Other Names: Mean Geimhridh, Alban, Arthuan, Modranicht (Mother Night).
Date: December 20, 21, or 22 depending upon the calendar. Sun at 1 degree Capricorn.
Meaning of the Word: Yules means “wheel” (Scandinavian derivation); solstice means “the sun stands still”.
Primary Focus: Rebirth and renewal, “saining” or “blessings” in ritual form, burning of the Yule log.
Age of Holiday: Wooden pillars throughout Europe aligned with the rising sun of the winter solstice have been recently dated to 3200 - 3000 B.C. (Newgrange in Ireland, Maes How in Scotland, Stonehenge and the Dorset Cursus in Britain), enabling us to currently calculate this holiday to be at least 5,000 years old.
Popular Mythos: Battle of Oak and Holly King (Oak King wins), Divine King, the Stag and the Wolf; Festival of the Dark God as seen in the German Belsnickle.
Astrological Sign: 1 degree Capricorn; earth; cardinal.
Planetary Ruler: Saturn
It was a custom of the Pagans to celebrate on the same 25 December the birthday of the sun, at which they kindled lights in token of festivity. In these solemnities and revelries the Christians also took part. Accordingly, when the doctors of the Church perceived that the Christians had a leaning to this festival, they took counsel and resolved that the true nativity should be solemnized on that day - Scriptor Syrus, fourth century A.D.
Thus Christmas began, and the Dark God of the Pagans, represented by the first stranger to set food in one’s house bearing gifts, is the surrogate for Cernunnos, Herne the Hunter, and the Old Nick, who grew into the character of Santa Clause. Yet the celebration of winter solstice is far older than the fourth century.
Thus Christmas began, and the Dark God of the Pagans, represented by the first stranger to set food in one’s house bearing gifts, is the surrogate for Cernunnos, Herne the Hunter, and the Old Nick, who grew into the character of Santa Clause. Yet the celebration of winter solstice is far older than the fourth century.
The word “Yule” is of Scandinavian origin, and the Yule log is the domestic counterpart of the communal Yule bonfire. Normally made of oak (sometimes ash), the log was originally dedicated to the Teutonic Thor, God of courage and fire. It was his job to dispel the cold and the warmth of the sun back to the people. The Yule log, therefore, was burned in sympathetic magick, hoping to inspire the god to share his blessings and bring back the sun. Decorated with ivy, ribbons, and evergreens, the log was then blessed with holy water, ale, or wine (the blood of the mother), to bring manifestation. The log was lit with a piece of last year’s log to close the cycle of the season from one Yule to the next. Never allowed to burn completely, pieces were saved as a charm against misfortune over the coming months.
Yule Invocation
Morning light will flood the chamber
- winter solstice sun.
Energy unfolding,
Saturn’s rule has just begun.
Crystals formed of ice and frost
freeze field and forest green.
While Mighty Oak and Holly
Fight for favours from our Queen.
The Great Wheel brings conception,
birth, and death as days of yore.
Each bonfire on a leyline
honours what has gone before.
Seven planets, seven spheres,
seven gates swing open.
I lift my arms and call the charge
the incantation spoken!
I conjure water spirits,
Pour forth the sacred winds
come hither, O great fire!
The magick now begins!
Solar vapors, starry heavens
clouds and earth and waves
unite in your perfection
on this shortest solstice day!
I hold the key of secrets
and the phantoms will avail
the crossroads shimmer open
as the rod connects to grail.
Seven planets, seven spheres,
seven gates swing open.
I list my arms and call the charge
the incantation spoken!
Beribboned Yule logs burning
each spark a blessing brings.
Red and green, the sacred blood
of past and future kings.
Mistletoe and bayberry,
winter’s leaves and resin.
Spice and myrrh and evergreen
connect the Earth to heaven.
Through scented smoke and sacred prayer
I manifest good will.
Bring peace and joy to hearth and home
and every wish fulfill.
Seven planets, seven spheres
seven gates swing open
Morning light will flood the chamber
- winter solstice sun.
Energy unfolding,
Saturn’s rule has just begun.
Crystals formed of ice and frost
freeze field and forest green.
While Mighty Oak and Holly
Fight for favours from our Queen.
The Great Wheel brings conception,
birth, and death as days of yore.
Each bonfire on a leyline
honours what has gone before.
Seven planets, seven spheres,
seven gates swing open.
I lift my arms and call the charge
the incantation spoken!
I conjure water spirits,
Pour forth the sacred winds
come hither, O great fire!
The magick now begins!
Solar vapors, starry heavens
clouds and earth and waves
unite in your perfection
on this shortest solstice day!
I hold the key of secrets
and the phantoms will avail
the crossroads shimmer open
as the rod connects to grail.
Seven planets, seven spheres,
seven gates swing open.
I list my arms and call the charge
the incantation spoken!
Beribboned Yule logs burning
each spark a blessing brings.
Red and green, the sacred blood
of past and future kings.
Mistletoe and bayberry,
winter’s leaves and resin.
Spice and myrrh and evergreen
connect the Earth to heaven.
Through scented smoke and sacred prayer
I manifest good will.
Bring peace and joy to hearth and home
and every wish fulfill.
Seven planets, seven spheres
seven gates swing open
I lift my arms and call the charge
the incantation spoken!
Magickal Ideas for your Yule Sabbat Ritual
the incantation spoken!
Magickal Ideas for your Yule Sabbat Ritual
. Make your own Yule log (if you don’t have a fireplace, you can carve holes in a log and insert metal tea candle cups.) and decorate with evergreens, ribbons and ivy.
.Empower mistletoe for healing and prosperity.
. Make puppets or statues to represent the Oak and Holly Kings. Place them on the altar or put on a skit for younger members of your household.
. Make puppets or statues to represent the Oak and Holly Kings. Place them on the altar or put on a skit for younger members of your household.
. Research the history of St. Nick (When Santa was a Shaman by Joseph Cusamano is a good start) and the Christmas/Yule tree.
. Empower Yule and Christmas cards with loving energy.
. Empower Yule tree ornaments for prosperity.
. Empower all gifts you give this season with love and happiness.
. Build a Yule altar to honour the spirits of the wolf and the stag.
. Find out what the Belsnickle is and how he fits into the magickal German Yule.
. Recognize that Yule is a time of closure, especially in relation to solar-driven activities in your life - groups and organizations, major work projects, corporations, etc. Gracefully let go of those things that are no longer needed. Add meditation and prayer, tuned to the lowest ebb of solar energies, to your daily activities over this period.
. Begin to keep family traditions associated to the season.
. Yule occurs at the transition of Sagittarius to Capricorn - from a mutable fire sign to an earthy cardinal one. Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, gives us the authority, strength, and business acumen to make wise decisions about our future.
