Jennifer Susan Temoin
Assemble Coveners and People attending Sabbat into a Circle.
Priest takes the container with the Smudge off the Altar (most likely the ground) and lights it. Pass it around clockwise. Have everyone smudge him or herself. The Coveners and the area to be used for Ritual are now cleansed by the Elements of Air and Fire.
Priestess takes the container of Water off the Altar. Pass it around clockwise. Have everyone anoint him or herself with it. The Coveners and the area to be used for Ritual are now cleansed by the Element of Water.
Priest takes the Pantent or Rock off the Altar. Pass it around clockwise. Have everyone hold the Patent or Rock until they feel grounded and calm. The Coveners and the area to be used for Ritual are now cleansed by the Element of Earth.
Everyone and the area to be used for Sacred Space are now cleansed by The Four Elements.
Priestess casts the circle. Starting in the East, cast the Circle clockwise with athame and says:
‘I cast this Circle of Power to be a fitting place between the Worlds. In a space between space and a time between time. It is a rampart of protection to contain all workings and energy raised here within. I do bless and consecrate thee in the name of the Old Ones. So Mote It Be!’
Have Everyone address the East and East Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the East, Element of Air, we humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Have Everyone address the South and South Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the South, Element of Fire, we humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle.’ We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Have Everyone address the West and Western Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the West, Element of Water, we humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Have Everyone address the North and Northern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the North, Element of Earth, We humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Return to the Centre of the Circle and Priestess calls the God.
‘Father Sky, we invite you to please join us here in our Circle and to Witness our celebration of Yule, the shortest day of the year. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Return to the Centre of the Cicle and Priest calls the Goddess:
‘Mother Earth, we invite you to please join us here in our Circle and to Witness our celebration of Yule, the shortest day of the year. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Priestess says: (Please note that the Priest will most likely act as the Oak King and a younger covener will most likely act as the Holly King. This is where the Priestess becomes the Narrator for the mini-play)
‘We Welcome You All to our Yule Sabbat and Feast. Every year at the Winter and Summer Solstices, the Oak King and the Holly King fight for dominance. They are two parts of the same thing, the waxing and waning of the yearly cycles of the Earth. The Holly King rules the waning year, from Midsummer to Yule. He represents decay, darkness, mysteries, and inner knowledge. The Oak King rules the waxing year from Yule to Midsummer. He represents light, growth and expansion.These two mighty kings will now battle to see who will win the Crown of the Year.'
The Holly and Oak King battle. The Holly King wins.
Priestess says:
'The battle between the Holly King and the Oak King not only symbolizes the battle between the light and dark half of the year. It also represents the constant struggle we all endure in our own lives. Darkness and death are as much a part of our lives as light and birth. These experiences that we all go through presents us with the opportunities to learn and to grow.'
When magical workings are done, have everyone address the center of the Circle and bless the cakes and wine.
Priest says:
“The Goddess and God have heard our praise and are glad. It is time that we take their blessings in return.”
Priestess says:
“For they have given us the Fruits of the Earth, that we may know neither hunger nor thirst.”
Priestess takes the chalice of wine, High Priest takes the athame. Both either kneel or stand before the altar facing each other.
Priest says:
“I am the athame, the All Father, the Sun, the Seed."
Priestess says:
“I am the chalice, the Great Mother, the Earth, the womb.”
Priestess holds up the chalice with both hands while High Priest lowers the athame into the chalice with both hands and stirs the wine three times deosil. At the same time, both say:
“Together They bring life. They bring creation. Together we are all blessed.”
High Priest lifts out the athame and cleans the blade on his robe (or cloth kept on altar), kisses the blade and returns it to the altar. High Priestess lifts the chalice, kisses the cup and takes a sip. She pours a bit of wine onto the ground in libation. She passes the chalice to the High Priest so he may drink. He then passes the chalice to a covener in the circle who passes the chalice around deosil.
Priestess takes up plate of cakes. High Priest joins her placing one hand with hers under the plate and the other hand covering hers hovering over the plate. The hovering hands slowly trace a pentacle over the cakes while both say:
“Lord and Lady most sacred, bless this food into our bodies bestowing health, wealth, strength, joy and peace, and that fulfillment of love which is perfect happiness.”
Priestess eats part of a cake. She takes another and libates it to the ground. She hands the plate over to the Priest so he may eat, he then passes the plate to one of the coveners who passes the plate around deosil.
Coveners make take the time to discuss what this time of year means to them and what they hope to carry with them from this ritual while they partake of cake and wine. When they are done, the plate and chalice are returned to the altar.
Priest thanks the Goddess:
‘Lovely Lady, Mother Earth, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. Stay if you will. Go if you must. Hail and Farewell.’
Priestess thanks the God:
‘Beloved Father Sky, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. Stay if you will. Go if you must. Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the North and Northern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the North, Element of Earth, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the West and Western Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the West, Element of Water, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the south and Southern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the South, Element of Fire, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the East and the Eastern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the East, Element of Air, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
The Priest or Priestess should walk around the Circle counter clockwise to close it. The energy of the Circle should be grounded back into the Earth by stamping the ground after chanting.
Everyone can sing as the Priest or Priestess is doing this:
‘Around, and around, and around turns the good Earth
And all things must change as the seasons go by.
We are the Children of the Lord and the Lady
Whose mysteries we know, yet we’ll never know why.’
Priest/Priestess when finished should say:
‘This Rite is now ended and the circle is open! Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again! So Mote It Be!’
Offerings should be left for the Gods and Ancestors. Please leave the Sacred Space as you found it.
Please note that some of the basic structure of the Yule Ritual was adapted from the UAFP Litha Ritual that was written by Jennifer Sword. Samantha Wu wrote the wine and cakes blessing (awesome job Sam!).
Priest takes the container with the Smudge off the Altar (most likely the ground) and lights it. Pass it around clockwise. Have everyone smudge him or herself. The Coveners and the area to be used for Ritual are now cleansed by the Elements of Air and Fire.
Priestess takes the container of Water off the Altar. Pass it around clockwise. Have everyone anoint him or herself with it. The Coveners and the area to be used for Ritual are now cleansed by the Element of Water.
Priest takes the Pantent or Rock off the Altar. Pass it around clockwise. Have everyone hold the Patent or Rock until they feel grounded and calm. The Coveners and the area to be used for Ritual are now cleansed by the Element of Earth.
Everyone and the area to be used for Sacred Space are now cleansed by The Four Elements.
Priestess casts the circle. Starting in the East, cast the Circle clockwise with athame and says:
‘I cast this Circle of Power to be a fitting place between the Worlds. In a space between space and a time between time. It is a rampart of protection to contain all workings and energy raised here within. I do bless and consecrate thee in the name of the Old Ones. So Mote It Be!’
Have Everyone address the East and East Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the East, Element of Air, we humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Have Everyone address the South and South Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the South, Element of Fire, we humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle.’ We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Have Everyone address the West and Western Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the West, Element of Water, we humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Have Everyone address the North and Northern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the North, Element of Earth, We humbly invite you to Witness our Rite and to Lend your Energies to this our Circle. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Return to the Centre of the Circle and Priestess calls the God.
‘Father Sky, we invite you to please join us here in our Circle and to Witness our celebration of Yule, the shortest day of the year. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Return to the Centre of the Cicle and Priest calls the Goddess:
‘Mother Earth, we invite you to please join us here in our Circle and to Witness our celebration of Yule, the shortest day of the year. We bid you Hail and Welcome!’
Priestess says: (Please note that the Priest will most likely act as the Oak King and a younger covener will most likely act as the Holly King. This is where the Priestess becomes the Narrator for the mini-play)
‘We Welcome You All to our Yule Sabbat and Feast. Every year at the Winter and Summer Solstices, the Oak King and the Holly King fight for dominance. They are two parts of the same thing, the waxing and waning of the yearly cycles of the Earth. The Holly King rules the waning year, from Midsummer to Yule. He represents decay, darkness, mysteries, and inner knowledge. The Oak King rules the waxing year from Yule to Midsummer. He represents light, growth and expansion.These two mighty kings will now battle to see who will win the Crown of the Year.'
The Holly and Oak King battle. The Holly King wins.
Priestess says:
'The battle between the Holly King and the Oak King not only symbolizes the battle between the light and dark half of the year. It also represents the constant struggle we all endure in our own lives. Darkness and death are as much a part of our lives as light and birth. These experiences that we all go through presents us with the opportunities to learn and to grow.'
When magical workings are done, have everyone address the center of the Circle and bless the cakes and wine.
Priest says:
“The Goddess and God have heard our praise and are glad. It is time that we take their blessings in return.”
Priestess says:
“For they have given us the Fruits of the Earth, that we may know neither hunger nor thirst.”
Priestess takes the chalice of wine, High Priest takes the athame. Both either kneel or stand before the altar facing each other.
Priest says:
“I am the athame, the All Father, the Sun, the Seed."
Priestess says:
“I am the chalice, the Great Mother, the Earth, the womb.”
Priestess holds up the chalice with both hands while High Priest lowers the athame into the chalice with both hands and stirs the wine three times deosil. At the same time, both say:
“Together They bring life. They bring creation. Together we are all blessed.”
High Priest lifts out the athame and cleans the blade on his robe (or cloth kept on altar), kisses the blade and returns it to the altar. High Priestess lifts the chalice, kisses the cup and takes a sip. She pours a bit of wine onto the ground in libation. She passes the chalice to the High Priest so he may drink. He then passes the chalice to a covener in the circle who passes the chalice around deosil.
Priestess takes up plate of cakes. High Priest joins her placing one hand with hers under the plate and the other hand covering hers hovering over the plate. The hovering hands slowly trace a pentacle over the cakes while both say:
“Lord and Lady most sacred, bless this food into our bodies bestowing health, wealth, strength, joy and peace, and that fulfillment of love which is perfect happiness.”
Priestess eats part of a cake. She takes another and libates it to the ground. She hands the plate over to the Priest so he may eat, he then passes the plate to one of the coveners who passes the plate around deosil.
Coveners make take the time to discuss what this time of year means to them and what they hope to carry with them from this ritual while they partake of cake and wine. When they are done, the plate and chalice are returned to the altar.
Priest thanks the Goddess:
‘Lovely Lady, Mother Earth, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. Stay if you will. Go if you must. Hail and Farewell.’
Priestess thanks the God:
‘Beloved Father Sky, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. Stay if you will. Go if you must. Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the North and Northern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the North, Element of Earth, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the West and Western Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the West, Element of Water, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the south and Southern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the South, Element of Fire, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
Everyone addresses the East and the Eastern Summoner says:
‘Guardians of the East, Element of Air, we humbly thank you for lending your energies to our Rite. We ask that you please go now back to your peaceful realm. We bid you Hail and Farewell.’
The Priest or Priestess should walk around the Circle counter clockwise to close it. The energy of the Circle should be grounded back into the Earth by stamping the ground after chanting.
Everyone can sing as the Priest or Priestess is doing this:
‘Around, and around, and around turns the good Earth
And all things must change as the seasons go by.
We are the Children of the Lord and the Lady
Whose mysteries we know, yet we’ll never know why.’
Priest/Priestess when finished should say:
‘This Rite is now ended and the circle is open! Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again! So Mote It Be!’
Offerings should be left for the Gods and Ancestors. Please leave the Sacred Space as you found it.
Please note that some of the basic structure of the Yule Ritual was adapted from the UAFP Litha Ritual that was written by Jennifer Sword. Samantha Wu wrote the wine and cakes blessing (awesome job Sam!).
wine is replace with grape juice for children or sparkling grape juice
