Grand Yew Grove
ALBAN ARTHUAN (YULE)

Preparation

Participants are cleansed outside of Western Gate.
* Please wait for Processional to enter the Circle.
· Fire will Smudge Participants.
· Water will Asperge Participants.

Processional

Follow Guide into Circle through Western Gate winding Sunwise. 
Stop when Guide stops:

Guide stops at North to Call for Peace.

Guide: "May there be peace in the North."

Guide stops at East to Call for Peace.

Guide: "May there be peace in the East."

Guide stops at South to Call for Peace.

Guide: "May there be peace in the South."

Guide Stops at West  to Call for Peace.

Guide: "May there be peace in the West."

ALL: Proceed Sunwise around the Circle to even out.

Guide Proceeds to Central Altar - Calls for Peace.

Guide: "May there be peace throughout the whole world."

Lighting of the Ritual Fire

Guide: "As we celebrate Alban Arthuan, let us rekindle the flame within us as we feed the fire of our zeal for the Divine." 
{PAUSE}

Guide: "Not yet a Yule flame flare this night,
as our Log is dark and rests.
May this spark bring Yule to light!
May it's warmth keep us happy and blessed!

This fire on the darkest night,
for the tribe that it consoles,
embodies the ever-living light
that we each carry in our souls.
 
As the flames around us glow,
The Oak King awakes and is reborn.
May the love within us grow,
as the Yule light that is so warm!"

PAUSE - Once fire is lit…

Guide: "Life and light is reborn!"

ALL: "Life and light is reborn!"

Opening of Festival and Welcome

Guide: "In the Druidic Tradition, the Winter Solstice is referred to as "Alban Arthuan" which is Welsh for "Light of Arthur.

The Winter Solstice, the shortest day, the day when the Sun finishes its long retreat into the southern sky and begins to move northward once again, is seen as the birth of the new Sun, or of the Hero who symbolized the Sun in many legends of old. 

This is a time for firelight, feasting and rejoicing as the new sun returns with the promise of Summer to come. 
From this point of light in the midst of darkness unfolds the creation of all things, the revolution of all that is past toward a new good.
 
Let us all proclaim together - Welcome Yule!

ALL: "Welcome Yule!"  
 
Raise Circle of Power

Guide: "Let us raise a Circle of Power to outline our sacred ground by chanting the energy of divine inspiration, the flow of spirit, the essence of life in motion."

ALL: Hold hands and chant "Awen" 9 times.
If unsure how to chant, follow the lead of the Guide.

Earth: Once Chant is complete, ring bell 9 times. (3x3)

Guided Meditation Part One: Charging Participants

Guide: will lead meditation to help participants charge personal energy.

Quarter Calling

Air: "We greet the Spirits of the East, Powers of Air! With your gifts of light and clarity, we hail you and invite you to join us. Send forth your light and bless us with your presence! Hail and Welcome!"

ALL: "Hail and Welcome!"

Fire: "We greet the Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire! With your gifts of passion and love, we hail you and invite you to join us. Send forth your flame and bless us with your presence! Hail and Welcome!"

ALL: "Hail and Welcome!"

Water: "We greet the Spirits of the West, Powers of Water! With your gifts of depth and feeling, we hail you and invite you to join us.  Send forth your flow and bless us with your presence! Hail and Welcome!"

ALL: "Hail and Welcome!"     
          
Earth: "We greet the Spirits of the North, Powers of Earth! With your gifts of substance and life, we hail you and invite you to join us. Send forth your strength and bless us with your presence! Hail and Welcome!"

ALL: "Hail and Welcome!"

Invocation of the Sword of Swords

Guide: Draw the sword from the ground and hold it high.

"Behold the sword, the Sword of Arthur, which rose from the waters and returned to them again."

Place sword, blade flat, on the altar.

Guide: Invite all to approach the altar and place your hand on the blade of the sword, if there is not enough room, place you hand on someone whose hand is touching the blade's shoulder.

Guide: "While this sword is unsheathed, as the kings of old pledged themselves to serve their land and people, will you swear with me your faithful service to the living Earth, our home and mother?"

ALL: "We swear it!"

Guide: Ask all participants to return to their place in Circle.

Deity Evocation

Fire: Evokes Brighid.
 "Brighid, bearer of the inspiration which penetrates the darkness of mind and soul, we invite you, to be with us this night.  We ask you to bless us with Your protection and guidance, that you assist us in keeping our hearts open and joyful, not only to those in our community, but to people all over the world, and to all of creation. Hail and Welcome!"

ALL: "Hail and Welcome!"
     
Air: Evokes Dagda.
"Mighty Dagda, great master of the shining stars and the great deep, High God of the Druid Mysteries. Your cauldron, which is the symbol of the promise that nature will bear fruit once again and care for all living beings on this earth, and grants us blessings this day.  We ask you to bless us with Your protection and guidance, watch over us and the living world, protect, cherish and guide all existences in the turning of the wheel. Hail and Welcome!"

ALL: "Hail and Welcome!"

Guide: "Repeat after me:" Leads the Druids Prayer.

ALL:  "Grant Oh God and Goddess! Thy protection,
And in protection, strength,
And in strength, understanding,
And in understanding, knowledge,
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice,
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it,
And in the love of it, the love of all existences
And in the love of all existences, the love of the God,
Goddess and all goodness."

Moment of Reflection

Guide: "Tonight, on the Eve of the Winter Solstice, the Holly King has reached the end of his reign and bids us farewell giving way for the reign of the Oak King.  The Sun of the old year sinks into darkness and to rest.  We are not frightened of this dark for it is necessary for the Wheel of the Year to turn to Winter and then to Spring. 

Holly and Mistletoe rite
 
Guide: Have a sprig of Holly on the Altar and a Mistletoe sprig in the cauldron on the altar.

"Darkness reigns triumphant, yet gives and changes to light."  

Remove lid from Cauldron.

"The Holly King has gone into the realms of death, yet within the sacred cauldron of rebirth he is once again transformed in the Newborn Oak King" 

Take sprig of Holly from the Altar and place in the Cauldron. 

"All is cold and we await the coming of dawn.  As the Sun rises, the Goddess once more gives birth to the Oak King."

Take sprig of Mistletoe from the Cauldron and place on the Altar.

"In silence and wonder we stand before the Sacred Cauldron of Rebirth, knowing that one day, we too must pass through the cauldron to be reborn."

Place lid on the Cauldron.

The Central Working

Part ONE: Releasing

Guide: "You will be handed a Holly Sprig. Hold it in your hand and charge it with thoughts of something you want to let go of."

PAUSE

Guide: "Those things that we have finished in this cycle, be it emotions, habits, or workings, we give up now to the Holly King who will take them with him to the Summerlands, to be returned to the cauldron of rebirth."

ALL: Once you are done charging your Holly sprig, place into the ritual fire and say
"I Cast this away into the dying darkness!"

        
Guide: Once all participants have cast their sprigs into the fire, remove Holly Sprig from the Cauldron and place in the fire.

Guide: Make Sacrifice to the Holly King. Place a piece of bread from the Altar into the fire.

Guide: "Farewell to the darkness."

ALL: "Farewell to the darkness."

Guide: Pour a small glass of Wine into the fire.

Guide: "Farewell to the Holly King."

ALL: "Farewell to the Holly King."

Part TWO: Growing

Guide: "You will be handed a Mistletoe Sprig. Hold it in your hand and charge it with thoughts of something you want to change in your life.  Once done charging, keep and take home with you. Hang over your front door or Hearth, continue to charge it throughout the season with kisses under the mistletoe, for it is through love that we will find nourishment and change will flourish."
{PAUSE}

Guide: We have rid ourselves of the burdens and obstacles that hold us back and weigh us down. 
Now, from the green realms of the Earth Mother, the spirits of nature gather gifts for our sustenance, each in its own place in the wheel of the turning year. 

We now hail the Oak King, giver of life, who is reborn this night to The Mother Goddess.

Guide: Once you are done charging your Mistletoe sprig, Keep it in your hands and say
"I charge this with new hopes and dreams in the reborn light!"       

Guide: Make Sacrifice to the Oak King. Place a piece of bread from the Altar into the fire.

Guide: "Welcome to the reborn light."

ALL: "Welcome to the reborn light."

Guide: Pour a small glass of Wine into the fire.

Guide: "Welcome to the Oak King."

ALL: "Welcome to the Oak King."

Guide: "Repeat after me:"

ALL: "May the Spirit of Yule remain with us all throughout the year. 
May our obstacles and snares vanish and may our seed take root and flourish. 
May we be blessed by the God and Goddess each and every day."

Power Raising

Guide: IMPROV - Why do we raise energy and how. This is done as an instructional to help better inform newcomers and visitors.

ALL: Sing - The Lord of the Dance

"I danced in the morning
when the world was begun,
I danced with the moon
and the stars and the sun.

I was called from the darkness
by the song of the earth,
I joined in the singing
and She gave me birth.

         
(CHORUS)
"Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
for I am the Lord of the Dance" said He.
"I'll lead you all wherever you may be,   
and I'll lead you all in the dance" said He.

I sleep in the kernel
and I dance in the rain,
I dance in the Sun
and through the weaving grain.

And when you cut me down
do not think I am gone,
for I am the dance
and I still go on.

(CHORUS)
"Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
for I am the Lord of the Dance" said He.
"I'll lead you all wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance" said He.

We dance even slower
as the leaves fall and spin,
and the sound of the horn
is the wailing of the wind.

And the call of the hunter
as he rides across the plain,
while the whole earth sleeps
'til the Spring comes again.

(CHORUS)
"Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
for I am the Lord of the Dance" said He.
"I'll lead you all wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance" said He.   

The Sun is in the southlands
but the days lengthen fast,
and soon we will sing
for the Winter that is past.

"I will live in you
If you live in me,
For I am the Lord of the Dance"
Said He.

(CHORUS)
"Dance, dance, wherever you may be,
for I am the Lord of the Dance" said He.
"I'll lead you all wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance" said He."

Release of Deities

Air: Releases Dagda.

"Mighty Dagda, Your presence has protected us, guided us and blessed us on this night in our celebration of the Sun's return.  We thank you for summoning the seasons and for your blessings of knowledge, inspiration and magic."

Air: makes Sacrifice to Dagda. Place a piece of bread from the Altar into the fire.

Air: "Dagda, Accept our Sacrifice."

ALL: "Accept our Sacrifice."

Air: Pour a small glass of Wine into the fire.

Air: "Farewell Mighty Red One of Great Knowledge."

ALL: "Farewell Mighty Red One of Great Knowledge."
       
Fire: Releases Brighid

"Great Brighid.  Your presence has held us, protected us, guided us and blessed us on this night in our celebration of the Sun's return.  We thank you for your blessings of grace, goodness and wisdom."

Fire: Makes sacrifice to Brighid.  Place a piece of bread from the Altar into the fire.

Fire: "Brighid, accept our sacrifice."

ALL:  "Accept our sacrifice!"

Fire: Pour a small glass of wine into the fire.

Fire: "Farewell Bright Goddess of the Gael!"

ALL: "Farewell Bright Goddess of the Gael."

Bread and Wine

Release of Quarters

Earth: Releases North.

"We thank the Spirits of the North, Powers of Earth! Your presence with us this night has anchored and strengthened us. We thank you for your many blessings! Hail and Farewell!"

ALL: "Hail and Farewell!"

Water: Releases West.

"We thank the Spirits of the West, Powers of Water! Your presence with us this night has soothed and cradled us. We thank you for your many blessings! Hail and Farewell!"

ALL: "Hail and Farewell!"
         
Fire: Releases South.
        
"We thank the Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire! Your presence with us this night has opened our hearts to life and love. We thank you for your many blessings! Hail and Farewell!"

ALL: "Hail and Farewell!"

Air: Releases East.

"We thank the Spirits of the East, Powers of Air! Your presence with us this night has anchored brought the first stirrings of the new Sun. We thank you for your many blessings! Hail and Farewell!"

ALL: "Hail and Farewell!"

Release of Sword of Swords

Guide: Take the sword and holding it high, say:

"From the rising sun, three rays of light.
From the living earth, three stones of witness.
From the eye and mind and hand of wisdom
Three rowan staves of all knowledge.
May the sword of swords clear this space
of any left over energy."

ALL: "May the sword of swords clear this space of any left over energy."

Guide: Place Sword into the Earth.

Guided Meditation Part Two: Grounding

Guide: Will lead group meditation to assist participants in grounding energy.

Release Circle

Guide: "Let us release our Circle of Power."

Earth: Ring bell 9 times. (3x3)

Guide: Leads the Druid's Oath

ALL:  "We swear by peace and love to stand,
 Heart to heart, and hand to hand.
 Mark, oh Spirit! And hear us now,
 Confirming this our sacred vow!"

Recessional

Guide: "Our celebration of Alban Arthuan ends in peace as in peace it began.  May it's inspiration live on in our thoughts, our hearts and our lives."

Air: "It is ended."

Water: "It never ends!"

Guide: Leads recessional widdershins around and out west gate.