Yule 1998
by Gabby, Liz and Craig

Welcome…

You are about to undertake a journey towards the solstice.. a journey that will see you explore the elements… creating gifts from the elements within you, offerings to hang upon the Yule tree to encourage the  sun to return… to be reborn.. You will run with the hunt as we seek the stag of mid winter….

BREAK INTO GROUPS

FIRE:

Follow me into the realm of Fire. From fire and passion we will create gifts to hang on the tree, gifts from the firey parts of ourselves.. gifts that are hot and spicy and passionate. It is this that we give so that the sun may return at the end of the longest night.

Seat people in a rough circle so they can reach the items they need to make the gifts. Each person receives a chili, some feathers, beads and a pre cut strip of thonging and a copper disc. 

Tie the chili with the thonging. Add beads and the copper disc.. tie a knot above the last bead. Place  some glue on then end of the feathers and place the feathers through the hole of the bottom bead. 

Pass oil around to anoint the gifts.

When everyone has finished making their gifts get them to empower the gifts by rubbing their hands together to create the energy….  When they feel the energy between their hands get them to visualise a ball of fire between their palms…. Then turning their palms face down over their gifts get them to stream the energy of fire into their object.

“Passions fire, flames delight… we give the gift of fire this night”

It is done…. Make you way down to the tree.

AIR:

Follow me into the realm of Air. From air and wisdom we will create gifts to hang on the tree, gifts from the intellectual parts of ourselves.. gifts that contain our knowledge. It is this that we give so that the sun may return at the end of the longest night.

Seat people in a rough circle so they can reach the items they need to make the gifts. Each person receives some hazelnuts, some feathers, beads and a pre cut strip of thonging and a copper disc. 

Tie the nuts with the thonging. Add beads and the copper disc.. tie a knot above the last bead. Place  some glue on then end of the feathers and place the feathers through the hole of the bottom bead. 

Pass oil around to anoint the gifts.

When everyone has finished making their gifts get them to empower the gifts by  passing the smudge over  each object (pass it around the circle) Then get them to start breathing in 234 hold 234 out 234 hold 234 in etc….  till they enter altered breath state.. then get them to blow onto their gifts to fill them with air… 

“Knowledge  blows in scented delight…  we give the gift of air this night”

It is done…. Make you way down to the tree.

WATER:

Follow me into the realm of Water. From change and emotions we will create gifts to hang on the tree, gifts from the watery parts of ourselves.. gifts that encompass our feelings,. It is this that we give so that the sun may return at the end of the longest night.

Seat people in a rough circle so they can reach the items they need to make the gifts. Each person receives a shell, some feathers, beads and a pre cut strip of thonging and a copper disc. 

Tie the shell with the thonging. Add beads and the copper disc.. tie a knot above the last bead. Place  some glue on the end of the feathers and place the feathers through the hole of the bottom bead. 

Pass oil around to anoint the gifts.

When everyone has finished making their gifts get them to empower the gifts by passing a bowl of watwer around the circle and getting everyone to stir it to raise energy into the bowl. The bowl goes around a second time and everyone sprinkles water onto their gifts…

“Emotions stirred in clear delight, we give the gift of water this night”

It is done…. Make you way down to the tree.

EARTH:

Follow me into the realm of Earth. From strength and growth we will create gifts to hang on the tree, gifts from the grounded parts of ourselves.. gifts that are our connection to this place. It is this that we give so that the sun may return at the end of the longest night.

Seat people in a rough circle so they can reach the items they need to make the gifts. Each person receives a stone, some feathers, beads and a pre cut strip of thonging and a copper disc. 

Tie the stone with the thonging. Add beads and the copper disc.. tie a knot above the last bead. Place  some glue on the end of the feathers and place the feathers through the hole of the bottom bead. 

Pass oil around to anoint the gifts.

When everyone has finished making their gifts get them to empower the gifts  by passing around a bowl of earth, they run their hands through the soil, empowering growth, the bowl goes round a gain and they take some earth and rub it on their gifts… 

“Life grows in strengths delight… we give the gift of earth this night”

It is done…. Make you way down to the tree.

At the tree.. talk  about the tree. Each person to hang their gift upon the tree. When all have done this.. pass around the brew.. all to drink or to libate to the tree. 

The hunt comes past.. stealthily… then they move off through the bush.. all to follow down to the main ritual site where they run the circle once. The hunt moves off .. all to stand in the circle. Whilst they are catching their breath they are anointed with clary sage… they sit and the meditation begins.

Stag Meditation

During the meditation the hunt returns… when they open their eyes they see the hunters kills the stag… they are sent back down into the meditation and the hunters and stag move off.. 

When the meditation ends… the fire dancer comes in and runs the circle with flame…. The elemental guardians move to the quarters… the fire dance beings and ends with the lighting of the bonfire…