Joy To the World, the Light Is Born! Blessed Yule!

Brightener of Darkness, hail!
Keeper of Clearness, Opener of the Depths.
Presents of loads are arising,
Winter wonders, white snows’ fall.
Joyful be the center inside us,
Open large the guesting door,
Knowledge waken in abundance,
Heat our beings to the core.
Caitlín Matthews, Celtic Devotional: Every day Prayers and Blessings

Ring the bells of pleasure and blessings! Now we be part of collectively as our ancestors of outdated did, to have fun one of many happiest days of the 12 months.

That is the time of the Promise fulfilled, the blessings of recent beginnings. As our intention has mentioned, as we lit our Introduction Solar Wheel, we are the bringers of the daybreak, the sunshine bearers of hope. We have now invoked the irrepressible dawning of therapeutic, grace, and rebirth. (Extra about tonight’s ceremony beneath).

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the 12 months within the Northern Hemisphere.

The exact second of the 2023 Solstice arrives on the East coast of the U.S. tonight, Dec. 21, at 10:27 pm, or tomorrow, December 22, 2019 at 03:27 GMT.

At this second, the Solar will transfer into the signal of Capricorn (by tropical astrology reckoning). Winter arrives because the Solar reaches the 270° level on the zodiac wheel. Thus begins the return in direction of the 0° level, which can be reached at Spring Equinox.

Winter Solstice, which is often known as Xmas, Xmas Night time or Julblot, Winter Ceremony, Midwinter, and the Druids’ Alban Arthan, marks the longest evening of the 12 months. After a pause — the phrase “solstice” comes from the Latin which means “Solar standing nonetheless” —  the times will start to develop longer and the dead nights will lower. We might not discover for some time, however by Imbolc, in six weeks, it will likely be apparent, and but extra trigger for celebration.

By the way in which — finest needs to all our buddies who reside beneath the Equator! You might be celebrating your Summer time Solstice this merry day! Completely happy Litha to you!

Historical Day of Energy Across the World

That is probably the most common and oldest recognized holy day of all humanity. There are written information 4,000 years outdated describing Mesopotamian rites carried out to have fun the tip of the darkening. And there are even older historic constructions around the globe that had been designed to mark the Solar’s placement on this present day.

For example, Sí an Bhrú, recognized in English as Newgrange, is a gorgeous Neolithic web site in Eire. It’s a enormous round stone construction, estimated to be 5,200 years outdated. It’s centuries older than Stonehenge, and older than the Egyptian pyramids.

It was constructed to obtain a shaft of daylight deep into its central chamber at daybreak on Winter Solstice. Round 235,000 folks go to Newgrange and its neighboring passage graves at Knowth and Dowth every year.

An identical shaft seems at Winter Solstice within the distant, Neolithic Maeshowe mound of the Orkney Islands, far to the north of Scotland, to bless the beloved lifeless every year.

In actual fact, lots of of different prehistoric constructions all through the world are oriented to the solstices and the equinoxes. The sector of archaeoastronomy research such sacred websites within the Americas, Asia, Indonesia, and the Center East.

Latest analysis into the medieval Nice Zimbabwe in sub-Saharan Africa (often known as the “African Stonehenge”) signifies an analogous function. In North America, one of the well-known such websites is the Solar Dagger of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, constructed a thousand years in the past by the traditional folks recognized by the Hopi tribes because the Hisatsinom, whose descendants are immediately’s Pueblo folks.

In a lot of Asia, this observance is called Dongzh. In response to the late astrologer Jon Cainer, in Japan, that is Toji. “World wide,” he writes, “in very alternative ways, billions of us mark the second of the Solstice, the turning level of the Solar.

“Related deities and festivals embrace Beiwe (Scandinavia), Chaomos (Pakistan), Goru (Mali), Junkanoo (West Africa), Brumalia (Greece), Lucia (Scandinavia), Meán Geimhridh (Celtic nations), Modranicht (Germany), Rozhanitsa (Russia), Shab-e Chelleh (Iran), Şeva Zistanê (Kurdish), Soyal (Hopi Indians), We Tripantu (Southern Chile) and Ziemassvetki (Latvia).”

Some even speculate that Hanukkah, the Jewish competition of lights, was additionally initially a Solstice competition. Xmas and Saturnalia positively had been. And Christmas nonetheless is!

The Winter Solstice Sabbat is joyfully celebrated by Pagans and Witches all through the world, in addition to numerous rural and indigenous individuals who rely upon the rhythms of the seasons.

On this longest evening of the 12 months, on the edge of Winter, we have fun the rebirth of the divine Solar Youngster, the Oak King, the Giver of Life.

The Last Candle of Our Solstice Solar Wheel

Tonight at nightfall, or, if you happen to desire, for the time being of Solstice, we are going to full our advent Sun Wheel magical working, until you’re observing Christmas. If that’s the case, you’ll gentle (or re-ignite) your last candles on Sunday the twenty fourth, Christmas Eve, after which on Christmas Day.

However for tonight’s candle lighting, collect with all who’re close to and pricey to you, together with all of us — the thousands of other participants on this ceremony around the globe. Should you like, you might also invite the one that you love lifeless, as this pause of the Solar is a holy time of energy — the veils between the worlds open.

That is the vacancy, the standing nonetheless of the Solar, the house between breaths, the place Magic occurs. Enter this darkish Thriller together with your shining candle, your personal sensible spirit.

Name as soon as extra to the Guardians and Parts of East/Air, South/Hearth, West/Water, and North/Earth. Or in case you have assigned different meanings for the 4 peripheral candles, in fact, invoke these energies.

Lastly, the time has come to gentle the ultimate Candle of Middle, which might be for Spirit, the Aethers, the Cauldron, or Thriller. Or you could want it to easily symbolize Centering, Love, Rebirth, or Hope.

Kindle the flame of Middle and name upon all your Divine Ones, essentially the most holy Ones to whom you’re devoted.

It doesn’t matter what the unsure future might maintain in retailer, with our gentle, our prayers, and our intention, now we have joined collectively in love.

Please Bear in mind This

As darkish as our world could also be proper now, our Grandmother Gaia teaches us Her everlasting fact: day-to-day, little by little, regardless of how carefully despair might nibble at our heels, regardless of how fierce the raging, approaching storms of Winter might show, the Gentle has not died.

Watch now, and maintain quick. For we, as ladies and men and households of spirit, have woven collectively a mighty alignment to that vivid promise. On this evening we’re given the traditional reminder of Life’s insurmountable triumph.

Even our buddies within the Southern Hemisphere have helped assist this highly effective international prayer and magic. Collectively allow us to all bid welcome to the Youngster of Gentle.

Tonight, converse of your coronary heart’s biggest want. Keep in mind that that is the most magical second when needs do come true. As you’ve spoken it, so it shall be carried out.

Our candles now burn brightly and illuminate the promise of the times forward. Let the shadows and mourning now start to disperse, in concord with essentially the most historic rhythms of the Earth’s knowledge.

The Circle is full and the Middle is ablaze. The Divine Delivery is right here! All of existence celebrates this miracle.

Ring your Solstice bells!

Write down on paper all you want to say farewell ceaselessly to and toss it, alongside together with your outdated Xmas greenery from final 12 months, into your blazing fireside.

Go exterior and shout, drum, gentle your bonfires, give choices and due to the Beloved Ones!

Make merry and rejoice! The joyful days of Xmas have begun.

We have now united collectively throughout the worlds, throughout time, every with each other, and with Love Herself.

Thanks to every one who’ve shared your magic, good power, and loving prayers in our rites this very particular nineteenth anniversary of our international Solar Wreath ceremony.

Please mark your shiny new 2024 calendars — our massive twentieth Anniversary will start Solar Day, November 24, Goddess prepared.

Might the Lord and the Girl deliver you renewal, mirth, and gladness!

Blessed be!