Blake Octavian Blair
The centerpiece of most Yuletide celebrations is a ritual celebration of the astronomical event of winter solstice. Many people the world over celebrate by welcoming the Sun back in one fashion or another. Here I will share my spin on this ritual endeavor flavored with shamanic elements. It can be incredibly casual and low-key or very formal with ornate ceremonial flair. This ritual is easily adaptable to fall anywhere on the spectrum that works for you.
This ritual is short on prescribed words and long on action and adaptability. Where there are verbal parts, you may use the words provided, or you are encouraged to adapt, edit, and create your own as you see fit. Perform it to peak at the deafening noise of twenty drums or the quieter but steady and purposeful ring of a half dozen bells.
I encourage you to perform this ritual at sunrise on the day of the winter solstice. In our home we do it as a prelude to gathering around the Yule tree for gift exchange. While this does mean getting up before sunrise, the scent and allure of hot drinks brewing goes a long way to rousing family members out of bed for the celebration. Gather the items listed below and assemble with your participants in a spot where you can get the best view of the Sun rising over the horizon. A perfect view is not necessary … just do the best you can. This can be either indoors or out.
Items Needed
Altar cloth
Candle
Smudge or incense
Drink for libation
Small pastries, cookies, or other food item
Sacred item for each person for the altar that represents the holiday to them.
Solar/sun symbol
Bells, drums, rattles, etc.
Small watch or clock
Ritual Procedure
Ideally you will want to gather in the ritual space a bit before the actual clock time of the moment of the solstice sunrise (you can check the time of the sunrise in your favorite Pagan calendar or online). Have the participants arrange themselves in a semicircle facing the direction of the view for the sunrise. Place the altar cloth on the floor in the center of the semicircle. Set upon the cloth the solar symbol, the candle, and the smudge or incense.
Proceed to smudge all participants and the ritual space with either your smudge or incense. Next, light the candle on the central altar. You can explain to your participants, in your own paraphrasing, that not only does the candle represent the light and fire that burns within us all, and the power of the Sun, but also that for thousands of years, people have gathered in sacred circles and around sacred fires. The central candle connects us to this time-honored tradition and to our ancestors, who did the same before us, and all those who may doing the same around the world at this very same solstice sunrise.
As ceremonial leader, use a bell, rattle, or drum to call in the spirits of all the directions. (Many shamanic traditions honor six or seven directions, east, south, west, north, below/earth, above/sky, and the seventh is the center. Some honor even more!)
Next, have the participants come forward one at a time, and place the sacred object they brought with them for the altar upon it. Give them the option to say a few short words on what the item is and what it means to them. (It is perfectly fine for them to choose to place their item in silence and pass on sharing as well.) When all participants have placed their items, as ceremonial leader, then bless the altar as you see fit. I like to do so by ringing a bell or rattling over it while praying to the guardians and helping spirits of all present and to the Sun to lend their blessing and empowerment to the altar. Choose a method that resonates with you.
Next, if your participants do not already have their instruments, distribute them and make sure all who wish to use a drum, rattle, bell, etc., have something at the ready. Ideally, for a small family-sized group, the ritual to this point will have likely taken roughly fifteen minutes. You will want to time things so that at this point you have around five or so minutes until the actual moment of sunrise. With just a few moments until the sunrise, begin leading the group in a slow, monotonous beat, rattling and drumming in unison. Start very gentle and soft, and gradually pick up pace as the sky gets brighter and you see the Sun climb higher. By the moment of the official sunrise, you will likely have reached a rousing celebratory fever pitch. After the moment of sunrise and a final crescendo, signal to cease the noisemaking into silence.
Recite an incantation, such as the following:
The Sun has risen on the shortest day of the year. On the shortest day of the year, the light of the Sun still rises and illuminates, just as the fire within us all always burns with life. We honor the growing light that will be marked by this day, we honor the longest night, marked by this day. We honor all those of different spiritual traditions from ours who celebrate light, warmth, family, and goodness during these winter times in their own way. We honor our Ancestors, who also gathered in the past, gather in the present, and will gather in the future in circle, around the sacred fire, with the spirits, in solar celebration. In Gratitude, Blessed Be!
It is now time to share the ritual libation and food. These need not be complicated; it can be hot cocoa from a thermos, orange juice for a breakfast touch with solar symbolism, spiced apple cider, etc. Use the same freedom of choice with your food, although favorite suggestions are Yule cookies and small wrapped chocolates! Ceremonially you should distribute and perform this “cakes and ale” style part of the ritual in any way you wish. However, in contrast to the louder portions of the ritual, I like to simply, silently, or softly bless the libation and food with a bell or rattle and then distribute it to be consumed in silent gratitude. Be sure to leave a serving of the cakes and ale to take out in nature to leave for the spirits, earth, and ancestors.
Release the spirits of the directions, and have a merry Yuletide!
Final Thoughts
Have fun with this ritual’s flexibility. Informality does not mean disrespect—it all depends on your approach and intent. If you have just two persons to celebrate together, or you have a dozen, the ritual can be just as meaningful. If you live where you are unable to make a lot of noise, then simply choose softer instruments, or play softer, and simply pick up pace and intent as you play them instead of reaching a high decibel.
Additionally, casual does not by necessity equate to irreverent. My family and I have been known to do solstice sunrise in our pajamas with mugs of hot cocoa or coffee present. While this is a sacred day observance, it is also one of family, coziness, and togetherness. I wish you all the blessings of winter solstice, past, present, and future!