Strike the Harp and Join the Chorus! Blessed Be and Merry Yule!

Brightener of Darkness, hail!
Keeper of Clearness, Opener of the Depths.
Gifts of plenty are arising,
Winter wonders, white snows’ fall.
Joyful be the heart within us,
Open wide the guesting door,
Wisdom waken in abundance,
Warm our beings to the core.
The ever sublime Caitlín Matthews, Celtic Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings

Ring the bells of joy and blessings! Throw open the Gates of Dawn ~ on this day, the Light is born!

Let us gather as our ancestors of old did, to celebrate one of the happiest days in the Pagan calendar!

This is the time of the Promise fulfilled, the blessings of new beginnings. As our intention has said, as we lit our Sun Wheel, we are the bringers of the dawn, the light bearers of hope.

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The precise moment of the 2022 Solstice arrives Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 4:48pm, Eastern Standard Time.

At this moment, the Sun will move into the sign of Capricorn. Winter arrives as the Sun reaches the 270° point on the zodiac wheel. Thus begins the return towards the 0° point, which will be reached at Spring Equinox.

Winter Solstice, which is also known as Yule, Yule Night or Julblot, Winter Rite, Midwinter, and the Druids’ Alban Arthan, marks the longest night of the year, after which time the days will begin to grow longer and the hours of darkness decrease.

And Hail and Happy Summer Solstice to our friends who live below the Equator!

In the Southern Hemisphere, today is their longest day and shortest night. May they, too, feast, dance, and give thanks for the shining Life and Love that interconnects us all.

Wishing you dear ones a most blessed Litha! Thank you for being our faithful keepers of the Light as we lit our Solstice Sun Wheel wreaths!

Ancient Day of Power Around the World

This is possibly the most universal and oldest known holy day of all humanity, based on written records of 4,000 year old Mesopotamian rites performed to celebrate the end of the darkening. There are many ancient structures around the world that were designed to mark the Sun’s placement on this day.

For instance, shown here is Newgrange, a beautiful Neolithic site in Ireland, is a huge circular stone structure, estimated to be 5,200 years old. It is centuries older than Stonehenge, and older than the Egyptian pyramids.

It was built to receive a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber at dawn on Winter Solstice. Around 235,000 people visit Brú Na Bóinne (Newgrange) and its neighboring passage graves at Knowth and Dowth each year.

Hundreds of other prehistoric structures throughout the world are oriented to the solstices and the equinoxes. The field of archaeoastronomy studies such sacred sites in the Americas, Asia, Indonesia, and the Middle East.

Recent research into the medieval Great Zimbabwe in sub-Saharan Africa (also known as the “African Stonehenge”) indicates a similar purpose. In North America, one of the most famous such sites is the Sun Dagger of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, built a thousand years ago by the Chacoans, ancestors of the Pueblo people.

In much of Asia, it’s known as Dongzh. According to astrologer Jon Cainer, in Japan, this is Toji. “Around the world,” he writes, “in very different ways, billions of us mark the moment of the Solstice, the turning point of the Sun. Associated deities and festivals include Beiwe (Scandinavia), Chaomos (Pakistan), Goru (Mali), Junkanoo (West Africa), Brumalia (Greece), Lucia (Scandinavia), Meán Geimhridh (Celtic countries), 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 festival of lights, was also originally a Solstice festival. Yule and Saturnalia definitely were. And Christmas still is!

The Winter Solstice Sabbat of Yule is joyfully celebrated by Pagans and Witches throughout the world, as well as rural and indigenous peoples who pay attention to the rhythms of the seasons.

On this longest night of the year, we celebrate the rebirth of the divine Sun Child, the Oak King, the Giver of Life.

The Final Candle of Our Solstice Sun Wheel

Either at the moment of Solstice according to your own local time, or else tonight at dusk, we will complete our advent Sun Wheel magical working (unless you are observing Christmas ONLY, or some other holiday also). If so, you’ll light the final candle then. If you’re celebrating both, then by all means light it tonight, and then at Christmas!

Gather with loving hearts all who are near you, embodied, or perhaps not, for this pause as the Sun comes to a stop is a holy time of power — the gates between the worlds are open.

And remember, there are now thousands of dear souls around the world, from Africa to Alaska; from Austria to Australia — all weaving this ceremonial web that is staggered across time zones, but one in its great unity with you.

Let your heart be filled by this quiet knowing.

Now is the emptiness, the pause of power growing — the standing still of the Sun, the space between breaths, where Magic happens. Enter this dark Mystery with your shining candle, your own brilliant spirit.

Whether you choose Solstice moment this afternoon, or later at sunset, call once more to the Guardians and Elements of East/Air, South/Fire, West/Water, and North/Earth. Or if you have assigned other meanings for the four peripheral candles, of course, invoke those energies.

Finally, the time has come to light the center candle, which would be for Spirit, the Aethers, the Cauldron of Transformation, the Mother’s Womb, or Mystery. Or you may wish it to simply represent Rebirth or Hope.

Kindle the flame of Center and call upon all your Divine Ones, the most holy Ones to whom you are devoted.

No matter what the coming Winter and the longer future may hold in store, with our light, our prayers, and our intention, we have joined together in love. We are welcoming the Child of Light.

Speak of your heart’s greatest wish. Remember that this is the most magical moment when wishes do come true. As you have spoken it, so it shall be done.

Our candles now burn brightly and illuminate the promise of the days ahead. The Circle is complete and the Center is ablaze. The Divine Birth is here.

Sing! Chant! Dance! Ring your Solstice bells! Burn your old Yule greenery from last year.

Go outside and shout, drum, light your bonfires, give thanks to the Beloved Ones who are listening for your call!

Feast. Make merry and rejoice!

We have united together across the worlds, with one another, and with Love Herself.

Thank you to one and all who have shared your magic, good energy, and loving prayers to our rite, for this eighteenth year! Look for our 19th to begin on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023.

May the Lord and the Lady bring you brightest blessings.

Blessed be!