2020 Yule Ritual

WiCoM Yule December 19 2020

WiCoM will host a Yule Ritual this year. Unfortunately, with COVID-19 running, it will not be possible to meet in person. However, as our society has evolved and learned to do many things virtually, like so many other churches, WiCoM will host their ritual both virtually and offline.

For those who do not have the technology or do not care to meet online, please print the ritual out below and perform this in your own space. Ideally, you would perform the ritual at the same time as the virtual ritual, at 7:00pm on Saturday, December 19. However, it is just as effective and valid if performed at other times more convenient. The ritual magick and the influence of the gods is outside the stream of time and space that confines us – so long as you have the proper intention, your ritual is completely valid. And, if you so choose, your energies can be combined with the rest of those participating.

For those who would like to participate more in the Zoom meeting, I will be hosting the ritual on Zoom. If you would like to be a part of the Zoom ritual, please email me at [email protected] . I will send out a link to the Zoom meeting a few days before the ritual. If you can get your personal altar pictured in the Zoom meeting (or use a picture as your background), this would certainly add to the energy of the ritual. But, in these times, we make do with what we have.

Feel free to email any questions beforehand.

This year’s WiCoM Yule will be very similar to last year’s Yule ritual but this is intentional. When I led this ritual last year, I entered without much experience in Norse traditions. However, I made a strong connection to Odin in the ritual and pledged myself to work with him over the coming year. During this past year I have read a number of books on the Norse tradition, learned the Runes, and worked a great number of rituals with Odin. As this Yule marks the completion of my yearlong working with Odin, it seemed appropriate to me to commemorate the ritual with something similar.

Altar setup

Each participant should set up their altar, if they choose to do so, in the fashion that seems most appropriate to them and with the materials that they have available. Below are suggestions for what individuals may want to use, but to each to their own.

• Decorate the altar with traditional Yule greens.
• Include pictures or other representations of the mothers on the altar (see description below)
• Incense – Cedar Wood
• Mead for the beverage, if possible. (You will need enough for 3 rounds of toasting, plus cakes and ale so make sure you have a good supply! Don’t worry, the advantage of virtual rituals is that no one has to drive home afterward!
• Cakes as appropriate.

Ritual

• HPS Banish
• HP Cast Circle
• HPS Purify
• HP Call Quarters

• Invoke Deities

• HPS – Ancients
• HP – Odin
• HPS – Freya

Opening song

Ancient Mother, I hear you calling
Ancient Mother, I sing your song
Ancient Mother, I share your laughter
Ancient Mother, I taste your tears

Introduction

In mainstream society, Yule is almost synonymous with Christmas, but this was not always so. If we look into the history books, we find that the roots of the Yule tradition originate in Northern Europe. Mainstream Christmas today is dominated by Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus). But, as with many other Christian saints, there was a Saint Nicholas long before there was a physical human being named Saint Nicholas. Tracing this back, we see that many sources claim that the original Father Christmas, was the Yule Father, or the All Father – Odin or Wotan. Likewise, we find that Yule originates in the Norse lands as well.

Originally, Yule was a two month period of celebrations, sacrifices, and ritual that roughly corresponds to mid-November to Mid-January. Scholars have connected the events of the Yule time period to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and increased supernatural activity, such as the increased activities of draugar—undead beings who walk the earth. But in the heart of the Yule season was Mōdraniht, Mütternacht or the Night of Mothers, a festival held during the winter solstice. In this night the old founding mothers of the clan or tribe are revered, together with ancient mothers of many previous generations, the mother goddess Frigg and other deities of Roman influence known by the name of Matres or Matronae. Those women, also named Disen, were in charge of protecting the countryside and the clan and help maintain the clan welfare and fertility . They were also the guardians of the field and the ones who helped women to give birth and protected men in war and in the hard work.

So we see that while Modern paganism may emphasize the rebirth of the Sun at Yule, traditionally, it is more a celebration of the Mother, the bringer of life. In Wiccan terms, it is not so much a celebration of the Oak King’s birth as a celebration of the Mother who gives him birth.

Join us then, this evening for a celebration of the mother. I hope that you have brought images remembrances of your mothers, that we may honor those of the past. Join us in a ritual to honor the mothers past, celebrate the mothers present and empower the mothers in the coming year to protect our collective welfare.

To honor the Mothers, we will have a Sumbel. A Sumbel is a tradition of the Norse where a drinking horn is passed around the circle for toasts three times. Typically, the first round is to honor the gods, the second to honor the ancestors, and the third to make oaths for the coming year.

Tonight, we will have a modified Sumbel. The first and third rounds will remain the same. But for the second round, let us honor Mothers, past and present. We will pass around a drinking horn and an unleaded version. Vocal toasts are encouraged, but silent ones are acceptable as well. And you can feel free to pass at any time.

Also, as it is difficult to have a ‘circle’ when meeting virtually, I will begin each round of toasts and then I will in turn call upon one person at a time to give the next toast. Again, there is no pressure to actually give a toast, if you are not so inclined.

Sumbel

• The First Round – Dedicated to the Gods and Goddesses – they are hailed at this time.

• The Second Round – Dedicated to the mothers, past and present – they are hailed at this time.

• The Third Round – This is the time for all to make oaths, speak poetry, sing a song, etc.

Closing Song

We All Come From The Goddess
And To Her We Shall Return
Like A Drop Of Rain,
Flowing To The Ocean

Hoof and horn, Hoof and horn
All that dies shall be reborn
Corn and grain, Corn and grain
All that falls shall rise again

We All Come From The Goddess
And To Her We Shall Return
Like A Drop Of Rain,
Flowing To The Ocean

Sage and Crone, Sage and Crone,
Wisdom’s gift shall be our own.
Crone and Sage, Crone and Sage,
Wisdom is the gift of age.

We All Come From The Goddess
And To Her We Shall Return
Like A Drop Of Rain,
Flowing To The Ocean

Closing Ritual

• Cakes and Ale
• Devoke Deities
• Dismiss Quarters
• Open Circle