Yule
2000
Location: The Quarry
This
is a cut-down version of the Gardnerian Yule ritual given by Janet and Stewart
Farrar in “A Witches’ Bible”.
The
cauldron is placed in the South, with an unlit candle in it.
A
Circle is cast.
Deity
is invoked.
High
Priest kneels in the centre of the circle.
High
Priestess: “The world is wrapped in a frozen mantle of sleep.
The days are cold and dark. Where
is our Lord the Sun?”
Witch:
“Our Lord the Sun is dead!”
High
Priestess circles High Priest seven times deosil, saying:
“Return,
oh, return!
God
of the Sun, God of the Light, return!
Thine
enemies are fled – thou *hast* no enemies.
O
lovely helper, return, return!
Return
to thy sister, thy spouse, who loveth thee!
We
shall not be put asunder.
O
my brother, my consort, return, return!
When
I see thee not,
My
heart grieveth for thee,
Mine
eyes seek for thee,
My
feet roam the Earth in search of thee!
Gods
and men weep for thee together.
God
of the Sun, God of the Light, return!
Return
to thy sister, thy spouse, who loveth thee!
Return!
Return! Return!”
High
Priestess kneels beside the High Priest.
Witch:
“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 giveth 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.”
The
High Priestess rises to her feet, pulling the High Priest up with her.
Witch:
“Golden
Sun of hill and mountain,
Illumine
the land, illumine the world,
Illumine
the seas, illumine the rivers,
Sorrows
be laid, joy to the world!
Blessed
be the Great Goddess,
Without
beginning, without ending,
Everlasting
to eternity,
Yo
ayvo! Hay! Blessed Be!”
All
repeat:
“Yo
ayvo! Hay! Blessed Be!”
The
High Priest goes to the cauldron and lights the candle.
High
Priestess:
“Now,
at the depth of winter,
Is
the waning of the year accomplished.
The
Sun is reborn and the waxing of the year begins.
God
of the Sun, God of the Light,
Hail
and welcome!”
All
repeat:
“Hail
and welcome!”
The
High Priestess moves the cauldron to the centre of the Circle and leads everyone
in a line to jump over it three times.
Food
and drink is taken.
The
Circle is closed.
Offerings are made.