WINTER SOLSTICE 21/22ND DECEMBER

Temperance

rite suggests: Small gift each Holly and ivy - the symbol of life - Mistletoe - protection from thunder and lightning - Pine or Larch sprigs - Tinsel - Pipe, drum - Incense - Candles- yellow red blue green white - Wine and cake - Hyssop rue - Spring water and red flannel for spell.

THE SOLSTICE RITE

Everyone decorates the room and puts a red candle in the cauldron
East-yellow south-red west-blue north-green
Light incense
Someone enters the room and sits down
drumming and piping outside the circle
priestess puts Hyssop water and towel
at North and a cup of spring water in center on a table with the white candles
Everyone now enters the circle washing their hands and face in Hyssop water
Consecrate water - Charge up wands

Open circle

Priestess walks round circle with Wand held out in front of her saying
why we are here and what we are doing
She then goes to the table that has the Red cauldron candle
she holds it up and beckons one from the east to light their white candle from i

They then return to their place

Close the rite

Re-open circle
Sing yule songs and give gifts
Eat, drink and say

Hail to the returning sun
We drink to the old Gods
To the holly and the oak and the Lady
A merry Yule to all:
Turn North and say chants:
EVE.
The geese fly high this solstice morn
The woods are bare the snow is deep
We wait for Herne to sound his horn
To wake his children up from sleep
To celebrate this happy night
When winter may be put to flight.

SOLSTICE CHANT
Geese and standing stones and mist
Baying hounds and hooting owl
Sparkling stars and snow that`s crisp
Herne is here, bring forth the bowl

The Rite is Ended