Blessed Yule

[Louisvillian]

Just wanted to wish everyone here a happy Yule.

Also, since we should have a discussion topic:
how exactly do MW's Wiccan practitioners celebrate this Winter holiday? What do y'all do?

[Lunacie]

My coven celebrated the Winter Solstice and the rebirth of the sun - although we were a bit early having to celebrate on Saturday night. Each person had a candle that we lit during the ritual, and I explained that they were to take the candle home with them (after snuffing of course) and relight it at sunrise on solstice morning to welcome the return of the newborn sun and bring the fire back into their own homes.

The whole ritual was done by candle light which is the first time we've done that. Generally we have torches if we're outdoors, or an electric light if we're indoors. It really set the mood to start with just one small candle inside the cauldron and then add light one candle at a time until the space was glowing, resembling the dawn as the sun comes up.

[Ben Gruagach]

Happy Yule to everyone too!

I'm working as a solitary this year (no coven yet since moving back to Canada...) The coven I worked with in Minnesota did a ritual similar to what Lunacie described, where we lit candles from a central flame and then "took home the need fire" to light there as well.

We would also use some of the rope-lights (clear white sort of frosty colour) laid out in a spiral on the floor and would walk it like a mini labyrinth, then make a wish in the center and leap out in one go. That part might or might not be done within the formal ritual.

And of course there's always the feasting!

This year though I was pretty informal -- it was mostly just going for a chilly walk in the noon sunshine to a special spot on the forest trails near my home here. There are some impressive big trees there, including a really big pine tree at that spot. I paid my respects to the trees and spirits there and wished all a happy new year ahea.

And with the rest of the family stuff coming up (Christmas) I'll be participating in the usual gift-exchange, lots of eating, and basically just hanging out with family and friends.

I'm hoping that next Yule I'll be working with a coven again. Solitary is fine but working with others of like mind is so much invigorating!