Cast Circle in your usual manner
Ablutions - bless each other with the blessings of the Lady & Lord in your usual way.
Hail to Thee Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, the
powers of water...we turn to you where the sun comes up, from
where the power of light and refreshment come.
Everything that is born comes up in this direction -
the birth of babies, the birth of puppies,
the birth of ideas and the birth of friendship
Oh, Undines of the East, let there be light
On this Solstice Night. So Mote It Be !
Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, the
powers of air...spirits of all that is warm and gentle and
refreshing, we ask you to give us this spirit of growth, of
fertility, of gentleness.
Caress us with a cool breeze when the days are hot.
Give us seeds on the wind, that the flowers, trees, and
fruits of the earth may grow.
Give us the warmth of good friendships.
Oh, Sylphs of the South, let there be light
On this Solstice Night. So Mote It Be!
Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtowers of the West, the
powers of fire...where the sun goes down each day to come up
the next, we turn to you in praise of sunsets, and in
thanksgiving for changes.
You are the great colored sunset of the red west which
illuminates us.
You are the powerful cycle which pulls us to transformation.
We ask for the blessings of the sunset.
Keep us open to life's changes.
Oh, Salamanders of the West, let there be light
On this Solstice Night. So Mote It Be!
Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtowers of the North, the
powers of earth...we come to you and ask for the strength and
power to bear what is cold and harsh in life.
We come like the buffalo ready to receive the north winds
that truly can be overwhelming at times.
Whatever is cold and uncertain in our life,
we ask you to give us the strength to bear it.
Do not let the winter sun fade away.
Oh, Gnomes of the North, let there be light
On this Solstice Night. So Mote It Be!
HPS:
Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Sun,
Queen of the Heavens, Queen of the Stars,
Queen of the Waters, Queen of the Earth,
Bring to us the Child of Promise!
It is the Great Mother who gives birth to Him;
It is the Lord of Life who is born again;
Darkness and tears are set aside when the Sun shall
come up early!
Blessed Be!
Everyone chants:
Queen of the Sun, Queen of the Fire,
Queen of the Stars and Queen of Night
Bring to us what we desire
Bring to us the Lord of Light!
(During this chant, 9 times, dance deosil, the HPS should stand out in the middle of the circle at the end with arms upraised and light the God candle)
Behold - the Lord of Light is reborn this night!
Blessed Be!
We invoke Thee
Antlered Ancient One,
both Lord and Victim
of the Winter's Hunt;
giver of Thy flesh
for the love of our lives,
in this,
Thy season of Sacrifice.
We invoke Thee,
shape-shifting Solstice Stag,
Thy hoof prints brushed away by driven snow
as Thou guardest the pathways to the Invisible.
Winter-reigning forest-phantom,
be here among us
as we celebrate
this turning of the Solar Wheel!
Blessed Be!
(part 1- priestess)
Open thy ears to the voice of the Ancient God, the Father of Time, who is older than the beginning. Many are His names: Zeus, Dagda, Gog, Lugh, Osiris, Cernunnos, Ra: always He is the Great Father.
(part 2 - priest)
I am the Shining One; and my dominion is the golden orb of the Sun. After the darkness has soothed the Earth and rested it's people, it is I who bring forth a new beginning and a fresh awakening. My heat is the warmth of Life and my fire is the burning of desire in the hearts of my worshippers.
(part 3 - priest)
I am the wonder of the blue sky which lifts up the birds in flight. Hear my voice in the breezes and cool winds which whisper through the trees.
(part 4 - priest)
My dominion also is the green forest and fertile field, for I am the Lord of the hunt and the beasts of the wild are my children. When ye walk in the forest, feel my presence, for I am the life of every blade of grass and every walking creature. My head is crowned with twin horns, for I am the White Stag and in me is the spirit of the wild beast.
(part 5 - priestess)
Heed well the voice of the Horned God, for together we are the Twin Pillars which support the Universe.
(part 6 - priest)
When ye speak my name, do so with joy, for I am the divine King, reborn to lead my people into victory and prosperity.
(part 7 - priest)
I also am the Wise old Man, the counsel of years, ever surrendering the wisdom of experience. Within every man, I am manifest and my works are strong throughout the world.
(part 8 - priest)
I am the double edged sword, and my nature is two fold. for as I am the brightness of Summer, so am I the cold darkness of Winter. And as the Lady gives you birth, so am I the Dark God who in death returns ye to her. But fear me not, for in death of the body there is rest and peace of the soul. Comfort and consolation are my gifts, to heal the weary spirit after life's passing. Cast away sorrow and rejoice; for I am the keeper of the Gate of the Summerland, wherein the wondrous Garden of the Gods, ye are reunited with those who have gone before.
(part 9 - priest)
And herein is my greatest mystery, for as I am life that leads to death, so do I lead again to life, for it is I who brings ye to the Mother, to be born again of the Earth, for behold, life's eternal, and I am He that changes and yet remains unchanged.
As the Athame is to the Male,
So the Chalice is to the Female.
Here where sword and cup unite,
Witnessed by the sacred night
Within the charmed Circle's bound
Behold the Holy meaning's found
I am in thee, and thee in me
That is the deepest Mystery.
Blessed Be!
(kiss)
So Mote It Be!
Narrator
woman
man
elf
Narrator - Many, Many years ago a man and a woman lived in a cottage near a wild forest. The forest supplied much of the couple's needs, but the man still had to work hard to earn money to buy the things that could not be found in the forest. But one day, the man became sick and unable to do as much work as he needed to do.
Man - My wife, I am sick. I cannot work today, I must lie down and rest.
Woman - I will help you.
Narrator - In order to help her husband, each day after she finished her own chores of baking and cooking, washing and cleaning, she would go into the forest to gather pine cones which she would take to the village and sell as Yuletide decorations.
Each day, without her knowledge, she was being watched. One day, the little man who had been watching her, came out and introduced himself.
Elf - I am the Pine Cone Faery. Why are you picking up pine cones?
Woman - I am picking them up to sell them to help my husband who is very sick.
Elf - Well, that's all right then. But be warned. Do not pick up any pine cones from under that tree!
Woman - I promise!
Narrator - Day after day, the woman continued picking up pine cones, but soon she had picked all of the best cones. She had gone as deep into the forest as she dared, but all she could find was a little handful of small and broken ones. The pine cones under the special tree were big and plump, and there were many of them. She knew she could sell them for a lot of money, but she had promised the Pine Cone Faery that she would not.
So she put her meager handful of cones into her apron and walked home. On her way, she met the elf again.
Elf - How is your husband? How is your pine cone gathering?
Woman - Not very well, I'm afraid. And I'm having a hard time finding enough pine cones to sell.
Elf - That's too bad.
Narrator - The elf scampered off, and the woman continued home. But that evening when she emptied her apron onto the table, much to her amazement and great joy, there were many big and plump pine cones, and they had all turned to silver! Naturally, she was able to sell them for a lot more money, her husband soon got well again, and they lived happily ever after.
(The end of the children's fairy tale.)
HP: Pine cones were symbols of the Faeries of the wild pine forest in Germanic countries, and the first molded glass tree ornament was in the shape of a pine cone. The pine cone and the acorn are both symbols of fertility and the cycles of rebirth, as well as growth, money, health, and protection. Our present to each of you is a silver pine cone to help bring these things into your life, and also to remind you of the promises that WE have also made to the Faeries of the Forests, and to our Mother, the Earth.
(At this time, have each person put their presents under the tree, and let all come up and circle the tree in groups of seven, and pick out one present. Have a couple of extras just in case, and have a few just for young children also.)
(Each person should then open their gift and let the one who made it explain whatever they want to and be thanked.)
Slow and slow turns the wheel of the year,
To the season of silence, cold, bleak and drear.
Hope is to be born, from the dark, wintry night -
The feast is prepared, and the Yule-log alight.
Round is the wreath, as the year turns round;
Green is the Holly - Life midst Death found;
The berries red as the Sunrise of Birth
Of Hope to the world, and joy to the Earth.
Bright Blessings of Yule! May they shine on your life!
May you feast, and rejoice, and set aside strife!
Hope and gladness be with you, gloom and misery fly
As we greet the Birth of the Lord of the Sky!
(Thank the Lord and Lady)
HPS: Goddess of the Solstice, the Great Mother who gave birth to the world and to the Sun, we thank you for your presence here with us this evening. Stay if you will, go if you must, may you always nurture us, your hidden children. Blessed Be!
HP: Lord of the Solstice, Lord of Life, the reborn Sun who will bring Spring back to the world, we thank you for your presence here with us this evening. Stay if you will, go if you must, may you always protect us, your hidden children. Blessed Be!
(extinguish the altar candles)
(Dismissing the Watchtowers)
Hail to Thee, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, the powers of Water. We thank you for being here this night of the Winter Solstice. As you depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell... and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be!
Hail to Thee, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, the powers of Air. We thank you for being here this night of the Winter Solstice. As you depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell... and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be!
Hail to Thee, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, the powers of Fire. We thank you for being here this night of the Winter Solstice. As you depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell... and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be!
Hail to Thee, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, the powers of Earth. We thank you for being here this night of the Winter Solstice. As you depart to your mighty realms, we bid thee Hail and Farewell... and harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be!
Bibliography:
"Earth Prayers" edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon. pgs. 192-193
"Spokes of the Wheel" by Seleneicthon. pg.4
"Ancient Ways" by Pauline Campanelli. pg. 212-214
"West Country Wicca" by Rhiannon Ryall. pg.25
"The Crafted Cup" by Shadwynn. pg.250 (presently out of print)
"Eight Sabbats For Witches" by Janet and Stewart Farrar. pg.148