Yule 2001

Cast
Narrator
Goddess
4 Handmaidens
4 Hunters
4 Elemental Herbalists

Ritual Space - Main Site
1 Central firepit with bonfire built but unlit
4 smaller firepits with wood stacked beside them. Aligned to East, North, West & South
Kero
Have any firedancing tools and fuel already down at the main site.

Ritual Space - Goddess’ bower 
1 small firepit or cauldron
Throne and bower
1 large curtain to cover the stage area

Props
4 Handmaidens - Each has burgundy elemental tabard and a spear. Decorate each maiden in the colours of her element.

4 Hunters - Each has black elemental tabard and a torch. Each hunter is decorated by their clan in the elemental colour. They also carry the talisman / gift that is given to them at the send off.

4 Elemental Herbalists - Each of these has a range of ingredients that can be used to charge up their hunter. It is up to each group to work out how they wish this charging to take place. The Herbalist is there to guide but not take over.

All to gather outside the main hall. Have the hunters and herbalists stand together in their clan and call each of the clans to them.

The Goddess and her maidens are hidden at the bower.

Narrator comes forward to set the scene.

Narrator:	We stand at the time of the longest night… the shortest day. Already the shadows hang long upon the Land.

In mourning, the Goddess descended to the Otherworld to be with her Lord. There they enacted the sacred marriage and from their union comes the Child whose birth we eagerly await.

It is time for the Sun to be born anew, the Child of Promise, the first spark of flame and light in a world cold with Winter’s embrace.

The Goddess awaits the birth of her Son, surrounded by her handmaidens. They wait in the darkness and the cold for new light to be born… the son, lover husband whose story is an eternal dance on the ever spinning wheel.

From the darkness of the Longest night, birthed from the Otherworld - the Sun will be reborn…

And so the blood of the Goddess falls upon the snows of winter, the Child is born… the light returns to the world remembered by journeys of sacrifice and blessing, of beauty and of strength.

To this we ask you to bear witness, to bring the gift of warmth and light into yourselves…

You stand arrayed in your Clans, sacred to each of the elements. One from each of your Clans has been chosen to make the journey to the Goddess’s realm in token for you all. There to give a gift of the element and if they pass the trials set, to bring a spark of the flame back to warm you as sit by your cold hearths in the depths of winter.

Whilst one only from each Clan may make the journey, it is up to each of you to prepare your Hunter, to charge him with the powers of your element and your Clan. To make of the gift a talisman to see him safely to his goal.

Go forth to make your magick, when you are done… return here and together we will journey to a place of farewelling where each Clan will come forth to farewell their Hunter in ritual… and there await the return of the Light.

All of the Clans go off to Charge their Hunters.

Bell is rung for their return.

Narrator:	Now we journey to the place of farewelling. Follow me. Air Clan, then Fire Clan, Water Clan then Earth.

Arrive at the fire pits. Walk the circle around.

Narrator:	Here is the seat of the Air Clan. Guard it well.
Here is the seat of the Fire Clan. Guard it well.
Here is the seat of the Water Clan. Guard it well
Here is the seat of the Earth Clan. Guard it well.

Narrator:	Each of you have rort the magicks of your element. Time it is now to farewell your Hunters, to send them on their sacred journey. I will call each Clan forth to perform their ritual of farewell. Let the Hunters seek the flame.

	I Call upon the Air clan to bid your Hunter Fair Well.

Air clan performs ritual.

Narrator:	I Call upon the Fire clan to bid your Hunter Fair Well.

Fire clan performs ritual.

Narrator:	I Call upon the Water clan to bid your Hunter Fair Well.

Water clan performs ritual.

Narrator:	I Call upon the Earth clan to bid your Hunter Fair Well.

Earth clan performs ritual.

Hunters go to seek the flame.

Narrator:	Sit by your hearths in the darkness and the cold. Think of what the return of the flame means to you.

	Give these thoughts to the building of the sacred fire… Make a gift of each stick of wood you place within the circle of stones… ready to receive the warmth and light borne by your Hunters.

Hunters come back bearing torches of flame.

Narrator:	Look, the Hunters return

All Cheer

Each Hunter returns to his Clan and lights the sacred fire.
(The following is enacted simultaneously at each firepit)

Herbalist:	Hunter, we thank you for returning with the flame… will you tell us your story?

Hunter tells what happened to him.

Narrator steps forward.

Narrator:	Great Goddess, we thank you for your gift of flame and we honour the Child born at Midwinter.

One fire remains ulit - the fire of Spirit - the unification of the elements. Great Goddess, we ask for your blessing to send the light around the world.

Goddess and her maidens appear. Goddess stands upon the firepit. Maidens dance around the firepit.

Goddess:	I have come… In celebration of the Sun’s birth and in recognition of the bravery of your hunters - I will aid you.

Goddess calls each maiden in turn and they hear their element they stop dancing and move to their clan,.

Goddess:	Air… Fire… Water… Earth

Maidens give candles to each clan member.

Maidens:	Take this candle that you may send the light into the world. Hail the returning Sun.

Form a circle around the fire pit. Each clan to stand to the right of their fire.

Goddess:	Clan of Air… send forth your light.

Light first candle and send flame around. When it gets to the Fire clan, Goddess speaks again.

Goddess:	Clan of Fire… send forth your light.

Light first candle and send flame around. When it gets to the Water clan, Goddess speaks again.

Goddess:	Clan of Water… send forth your light.

Light first candle and send flame around. When it gets to the Earth clan, Goddess speaks again.

Goddess:	Clan of Earth… send forth your light.

Light first candle and send flame around. 

Everyone now stands as a ring of light.

Goddess:	Hunters and Maidens. You who once stood in challenge to each other - bring forth the flame to join the clans in spirit.

Hunters and maidens take each torch and light the central flame.

Goddess:	It is done.

All to dance and drum around the fire.

Place candles in a ring around the fire pit and dance.

Narrator:	All Hail the Returning Sun… All Hail the Goddess… Let the warmth and light encircle our world once more!!!

Blessed Be and Happy Yule!