12 Lessons of Yule

Geesh, I need to post more often
Well. here are the 12 Lessons of Yule. I got the idea from Patti Wigington on About.com pagan page, so full credit to Patti for the inspiration.

A Yule Ritual in 12 lessons

Photo credit  Peg Aloi http://religionnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Winter-Solstace.jpg

The 12 days of Christmas are well known in our part of the world. From December 25^th to January 6^th, Christians of old celebrated 12 days of feasting, foolery, fun and even a little reflection.  I reclaim those 12 days in 12 lessons of Yuletide.

Lesson One—Prepare.  It started early for us this year. Winter. The grey, the cold. The Winter sky 

The Winter Sky, like the eyes of a lost love, so cold and lonely, no mercy for me.
The Winter Sky, gray and bleak, every changing yet always the same.
The Winter Sky, blankets a cold world, lifeless and barren; darkness reigns
The Winter Sky, cut short by the longest night, blocking out the changing moon.
The Winter Sky, can also glow brightly blue with the Winter Sun. Reminding us of its return.


Lesson Two--   A passing season—Winter is just one season, no better, no worse, than all the others.  Remember, we all need to sleep, and so does the Earth.  Rest then, Gentle Gaia.

Sleep a restful sleep, gather up your energy once again
Far below the frozen ground the bulbs nestle in the Earth. Seeds sit waiting patiently, trees, so barren, so lifeless, but sleep.  It is not so long before again they spring into life. Let them rest, let them sleep.

Lesson Three— Elements. Even in winter, the four elements reign. As the grey and cold surround you, remember, the light will return.

Winter winds blow rough
Winter fire frets beneath them
Winter rain is sharp and cold
Winter earth is sleeping
Winter Sun begins its long trek home.

Lesson Four—Remember our ancestors—We have all experienced loss of modern comforts.  Think back now to a time when those and other commodities didn’t exist at all.  Winter was a hard time, but it was a time to gather around, tell a story, stay warm and be human.

The food is put away for the winter,
the crops are set aside to feed us,
the cattle are come down from their fields,
and the sheep are in from the pasture.
The land is cold, the sea is stormy, the sky is gray.
The nights are dark, but we have our family,
kin and clan around the hearth,
staying warm in the midst of darkness,
our spirit and love a flame
a beacon burning brightly
in the night.

Lesson Five—Quit yer whining.  Even the poorest among us in this country are rich when compared to others.  For at least one night, show a little gratitude.

Do not fret over what you don’t have, be thankful for what you do have.  You may have less than others, but you have so much more than you know. Blessed be for just being.

Lesson Six – Peace on Earth.  It is not a wish that only one religion holds.  Cross under the mistletoe, give a loved one a kiss and think gentle thoughts to your worst enemy. Now is a time of peace and a time to forgive past wrongs. 
Come sit with me my brother and sisters
Come enjoy the hearth, the warmth of the fire, the company of friends old and new.
Come and see that our differences are far outweighed by our similarities.
Come, join the family of humankind and humankindness.
Together we are strong. Today, let our differences subside and let kindness reign

Lesson Seven---Yuletide   And so it has come.  Yule is here; the wheel has turned.

Rejoice in the darkness! The Longest Night is here
What we have dreaded is upon us and we find we can celebrate our way through it and on into the night to reach the dawn. The Sun has reached its farthest point away from her Earth. Now it returns to us to awake the Earth, to renew our energy and bring us life-giving night.
Embrace the darkness, for it is fleeing.

Lesson 8 – Celebrate Winter!  Yeah, it’s cold, it’s dark and gloomy. It is also beautiful and stark.  Celebrate Winter, rejoice in its beauty!

Snow like diamonds sparkle on the ground
Red berries decorate the bushes as winter birds
chirp and clamor for their taste.
The winter wind, like a wild child, restless
and skipping thither and yon.
The bluest blue sky joins the coldest days
And brightens the blanket of white beneath which Gaia sleeps.

Lesson 9 – The Winter Goddess- She is cool, and harsh and lovely and joyful all at once. Respect her and learn her lessons well or you will suffer her wrath.

Snow maiden of old, The Ice Queen, the Winter Goddess, in your robes of velvet white snow, you silently watch over us, bedecking the world in your stark beauty. You are danger and joy. You are quiet snow and howling gale.  Thanks to you, we will reconnect at the fire once again.

Lesson Ten—The Battle of the Kings.  The Holly King is vanquished again. The Oak King is reborn. So many Gods have Winter as their season.  It is time to praise and rejoice in them!

The Holly King is gone, and the Oak King reigns
Yule is the time of the old Winter gods!
Hail to Baldur! To Saturn! To Odin!
Hail to Demeter!Hail to Ra! To Horus!
Hail to Frigga and Minerva Sulis. It is their season, and high in the heavens,
may they grant us their blessings this winter day.

Lesson 11—Rah, Rah, Ra!  When it comes down to it, the reason for the season is the Sun!  Call it what you wish, Ra or Helios, our Star or Jesus, we are here to welcome its return as it start the climb back into Summer’s bounty.

Great Sun, Our bright star
I honor you this dark night
While the world sleeps
your light shines strong
your heat is returning
your life-giving energy abounds again.

Great Ra, ruler of the sky
I honor you this dark night
this candle I lit as a token of your gift to us

Great Ra, even in the dark, your light
shines forth and illuminates our world
As this candle illuminates this room.
Hail Ra! Ruler of the sun!

Lesson 12 – Welcome, Welcome!—The longest night is over, the Sun is on its journey home. Break out the ale, pull up the pies—and Celebrate!

It is coming, It returns!
Welcome light

Welcome warmth
Our slumbers are almost done
it is time to awake again
Welcome Sun
Welcome your blessed rays