yule solitary ritual
Grow with the Light
For me, Yule rituals with the coven and my extended family of Pagan friends have always been boisterous and full of good cheer. But when doing ritual alone, Yule becomes more introspective and often focused on my personal deficiencies as a Witch.
With the end of December, the rebirth of the sun, and all the talk of New Year’s resolutions, I find the Winter Solstice a good time to work on personal growth. The waxing half of the year has traditionally been a time for manifesting change and bringing new things into our lives. This ritual attempts to harness the growing powers of the Goddess and God so that we can progress as Witches.
Because this ritual deals with the winds of change in our lives, the quarter calls are to the four winds. In this ritual, I was looking for them to blow away the things that have limited me and my potential in Witchcraft. When I call to them, I envision them entering my ritual space as a slight breeze, bringing their different energies with them. Even the cold north wind brings cleansing energy. There’s good to most everything if you know where to look.
Tools Needed
• Regular altar tools
• Two good candles, one each for the Goddess and the God
• A notecard or piece of sturdy paper
• Pen/pencil
The Ritual: Grow with the Light
Cleansing, Statement of Intent
If you happen to live in an area where it snows or you get winter rains, collect some before your ritual, placing it in a bowl or cup on your altar. If snow or rain is not possible, tap or spring water is also acceptable. Take your athame and dip it in the water and say:
As the winter rain/snow cleanses the land and prepares it for what is to come, I too use this water to cleanse myself and prepare for the rite to come. I cleanse and consecrate this water for use this night in my Yule ritual. So mote it be!
Standing before your altar, dip your dominant hand in the water and use it to anoint yourself, starting at your feet and moving up to your head. After saying each of the following lines, lightly touch that part of your body with the water.
Blessed be my feet, which have brought me before the gods. (touch feet)
Blessed be my knees, with which I kneel before the glory of the earth. (touch knees)
Blessed be my sex, source of passion and longing. (touch sex)
Blessed be my heart, font of power and strength. (touch heart)
Blessed be my lips, which shall speak only truth in the circle. (touch lips)
On this night of Yule, I celebrate the rebirth of the sun, the light in the darkness,
and the promise of the Lord and Lady that all will be reborn. So mote it be!
Casting the Circle, Calling the Quarters
Using your athame or sword, slowly cast the circle clockwise, saying:
In the names of the Lord and the Lady, I cast this circle. May it serve as a boundary and a protection from all that might wish me harm, and as a place of warmth, light, and truth.
So mote it be!
Starting in the east, call upon the four winds to bless and protect your rite. If you like, you can light a candle to represent each of the winds.
I call upon the winds of the east that turn the seasons and bring us rain. Lend your power and energies to my rite this night! Hail and welcome!
I call upon the winds of the south that warm the land and bless the earth.
Lend your power and energies to my rite this night! Hail and welcome!
I call upon the winds of the west that bring us ripe fruit and the promise of new tomorrows. Lend your power and energies to my rite this night! Hail and welcome!
I call upon the cold winds of the north that bring us the winter’s quiet breath and cleanse the land. Lend your power and energies to my rite this night! Hail and welcome!
Calling the Lord of the Sun and the Mistress of the Moon
Now say:
This night of the Winter Solstice, I call to the Great God, he who is reborn as the Lord of the Sun! Where once your power in the sky waned, now you grow in power and in strength. Though the nights ahead will still be long, you are a bringer of hope, and with it the promise that all things in this world eventually begin anew. What once was shall be again. Blessed be!
Light the God candle on your altar. As you do so, imagine it as the Lord of the Sun, who grows from humble beginnings to the powerful sun of the summer. Feel him in the power of the candle. As the light of the God candle fills your ritual space, think of it as his light bringing you illumination and clarity.
This night of the Winter Solstice, I call to my beautiful Lady, she who is the Mistress of the Moon and the source of all beauty and joy. Even in the depths of winter, I know that you watch over me and those I love, filling us all with courage and strength, even in the darkness. Shine your light upon my rite this night and lend your energy and blessings to my work! Through you all begins anew. Blessed be!
Light the Goddess candle on your altar. As you do so, reach out to her in your ritual space and feel her power and her presence. Feel her love, which exists even when the world is dark and cold. Feel her energies of growth and abundance, energies that exist even in the winter. Imagine her sharing those energies with you on your journey as a Witch.
The Working
The Winter Solstice is a wonderful time to begin new projects. As the sun’s waxing energy slowly fills our skies from Yule until the Summer Solstice, it can also help us fill our cauldrons as Witches. Think of what it is that you most want to work on as a Witch over the next six months. Are you looking to deepen your relationship with the earth? With magick? With the gods? Perhaps you need to spend more time on your Witch work. In that case, imagine a future where you spend a few minutes each day communing with the powers and energies that give your life purpose as a Witch.
Once you’ve contemplated whatever it is that you want to grow over the next six months, write it down (or draw it) on a notecard or piece of paper. Be as specific as you can, using words or pictures, whatever feels most specific to you. As you put your intentions down on paper, imagine them moving through you and into your pen, then out onto the paper. Clearly visualize what it is you want. Imagine your relationships growing stronger, your practice becoming more focused, your magick growing stronger, etc. Also picture yourself taking whatever actions are necessary to make those things so.
After you’ve written down your intentions, take the God candle from your altar and drip the wax onto your paper in the shape of an invoking pentagram. As you drip the wax, say:
Great Lord, as your power grows in the sky, may my power grow in this world. Bless the undertaking I’ve begun this night. As you are reborn on this night, let my desires come into this world and manifest. So mote it be!
After setting down the God candle, pick up the Goddess candle and draw one more invoking pentagram while saying:
Lovely Lady, powerful Goddess who watches over us all, lend your energy and power to my endeavor. Share your magick and might so that I might grow as a Witch and accomplish all of my goals. May I be all you want me to be and all I know I can be. So mote it be!
As you’re drawing your invoking pentagrams with the wax, imagine the Lord and Lady helping you with your task. Reach out into the darkness of your ritual space and feel them around you. As you pour the wax, see yourself doing the things that will help you accomplish your goal, and see yourself doing just a little bit more each day, mimicking the growth of the sun in the sky.
Cakes and Ale
Pick up your athame with your dominant hand, and a cup or chalice of wine (or other beverage) with your other hand. Touch the athame to the lip of the cup and say:
May this drink ever serve as a reminder that the gifts of the Lord and Lady are always with me, even in the depths and darkness of winter. Blessed be!
Drink deeply from the cup, pausing to reflect on whatever it is that is good in your life. If it’s really good, raise the glass up to the gods, toasting them and then sharing a bit of your drink with them by pouring it into the libation bowl.
Next take your athame and bless the cakes, cookies, or bread that you’ve brought to your rite, touching each cake with your knife while saying:
Though the earth lies fallow, the gods are always with us. Lady and Lord, bless these cakes that I might have joy and prosperity in the longer days ahead. Blessed be!
Consume one or two cakes, enjoying the quiet and darkness. During this part, I sometimes reach out to feel if any of my deceased kin have joined me in my rite. Relatives always like to visit during the holidays. Be sure to put a cake in your libation bowl to share with the gods later on.
Goodbyes to the Gods
Now say:
Great Lady, Mistress of the Moon and source of all joy and abundance, thank you for being with me in my rite tonight. Continue to walk with me so that I might manifest my desires and grow as a Witch. Blessed be!
Now blow out the Goddess candle upon the altar. After this I usually blow her a kiss, placing my middle and index fingers upon my lips and then kissing them and raising my hand upward.
Lord of the Sun, giving God, he who is reborn upon the Winter Solstice, thank you for being with me in my rite tonight. As you grow in the sky, I pledge to also grow as a person and a Witch. Blessed be!
Blow out the God candle upon the altar. Notice the growing darkness around you and say:
Though short in time, the light kindled this night will only grow longer and stronger! So mote it be!
Dismissal of the Quarters/Taking Down the Circle
Starting in the east and moving deosil, dismiss the four winds standing guard in your circle.
I called upon the winds of the east to be a part of my rite and I now release them from that service. Thank you for blessing my work and standing guard in the darkness. Hail and farewell!
I called upon the winds of the south to be a part of my rite and I now release them from that service. Thank you for blessing my work and standing guard in the darkness. Hail and farewell!
I called upon the winds of the west to be a part of my rite and I now release them from that service. Thank you for blessing my work and standing guard in the darkness. Hail and farewell!
I called upon the winds of the north to be a part of my rite and I now release them from that service. Thank you for blessing my work and standing guard in the darkness. Hail and farewell!
Blow out each quarter candle as the winds are dismissed if applicable/desired. Then pick up your athame or sword and take down the circle, beginning in the east and moving deosil.
On the longest night, this circle has brought me closer to the Lady, the Lord, and the power of the returning sun. Now I release the power gathered up here and take down this boundary between the world of mortals and that of the Mighty Ones. All in this room shall be as it once was, but I shall be forever changed by the power of the gods! So mote it be!
As the ritual concludes, feel free to thank the Lord and Lady once more or to let out a hearty “Hail the Craft!” Be sure to put the notecard or piece of paper with the invoking pentagrams of wax in a prominent place on your altar as a daily reminder to grow as a Witch. When you look up at the sun over the next six months, think of your pledge and feel it growing within you as the sun grows in the sky. Feel free to burn the card you created this night when you feel as if all the magick has manifested.
FIN