Yule 2010

I was looking online for short easy ideas, partly because of time constraints and constant demands from Alexiss, the other is to hopefully start new traditions that are short to hold her attention span as a young child. These two following rites trigger taking a moment to reflect on the change of the solstice and balance day/night with dark/light. I really love how they work together so amazingly well. It also is family friendly for my house because it honors the Solstice without Gods/Goddesses so my Christian mate could also participate and not feel uncomfortable. This was snarfed from another site:

"Winter day of longest night, Step aside now for the light. Thank you for the things you've brought. That only darkness could have wrought."

Then name all the gifts of darkness that you can think of - regeneration, peace, dreams, organization, quietude, and so on - before drinking the juice.

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At night I had intended to simply this rite and not include a feast as suggested on the original site.

1. Cover your table or altar with candles. Use as many as you like; they don't have to match. In the center, place a sun candle** on a riser, so it's above the rest. Don't light any of the candles just yet.

2. Turn off all the other lights, and face your altar.

   Face the candles, and say:

   The wheel of the year has turned once more,
   and the nights have grown longer and colder.
   Tonight, the darkness begins to retreat,
   and light begins its return once again.
   As the wheel continues to spin,
   the sun returns to us once more.
   
   

3. Light the sun candle, and say:

   Even in the darkest hours,
   even in the longest nights,
   the spark of life lingered on.
   Laying dormant, waiting, ready to return
   when the time was right.
   The darkness will leave us now,
   as the sun begins its journey home.
   
   

4. Beginning with the candles closest to the sun candle, and working your way outward, light each of the other candles. As you light each one, say:

   As the wheel turns, light returns.

   Repeat this until all the candles are lit and burning. Then say:

   The light of the sun has returned to us,
   bringing life and warmth with it.
   The shadows will vanish, and life will continue.
   We are blessed by the light of the sun.

5. Take a moment to think about what the return of the sun means to you. The return of the light meant many things to different cultures. How does it affect you, and your loved ones?
   

   When you're done, extinguish the candles from the outside of the altar working towards the center, leaving the sun candle for last.

Tips:

1. ** A sun candle is simply a candle you've designated to represent the sun in ritual. It can be in a sunny color -- gold or yellow -- and if you like, you can inscribe it with solar siguils.

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I'm including this to record it should it ever come to be that we have a real tree, but we don't due to a kitty. And we can't put anything like this on the floor because of the same kitty, but I like this little prayer when cutting a yule tree..

Evergreen, evergreen, big fat tree!
I ask you now please to come home with me!
We'll cover you with ornaments and lots of pretty lights,
and let you shine about our house at Yule, the longest night!
Thank you, tree, thank you tree, for the gift you give today,
we'll plant another in your name, when spring comes our way!

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