We are delighted to offer up our Yule 2023 ritual. If you are local to the Albany area, it is being held in person. If you are not, the ritual is here so you may take it, adapt it to your needs, and run it on your own.
Yule Ritual:
Leaving of the Ego
Take a moment, and see your own personal ego. Take it, set it aside, outside our ritual space. Join us all in this space as equals.
Opening Meditation
As we gather together, let us ground ourselves in the earth, and seek our centers.
Close your eyes and open your spirits.
Draw your focus inward. Breathe slowly and deeply. Turn aside all distractions.
Be aware of your body, of your breath, of your heart beating in your chest. With each breath, relax your body. Make yourself comfortable. Move and adjust your body as needed to feel balanced and at ease. Release the tension in your head, your neck. Relax your shoulders, your arms. Let your stomach soften and relax. Adjust your position until your spine feels comfortably aligned. Release the tension in your hips, relax your legs, your feet. Feel any aches and pains fade away. Be at ease.
Be aware of your spirit, your inner self. Observe your thoughts, your feelings. Let them wash over you, through you. Let them settle as you continue to breathe slowly and deeply. With each breath, set aside the many worries and cares that fill your mind. Focus on the calm and peace of this moment. Feel safe and protected.
Be aware of the earth beneath you. Feel yourself anchored firmly to the earth, to the planet that supports you, in body and spirit. Focus on your connection to the earth. Feel the tug of gravity, drawing you close, binding you to the earth. Be aware of the substance of the planet – the soil and water and air that comprise our world. Be aware of these elements within yourself: the earth that makes up your flesh, the water that flows in your blood, the breath that fills your lungs. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that links you to the larger whole.
Be aware of the spirits around you. Feel your connection to the other beings that support you, in body and spirit.
Be aware of the web of life that surrounds you: the beings that inhabit this world with you. Feel your connection to the plants and animals and others that you depend on for life – for food, for shelter, for the very air you breathe. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that intertwines your life with the greater web of all life.
Be aware of your ancestors, of their role in shaping who you are. Feel their presence in your life – their history and teachings living on in your memory, their legacy moving forward through your words and deeds. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that connects you to the past, to your own history and the history of all humanity.
Be aware of the deities, of their role in the shaping of the world and civilization. Feel their presence in your life – their guidance and support and power. They call to you and invite you to learn from them. They gain power from your love, and in turn, they grant you the power to shape the world through your words and deeds. They are a part of you, and you are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power to create something new and wonderful.
Be aware of the others gathered here in spirit if not in flesh. Feel their presence in this sacred space. They are here in common purpose with you, to celebrate and strengthen their connection to the earth, to the spirits of land, to the ancestors, the deities, and to one another.
As we gather in common purpose, let us do so with full awareness of the connections we share and the power it grants us.
As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, where we come
together in fellowship and worship, and when you are ready, open your eyes.
Honoring the Earth Mother
We gather here today for the celebration of Yule. First though, we honor the Earth that we stand upon. Earth Mother, we call to you. You who surrounds and supports us. You who feeds and nourishes us. You who shelters and provides a home to live in. You are why we are here. Without you, we could not survive. Without you, we would not be. Today, we honor you, love you, and respect you. We all will work to make you healthy. Now, as a token of our appreciation, we give you these offerings. Earth Mother, accept our offerings!
Statement of Purpose
We are here to celebrate the shortest day, the longest night, and the start of the new year. The solar cycle is ending, and in a few days we’ll start seeing the days lengthening. This is the dark time of the year, and a time to reflect. It is a time to spend time with friends and family. It is a time to renew yourself, discard what you don’t desire, and bring in the new you that you want to be.
Recreate the Sacred Center
officiant makes offerings during the appropriate sections of the text.
As we gather here, in the center are our hallows, our sacred center, each with its role in the cosmos.
We start with focusing on the well, our connection to the underworlds This is our way to the Ancestors and all who are found in those realms. To the well, we offer silver. With this offering, we connect our well to all the wells in the world, and making our well `the` well.
We now focus on the fire, our connection the the upper-worlds. This is our way to the Deities and all who are found in those realms. The the fire, we offer incense. With this offering, we connect our fire to all the fires in the world, and making our fire `the` fire.
Finally, we focus on the tree, our pathway between all the worlds. This is our road to travel to the realms of the Deities and the Ancestors, and all beings found outside our realm. We join this tree with the well through the waters of the well. We join this tree with the fire through the smoke of the incense. As we join this tree to the well and fire, our tree becomes `the` tree and our path.
Outsiders
Outsiders! You who stand against our purposes for this rite. You who only wish to cause mischief and harm. You who are beyond the light of our work. We ask you today to not disturb us as we do our work. We recognize you and your role in our lives. If you do not disturb us, we will make you this offering of beer when our rites are over.
Purification
Officiants will sprinkle the congregation with water and smudge with incense while the following is spoken
Let us focus on our ritual purity. Fist, wash away all your cares and worries with the waters from the well. Then perfume yourself with the incense from the fire, tying us all together. As we wash and smudge, see our space become centered and focused. See us all here, gathered as one.
Call to the Deities
Officiant makes offerings of grains when indicated.
Deities! To all the gods and goddesses who we work with on a daily basis and who guide us in our lives. Matron and Patrons, those we work with directly. Those of this place, we we honor as we stand in your lands. Those that are unknown to us, yet watch over us all. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Deities, accept our offerings!
Call to the Land Spirits
Officiant makes offerings of grains when indicated.
Land Spirits! To all the spirits of the lands around us. To all the animals we see each and every day, domesticated or wild. To all the plants that grow around us, cultivated or not. To all the unseen spirits who live amongst us. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Land Spirits, accept our offerings!
Call to the Ancestors
Officiant makes offerings of grains when indicated.
Ancestors! We call on all those who have come before us. We call to our relatives, those that have passed throughout the years. We call to our chosen family, the mentors and heroes who walked the path before us. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Ancestors, accept our offerings!
Call to Frau Holle
Officiant makes offerings when indicated.
Frau Holle! We call on you to honor you on this, the shortest day of the year. You are the winds of the winter. You have made your presence known the past few weeks while Oðin has been leading the wild hunt. You are said to bring snow when you shake out your blankets. We ask that you spare us today with your snows, but instead come and join us at our fire. Let us honor you, Frau Holle, for this is your time of year. Frau Holle, Accept our Sacrifice!
Call to Oðin
Officiant makes offerings when indicated.
Oðin! One Eyed! Wanderer! We call on you to honor you on this, the shortest day of the year. You are the leader of the Wild Hunt. You go out this time of year with your hounds. You hunt those who dare be outside on these nights. We ask that you spare us from the hunt, but instead come and join us at our fire. Let us honor you, All Father, for this is your time of year. Oðin, Accept our Sacrifice!
Offerings to Honored Beings
If anyone has any offerings they wish to make to the honored beings, please come forth and do so now.
Shared Meal
Behold the sacred goat!. With this, we share a meal with Frau Holle and Oðin. As we set aside a portion for them, the rest will be shared between us.
Food is passed around for all to eat
Blessing of the Waters
We have made our offerings to all of the spirits. We have honored Frau Holle and Oðin. We now call on them to aid us one more, and call to them to bless these waters. Fill them with the powers of their blessings in return for our offerings. Frau Holle, Oðin, give us the waters! Behold the blessed waters!
Waters are passed around for all to drink
Thanking the Beings
Thanking the Honored Beings, Odin
Odin! We have made offerings to you. We have honored and remembered you, and you have given back to us. For all that you have done for us, Odin, we thank you.
Thanking the Honored Beings, Frau Holle
Frau Holle! We have made offerings to you. We have honored and remembered you, and you have given back to us. For all that you have done for us, Frau Holle, we thank you.
Thanking the Ancestors
Ancestors! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Ancestors, we thank you.
Thanking the Land Spirits
Land Spirits! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Land Spirits, we thank you.
Thanking the Deities
Deities! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Deities, we thank you.
Acknowledging the Outsiders
Outsiders! We asked you at the start of the rite that you leave us to work in peace. You have done so. We will honor our end of the bargain and pour you the beer we offered you earlier.
Thanking the Earth Mother
Earth Mother! We have given to you, and we have honored you. You are the reason we are able to survive in this world. For all that you have done for us both today and throughout our days, Earth Mother, we thank you.
Closing Meditation:
As we conclude our ritual, let us once again seek our centers and ground ourselves.
With spirits open, close your eyes. Breathe slowly and deeply. Draw your focus inward. Feel the threads that connect you to the others gathered here today – threads of common purpose and devotion, of fellowship and mutual caring.
Feel the threads that connect you to the deities – threads of power and faith, of wisdom and trust.
Feel the threads that connect you to the ancestors – threads of lineage and history, of lore and memory.
Feel the threads that connect you to the spirits of the land – threads of life and sustenance, of beauty and wonder.
Feel the threads that connect you to the earth – threads of life and sustenance, lineage and history, power and faith, love and existence itself.
As you feel these connections, know them to be ever present. But for now, relax your focus of these bindings. Let your awareness of them soften, but never fade as you go about your daily lives.
As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, as we prepare to go forth into the world, and when you are ready, open your eyes.
And so the rite is finished, go now in wisdom and peace.
