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A Ritual for Yule
Winter Solstice is a time of new beginnings. It’s the darkest time of the year, but it also marks the time where the light begins to grow. Rituals dedicated to new beginnings - such as personal growth, business, new love - are particularly powerful at this time. In the darkness we sow the seed and nourish it so it can burst forth strong in the Spring.
Here is my ritual for Yule.
You will need:
green altar cloth
red fruit or flowers, pomegranate is perfect but whatever you can find will suffice
charcoal and banishing herbs, such as dragon’s blood, garlic (beware, stinky!), nettle, dandelion, rosemary, juniper, sage
paper and pen
bayberry candle if you can mange it, otherwise a green candle will suffice
a chamomile tea bag - empty the contents and grind to a powder. If you don’t have chamomile, mint can be used instead (which is what I’ll be doing as my pantry is more bare than I thought!)
vegetable oil
Open a circle if that is your custom.
Cover the altar with a green cloth to represent the growth you intend. The red represents the life blood, and pomegranate represents Persephone, the goddess of the Spring.
If you like to work with deity, call upon Persephone as she is the Queen of the Underworld and the Spring. She will help destroy what no longer serves you and grow your intentions in the Spring. Hekate is another great option, as is Hades or Osiris.
First, you will banish bad habits or energies you no longer want in your life. Take a moment and really think. Write each thing down on a slip of paper.
Now light the charcoal and the banishing herbs. Throw each slip of paper into the fire, one at a time, and say “I call to the darkness of this night, banish _______ from my life”. When you have finished, with all your bits of paper, say “the night takes and I am released.”
Now you have made some space, best fill it with some sunshine!
Take your candle and cover it lightly with the vegie oil and roll it in the chamomile. Chamomile is a herb which protects against psychic attack, is considered lucky and to attract fortune of all kinds.
As you do this, say “With this herb and with this light, I set my intention this dark night: into my life love and luck will come, growing now as does the Sun. May happiness and love increase for all I see. This is my intention, So Mote it BE!"
Winter Solstice is an excellent time to undergo a vision quest to find your magical name, a totem animal, a mantra, or other empowering insights. While your circle is open you may wish to ask for messages from your deity or guide, or to send healing energy to the planet.
When your candle is burned down, close your circle. Cast your ashes into the garden and bury them - they are gone!
Yule is also a time for friends and family, and a nice warm glass of mead. Yum! A great way to ground yourself, if you want my opinion. Happy Yule xx