!
Hail Mother of All!”

(Remember to save a small piece of the log for next Yule or save the ashes.)

Think now upon the Sun, on the hidden energies lying dormant in winter, not only in the Earth but also within us. Think of birth not as the start of life but as its continuance. Welcome the return of the God.

All: After a time cease and stand (or sit) once again before the altar and flaming caldron. Say:

“Great God of the Sun,
We welcome Your return.
May You shine brightly upon the Goddess;
may You shine brightly upon the Earth,
scattering seeds and fertilizing the land.
All blessings upon You,
reborn One of the Sun!”

Cakes and Ale

Wolfwings takes up the cup, and Blackwood takes her athame. Blackwood puts the blade into the cup of milk, and says:
“As the athame is to the male,
so the cup is to the female;
and conjoined, they bring blessings.”

Guest 1 takes up the wand and Dedicant the cakes as Guest 1 says:
“Gracious God of the Harvest,
we thank You for Your abundance
on this Sabbat of Yule.”

The food and drink is then shared around the circle.

Farewells

Blackwood: Thanks the God, saying:
"Newborn Sun King,
We offer You thanks,
Honor and Love.
Hail and farewell.”
The God candle is now extinguished.

Foxglove: Thanks the Goddess, saying:
“Gracious Mother Goddess,
We offer You thanks,
Honor and Love.
Hail and farewell.”
The Goddess candle is now extinguished.

Guest 2: goes to the Center candle, raises her hands and says:
“Mighty Ones of the Void, Powers of Spirit, thank you for attending our Yule ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell.”

Coveners echo, “Hail and farewell.”
Guest 2: extinguishes the Water candle.

Blackwood: goes to the West candle, raises her hands and says:
“Mighty Ones of the West, Powers of Water, thank you for attending our Yule ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and your love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell.”

Coveners echo, “Hail and farewell.”
Blackwood: extinguishes the Water candle.

Guest 1: goes to the south candle, raises her hands and says:
“Thank you, Might Ones of the South, Powers of Fire, for attending our Yule ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell.”

Coveners echo, “Hail and farewell.”
Guest 1: extinguishes the Fire candle.

Dedicant: goes to the East, raises her hands and says:
“Might Ones of the East, Powers of Air, thank you for attending our Yule ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell.”

Coveners echo, “Hail and farewell.”
Dedicant: extinguishes the Air candle.

Foxglove: goes to the North, raises her hands and says:
“Mighty Ones of the North, Powers of Earth, thank you for attending our Yule ritual, for lending your powers, your light, and you love. Stay if you will, go if you must; hail, and farewell.”

Coveners echo, “Hail and farewell.”
Foxglove: extinguishes the Earth candle.

Wolfwings: takes the sword and retraces the line of the circle. She uses words like:
“I draw back the energy of this circle, and return it to the earth. The space is once again mundane, once again of the world we know. May we take a piece of the sanctity of this place with us in hour hearts.”

Guest 2 steps to the altar and says:
“The flame is extinguished.”
She blows out the flame.
“The ritual is done.”

All Coveners:
“Merry meet, merry part,and merry meet again!”