Yule-to-go preliminaries

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

MeeWah	02 Dec 2002
I am volunteering to lead the Wiccan sabbath celebration for Yule/Midwinter Solstice. This week will be utilized for the preliminaries. The actual ritual will commence about a week from now to give all who desire to participate time to do so. Yule/Midwinter Solstice is one of 8 sabbaths in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year or calendar. 4 are referred to as the Greater Sabbaths; the other 4 are the Lesser Sabbaths. Yule is the first of the Lesser. It marks the first day of Winter, when the day is shortest & the night is longest. There are various traditions associated with the occasion (but we are addressing those pertinent to our ceremony). Since from this day forward the days grow in length, the return of light or the sun in the form of the Sun God/King to the Earth is celebrated when Goddess gives birth to Him. It moreorless coincides with the Christian observance of Christmas. In some traditions it is observed as the beginning of a new year. Similar to the conventional new year's resolutions, intentions can be stated to reiterate a time of new beginnings. Existing connections to the Earth & to loved ones are acknowledged, so the ceremony includes planning to give back to the Earth during the year; family & friends are honored. It includes the exchange of gifts, the lighting of the Yule log, singing, feasting. The Yule log celebrates the Sun; the birth of the new god. The log is burned in honor of the gods to ensure prosperity in the coming months or the new year. Usually the log is cut from the biggest tree found & ceremoniously carried to the hearth. The altar sits in the center of the ritual area. Besides the usual altar accouterments, the altar is decorated with symbols of the season--holly & mistletoe (evergreens); one black candle & one white to represent the darkness & the light respectively. Frankincense is lit. The Yule log sits near the altar. We begin the ritual in darkness, after which we light the Yule log, use it to light the black candle which in turn will light the white candle. Red candles will be provided for each participant to light from the Yule log. During the calling of the quarters, the ritual circle will be marked in 4 corners by one candle each to represent each direction & element: white for East/Air; red for South/Fire; blue for West/Water; green for North/Earth. Those calling the quarters will bring those candles with them. The procedure will be: Cast the circle. *MeeWah Call the quarters. *East/Air: Pollux; South/Fire: Kiama; West/Water: Liliana; North/Earth: Rhiannon Invocation of the Goddess. *Crystalmynx Invocation of the God. *Dark Electric A Blessing Chant. *MeeWah Discuss the significance of this season or statement of purpose. *Silverlotus Light the Yule log. *Zorya/MeeWah Light the the black candle from the Yule log. *Marion Light the white candle from the Yule log. *Pollux Take a red candle from the alter. *All participants State intentions & seal by lighting the candle & pacing deosil around the Circle. Place lit candle on the altar. *All participants Channeling of power at its peak by all assembled. *Zorya? **This is an important part of ritual, whereby we direct the energy raised collectively to where it can do the most good: envision goals fulfilled; direct towards healing, so on. Earthing excess power. *This procedure is another important part of ritual. Since not all energy raised is always channelled perfectly, there can be residual side effects that may be felt as heightened sensitivity, vibrations or restlessness. After one has sent all the energy able to the goal/purpose, one channels the excess into the Earth. This helps in the grounding or the balancing of the personal energy field/aura. This can be achieved by placing the hands palm-down on the ground; lying full-length belly-side down; or placing the hands on a rock. A Simple Feast, usually with cakes, mulled cider & wine. *Sharing is an integral part of any ritual. In the Wiccan tradition, ritual is followed by a sharing of refreshments. It also aids in the grounding process. Spices are associated with the Sun's energy, so drinks are oft spiced (not necessarily "spiked"). Foods include fruitcake, spice cake, nuts, apples, pears, oranges. Participants & guests - share your favorite holiday dish! Thank the God first. *DarkElectric Thank the Goddess. *Crystalmynx Dismiss the quarters. *By those who call the quarters Release the circle. *MeeWah If I have omitted anything, please advise. Please post any questions or comments within this thread so as to keep the ritual thread free of distractions. Thanks in advance to all participants! **Edited to include participants; explanations & additional details for the program.

Rhiannon	02 Dec 2002
I'd like to volunteer to call the North quarter, if that's fine with everyone else. In regards to the red altar candles and stating our intentions, I assume that we will each pick up a red candle when it is our turn and then light it? That's alot of red candles! :) It'll be beautiful! R :)

RedWood	02 Dec 2002
Unfortunately I am going to have to pass...I cant do that stuff where i live..but I will enjoy reading everybody elses!

MeeWah	03 Dec 2002
Rhiannon: That is fine, & thank ye very much for volunteering! Red Wood: I regret the circumstances, but ye are more than welcome to join us in spirit. I shall be duplicating the ritual in my home as usual.

Kiama	03 Dec 2002
I volunteer to call South, if nobody else wants to! Kiama

Pollux	03 Dec 2002
South taken already! Uff!!! :( *LOL* Why eveyone wants South? :confused: *LOL* EAST IS MINE!!!!! *LOL* :D :D :D

Liliana	03 Dec 2002
GOOD cause i want west hehe :THP

Silverlotus	03 Dec 2002
I think I'd like to maybe discuss the significance of the season. If I don't freak out because I'm so shy! :|

Sulis	03 Dec 2002
If no-one else wants to could I invoke the Goddess? If not just let me know what you want me to do. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Pollux	03 Dec 2002
MH... and since East is white I also want to light the White candle in the Chain: the Sun is born and rises with its light from the darkness on the East - wow what a responsibility! :D *LOL* Redwood: few of us can actually carry out the ceremony in real life. I myself won't for the same reasons as yours, and some other ones of intolerance by parents ;) But, anyway DO join us - the ritual is mainly inner and developed in a thread/posts form, and apart from imagination, some active visualiation (if you want) and a keen spirit, you need nothing else! :D

MeeWah	03 Dec 2002
All: Thanks to all for the enthusiastic responses! All positions as requested are considered "to-go". Therefore, please mark your calendars for Sunday, December 8, when the ceremony will begin, probably mid-morning or about 9AM*. It gives us 2 weeks to provide time for all interested to participate. The ceremony will culminate during mid-morning*, Saturday, December 21--Yule/Midwinter Solstice. If anyone should find himself unable to be present as planned, please let me know as soon as possible via email so I can step in or someone else can in order to keep things running smoothly. Please make a note of your role in order to be ready to step into place. I suggest ye either write it down on your calendar or print out the pertinent portion of this thread as a reminder. I shall be posting reminders. The timing of this ritual is according to the northern hemisphere of seasonal observances & to Eastern Standard Time. In the southern hemisphere, the approximate corresponding dates for the occasion is June 21-23. Folks of the southern hemisphere would be celebrating Litha/Midsummer instead of Yule/Midwinter but this is open to all who desire to participate! *I am planning this around a fluctuating work schedule that can change on little notice. Also in consideration of the different time zones across the globe which is why I am opting for mid-morning--hopefully not too early nor too late in the day/evening for all who desire to participate. BTW: 'Tis understood that some of ye are not able to actually perform the ritual IRL--but ye can still be with us online/in spirit! Looking forward to seeing ye all!!

MeeWah	03 Dec 2002
Pollux: Okey-dokey, ye can be in charge of the white candle. Unless someone else is interested, I can light the black candle. Would ye be interested in invoking the God?

Pollux	04 Dec 2002
Well... I know I would bring some useful "male energy" in the invocation to the God - but actually I don't feel particularly full of that kind of energy lately, and I really really really want to be the White Candle from the East... *LOL* If no one else is interested, whether they be male or female - so far the God was invoked mostly by women anyway - I will also invoke the God. The reason why I don't accept this right now is... because I have already grabbed two tasks arbitrarily, and don't want to steal more cos the more people participate the happier I am! :D So, gals, who's offering to invoke the God? Maybe Sorceress Jade, Zorya, Bings? ;) ;) ;) http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9508

Temperance413	04 Dec 2002
Can I join in, if maybe only observationally the first time. I'm new at Wicca, and would really like to learn from you all. Thanks for all the info already, this sight is really wonderful for so many reasons!!

zorya	04 Dec 2002
meewah, just give me anything to do, that no one else wants :) , as long as it can be done before the morn of solstice (i'll be busy celebrating with my family then). i am so glad that we all will be celebrating together. thank you meewah, for organizing everything!

DarkElectric	04 Dec 2002
Heyla, everybody! Sorry I got here so late, I've been away... If nobody else is invoking the God, I can do it, if that's ok with everybody else.

Kiama	05 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Temperance413 Can I join in, if maybe only observationally the first time. I'm new at Wicca, and would really like to learn from you all. Thanks for all the info already, this sight is really wonderful for so many reasons!! Anybody is free to join: The more the merrier! It doesn't matter if you're not Wiccan/Pagan, you can still join in if you feel comfortable doing so. Often, we get people from all spiritual paths joining in, especially in the part of the ritual where we discuss what this season means for us. :D:D:D Kiama

Liliana	05 Dec 2002
People who call the quarters should probably dismiss them, Ill try and make it on Yule, but its my birthday, also I probably wont be on til noon or so sunday, have church :) :THP

Pollux	05 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Liliana People who call the quarters should probably dismiss them, Ill try and make it on Yule, but its my birthday, also I probably wont be on til noon or so sunday, have church Yeah, I like the idea of summoning and dismissing... Liliana, you don't have to make it ON Yule. I am persuaded we'll start the online ritual SOON, much earlier than that, and that we'll end it LATER than Yule, so as to give time to everyone to participate and share. You shouldn't have problems, and even if this is the case we can wait for you all the same! :) I like the idea of starting before and ending after the actual day - I try to do it for real as well... The sabbaths and their influences are at peak on the days of power, yet I know they are also stretched in the season itself, the "true ritual" doesn't start and end on the 20-something of December but lasts as long as you can feel its energy... That's only the way I see it anyway, feel free to throw garbage at me... :D *LOL*

Sorceress_Jade	05 Dec 2002
I'd really like to hear more stories like the yule faeries on that was posted. If anyone has some of those I would really love if they were included for us reader participants to see.

MeeWah	06 Dec 2002
All participants in key roles: Please refer to the original post, edited to include the positions within the ritual. Email me to confirm or change. Thanks! Guests: All interested are welcome to follow the program & to follow Silverlotus during the discussion/statement of purpose &/or in the candle-lighting. The ritual will commence mid-morning on Sunday, December 8. That is the day after tomorrow!! Looking forward to seeing ye all! (Remember it will run for about 2 weeks to give all time to participate.) Edited to correct date--sorry, I mixed up my days due to changes in my work schedule.

Pollux	08 Dec 2002
Why was I notified with a new reply to this post that I actually cannot see? :confused: It is happening often lately, also from other sections... mh... :rolleyes:

Silverlotus	08 Dec 2002
Did you notice that the first post has been edited, Pollux? It's been updated with who's doing what. I missed it the first time I looked. :)

Pollux	08 Dec 2002
I am talking of being notifying of new messages being posted inr reply, the software does not notify for editing posts...

Marion	08 Dec 2002
Meewah and everyone, I would like to light the black candle from the Yule log. I am very much looking forward to the group ceremony. Love.

MeeWah	08 Dec 2002
Marion: Welcome!! I was hoping ye would join us. The black candle is yours, & I shall amend the program accordingly!

MeeWah	12 Dec 2002
Greetings, All: As far as I know, Malachite will not be able to join us but he sent me a lovely contribution to the ritual. I shall incorporate it into the Blessing Chant, which follows after the invocation of the Goddess & the God.

tarotbear	19 Dec 2002
I am glad to see that MeeWah is continuing a tradition I started so long ago by continuing to do the 'round-robin' rituals-to-go! The peace and beauty of the season be with you all!

Pollux	19 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotbear I am glad to see that MeeWah is continuing a tradition I started so long ago by continuing to do the 'round-robin' rituals-to-go! The peace and beauty of the season be with you all! AND WITH YOU!!! DO COME AND JOIN US IN THE RITUAL!!!! You have a PM from me! :)

MeeWah	29 Dec 2002
This post is to let ye all know that I am planning to wind this up on or about January 5, the Twefth Night or the last day of the Christmas season before Epiphany (January 6). As Tarotbear mentioned elsewhere, the ritual for Candlemas/Imbolc will need to be planned immediately.

tarotbear	03 Jan 2003
Dear Everyone involved with Yule ritual-to-go: Let's finish the ritual, in spite of the fact that Yule is turning into Candlemas quickly! I, for one, would like to print out a completed copy for my files.

Sulis	03 Jan 2003
Me too. Crystalmynx xx

MeeWah	03 Jan 2003
This is to let ye all know that a Simple Feast will follow shortly on the Yule to-go thread. Please share a favorite recipe in keeping with the season!

MeeWah	15 Jan 2003
Since Kiama is unavailable, I am taking her place to dismiss the next quarter (Fire). My apologies to all for the delay.

The Yule-to-go preliminaries thread was originally posted on 02 Dec 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.