On this, the longest night, I come to celebrate the Winter Solstice<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nPick up the bowl of salt water. \u00a0Move to the East, pause, then slowly move around the room clockwise, sprinkling the water as you go, cleansing the space.\u00a0 A sprig of rosemary makes an excellent aspersing branch, but your fingers will do just fine.\u00a0 Make a complete circle, then set the bowl back on the altar.<\/p>\n
Pick up the incense.\u00a0 Move to the East, pause, then slowly move around the room clockwise, wafting the incense as you go, blessing the space.\u00a0 A large feather make a nice fan, but again your fingers will do just fine.\u00a0 Make a complete circle, then set the incense back on the altar.<\/p>\n
Return to the East and light the quarter candle. Say \u201cSpirits of the East, Spirits of Air, I call to you.\u00a0 Join this celebration, I ask, and share your wisdom. On this long Solstice night, welcome Air!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nMove clockwise to the South. Light the quarter candle and say \u201cSpirits of the South, Spirits of Fire, I call to you. Join this celebration, I ask, and share your inspiration. On this long Solstice night, welcome Fire!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nMove clockwise to the West. Light the quarter candle and say \u201cSpirits of the West, Spirits of Water, I call to you. Join this celebration, I ask, and share your love. On this long Solstice night, welcome Water!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nMove clockwise to the North. Light the quarter candle and say \u201cSpirits of the North, Spirits of Earth, I call to you. Join this celebration, I ask, and share your stability. On this long Solstice night, welcome Earth!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nMove clockwise back to the East, then return to the main altar.<\/p>\n
Invocations<\/strong><\/p>\nSay \u201cSpirits of the land, spirits of this place, you who were here long before me, I invite you to join this celebration of the Solstice.\u00a0 Accept this offering of food and drink, I ask, given in hospitality and in love<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nRaise the bread and wine in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the wine into the offering bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cLand spirits \u2013 hail and welcome!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nSay \u201cAncestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, you whose child I am and on whose foundations I build, because of you I have life. You whose lives were marked by the dying and reborn Sun, join me in this celebration of the Solstice.\u00a0 Accept this offering of food and drink, I ask, given in hospitality and in love<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nRaise the bread and wine in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the wine into the offering bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed ancestors \u2013 hail and welcome!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nSay \u201cDanu, Mother Goddess, Lady of the Waters, I ask You to join this celebration and bless me with Your presence.\u00a0 Giver of Life, be welcome here.\u00a0 At this, the dying and rebirth of the Sun, I would join in Your Great Work of creating and nurturing life and love.\u00a0 Mother of Gods, please join me in this celebration of the Solstice.\u00a0 Accept this offering of food and drink, I ask, given in hospitality and in love<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nRaise the bread and wine in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the wine into the offering bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cDanu \u2013 hail and welcome!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nMain Working<\/strong><\/p>\nStand in front of the altar.\u00a0 If you cannot stand, move your chair directly in front of the altar.<\/p>\n
Look intensely at the first candle.\u00a0 Say \u201cI remember the Sun at Summer Solstice, at the height of your power, when days are at their longest.\u00a0 You rise high on the northern horizon and your rays are at their strongest.\u00a0 You bring the Summer\u2019s warmth and make the crops grow tall and full.\u00a0 Yet, having reached your zenith, you begin your journey southward, and the days begin to grow shorter<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nExtinguish the first candle.\u00a0 Remember the warm weather, the fresh berries and melons, and the long days of Summer.<\/p>\n
Look intensely at the second candle.\u00a0 Say \u201cI remember the Sun at Lughnasadh, the First Harvest, when the days are still long.\u00a0 You rise on the northeastern horizon, and your strong rays ripen the grains in the fields.\u00a0 But the August heat is oppressive, and if you did not relinquish your hold the Earth would burn dry.\u00a0 So you continue your journey southward, and the days grow shorter still<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nExtinguish the second candle.\u00a0 Remember the hot days when the joy of Summer had turned into hopes for Fall.<\/p>\n
Look intensely at the third candle.\u00a0 Say \u201cI remember the Sun at the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are equal.\u00a0 You rise from due east, and your rays ripen the fruits on the trees.\u00a0 The heat has subsided now, and the leaves begin to turn.\u00a0 You continue your journey of decline, rising lower on the horizon with each passing day<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nExtinguish the third candle.\u00a0 Remember the cool days of Fall, the fresh apples, the return to school and all things our mainstream world begins in September.<\/p>\n
Look intensely at the fourth candle.\u00a0 Say \u201cI remember the Sun at Samhain, the Final Harvest.\u00a0 You rise low on the southeastern horizon, and the night has overtaken the day.\u00a0 The crops are in and the air grows cold.\u00a0 Your rays grow weaker, and soon the end shall come, even as it comes for all<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nMake sure you have the lighter or matches in your hand, or where you can find them by touch, then extinguish the fourth candle.\u00a0 Remember Halloween and Thanksgiving, colder days and longer nights.\u00a0 Remember that the coldest days are yet to come.<\/p>\n
Return to your seat.\u00a0 Sit quietly in the darkness.\u00a0 Contemplate the year that has been.\u00a0 What went well?\u00a0 Name it, and give thanks.\u00a0 What went poorly?\u00a0 Acknowledge it.\u00a0 What do you want to do differently in the coming year?\u00a0 Think carefully, then say what you will do.\u00a0 Remember the land spirits, your ancestors, and the Goddess Danu are your witnesses \u2013 do not promise what you will not do.<\/p>\n
Listen.\u00a0 Sit quietly.<\/p>\n
When the time feels right, return to the altar and light the gold candle.\u00a0 Say \u201cThis is the Sun at the Winter Solstice.\u00a0 You rise on the southern horizon, low and faint, but bringing with you the promise of Spring and rebirth.\u00a0 You will grow strong and bright and the days will lengthen once again.\u00a0 As the Sun is reborn, so too are my hopes and dreams.\u00a0 Blessed be the Sun \u2013 blessed be the Solstice!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nTake a bite of the bread and a sip of the wine.<\/p>\n
Look intensely at the gold candle and feel it filling you with its warmth and light.<\/p>\n
Farewells<\/strong><\/p>\nSay \u201cDanu, Mother Goddess, Lady of the Waters, I thank You for your presence and Your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nSay \u201cAncestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nSay \u201cSpirits of the land, spirits of this place, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nClosing<\/strong><\/p>\nSay \u201cSpirits of the North, West, South, and East, Spirits of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever. Hail and farewell<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nRing the bell three times.<\/p>\n
Say \u201cThis celebration of the Winter Solstice is complete. Hail and farewell<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nAfterward<\/strong><\/p>\nTake a breath. Turn on some music, or if you were playing background music, change to something lively and vocal. Drink some water. Turn on the lights. Do something to reorient yourself in the ordinary world.<\/p>\n
Extinguish the candles and the incense, then begin to pick up and put away.<\/p>\n
Dispose of the offerings in an appropriate manner. I prefer to deposit them outdoors in an inconspicuous place where they\u2019ll be eaten by wild creatures. Depending on where you are, you may need to do something else.<\/p>\n
You may wish to write about your experience in your journal, particularly if your experience was strong. Focus on recording the experience, not on your interpretation of the experience. You have the rest of your life to figure out what it all means, but you have only a short time before your recollection of the events begins to fade.<\/p>\n
May you have a bright and happy Solstice, and may your Winter and your coming year be blessed by the strengthening Sun!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Many Pagans maintain solitary practices. Even if you work with a group, sometimes you can\u2019t be with them for one reason or another. Here\u2019s a ritual that will help you experience the mystery and wonder of the Winter Solstice in a solitary setting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1129,"featured_media":3088,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[180,4,5,25,226,563],"class_list":["post-3087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ritual","tag-danu","tag-pagan","tag-paganism","tag-ritual-2","tag-winter-solstice","tag-yule"],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"winter](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/243\/2014\/12\/winter-solstice-altar-2014.jpg\")
<\/a>Opening<\/strong><\/p>\n