Full Moon in Gemini: Gates of Yule

Context:

• Moon will be waning gibbous in the middle of Cancer at the time of the ritual, rising at 6:25 pm.

• Full moon (Cold Moon) in Gemini was two days prior on December 4th at 4:14 pm.

• Earliest sunset of the year for Colorado Springs is on December 6th at 4:37 pm.

• Sun will be in the middle of Sagittarius.

Theme:

Reflect on the old secular year, set intentions for the new.

Energies:

Reflection, honest assessment, gratitude, releasing, and focusing on what is desired.

Diversity & Inclusion:

• Calling deities from four different pantheons for the quarters, instead of the elements.

• All ritual attendees are invited to write and burn what they’re releasing and intending.

• All ritual attendees are invited to take home with them gifts from the goddesses.

Setup

• Central table/altar

• 12-pointed star (14” diameter) OR plinth for a gift bowl (if there isn’t room for the star)

• Pictures of visiting goddesses (four, each 4” square)

• Wand (can be carried by celebrant)

• Frankincense (Nippon Kodo Morning Star)

• Candle snuffer (optional)

• Burn paper (in strips, two per attendee)

• Pens (one per attendee)

• Burn tray

• Igniter

• Bottle of morning sun water (from the Shrine of Sulis)

• Bowl (small, for sun water)

• Sprig (rosemary or similar, for sprinkling sun water)

• Offerings

◦ Small vase of cut flowers

◦ Beeswax tea light (east)

◦ Red beer and glass (south)

◦ English cheddar cheese and dish (west)

◦ Small folding steel knife (north)

• Bowls of crystal chips (four)

◦ Topaz (east)

◦ Ruby (south)

◦ Mother of Pearl (west)

◦ Shungite (north)

Flow

1. Local spirits

[Negotiate with them on an earlier visit.]

We are not the only beings who live here.

"I make this offering to spirits of place,

for permitting our coven to use this space.

Votum soluit libens merito." (Willingly and deservedly fulfilling her vow)

2. Welcome

Welcome, friends, to our Gates of Yule ritual!

Here in Colorado Springs, today is the day of the earliest sunset of the year—the Gates of

Yule, and the start of Yule season. Winter Solstice, the longest night, will be in around two

weeks time, and the latest sunrise will be in around four weeks. That makes tonight the longest

evening of the year, so it’s time to snuggle up and be cozy!

But first, let us prepare our workspace.

3a. Purify the space

[Light four frankincense sticks. Take them sun-wise around the space.]

It is pure, it is pure, it is pure, it is pure.

3b. Cast the circle

Let us cast our circle.

[The celebrant stands in the center of those assembled. Using her wand, she traces a line of

light above and behind everyone’s heads, starting in the east and moving sun-wise. When she

arrives once again at the east and completes the circle, she pulls it down around the group, so

all are safely enclosed. (This technique works well for small, irregular, or crowded spaces.)]

3c. Invite the quarters

We normally call the elements at this point. But instead, four goddesses have agreed to be

present for our ritual tonight—to guard, to witness, to energize, to bless.

Please don’t feel obligated to copy this in your own rituals, but don’t worry: it’s perfectly safe!

Let us turn towards the east…

East

Ame-no-Uzume, Shinto goddess of the dawn.

We invite you to dance into our circle.

May the air of your laughter brighten our hearts.

I offer you flame.

Hail and welcome!

[light beeswax candle]

South

Sekhmet, fearsome Kemetic goddess of the desert fire.

We invite you to guard our circle.

May your healing arrows lighten our burdens.

I offer you red beer.

Hail and welcome!

[pour beer]

West

Sulis, bright Celtic goddess of the hot springs.

We invite you to nourish and warm our circle.

May your waters empower our spells.

I offer you cheese from your homeland.

Hail and welcome!

[place cheese on dish]

North

Skaði, huntress goddess of the cold Norse lands.

We invite you to witness our circle.

May your arrows focus our intent.

I offer you steel.

Hail and welcome!

[open knife]

4. Introduction

The Cold Moon wanes, and the sun sets at its earliest. The Gates of Yule are upon us, and with

the secular year nearing its close, let’s pause to do three things:

• reflect on the past year;

• release anything that’s holding us back;

• set intentions for the coming year.

4a. Reflection

As we pass through the Gates of Yule, we must leave something outside the gates.

Get yourself a slip of burn paper and a pen. Then write down something that has been in your

life this year that you want to release from. It could be a circumstance you found yourself in. It

could be understandings from shadow work, like past pain, or limiting beliefs, or old habits that

you realized have kept you tied to versions of yourself that no longer serve you. It could be a

relationship you know you need to unbind yourself from. Whatever it is, write it down on the

slip of paper and then fold it up.

If you like, you can be cryptic and use code or initials if you don’t want anyone else to see. No

No one else needs to know unless you want to share, and if so, we’re here to listen.

Take your time, but be honest with yourself. This is your chance to make that change, whether

it’s a gentle freeing done with compassion and grace, or whether it’s a fierce and passionate

yeet into the sun. Take advantage of the power here tonight.

[wait for everyone to finish]

4b. Release

Now let’s take turns to become free from what no longer serves us.

[Let each person come to central altar, place their paper on the burn tray.]

Repeat after me…

“By root and bone,

What’s done is gone.

What’s gone shall cease.

I now release!”

[Ignite the paper.]

4c. Setting an intention

As we pass through the Gates of Yule, we must set out on the path of intention.

The sun is in Sagittarius, the archer. We’re each going to set a personal intention for the

coming year, like an archer aims at her target, like the huntress shoots at her quarry—not for

sport, but for survival and growth: so she can be what she needs to be.

4d OPTIONAL

If time permits and participants seem open: This is not a New Year’s resolution. What’s the difference?

Many people say that intentions are better than resolutions.

What do you think?

[Encourage a short discussion. Possible talking points are:

• Are they just different words for the same thing, or is there a difference?

• Do resolutions lose steam if results are not quickly reached?

• Do intentions hold space for compassion and patience?

• Are intentions flexible and resolutions more rigid?

• Do intentions focus more on the journey rather than a goal?

• Are intentions less about perfection, and more about progress?

• How can we re-craft resolutions as intentions?

And

• Setting intentions allows us to reflect on what truly matters.

• Intentions foster emotional well-being and a mindset of self-compassion.

• Intentions do not punish us, they simply encourage us to do better.

• Intentions validate our ability to create change in our lives.

• Intentions are the heart of spellwork. When we cast spells, we don’t do it for the sake of

ritual itself but to direct energy towards a specific purpose. Similarly, setting intentions at

the start of the year provides a guiding light, aligning us with our higher purpose or spiritual

path.

• Intentions are inherently magical, shaping our thoughts, energy, and actions.

Get yourself another slip of burn paper and a pen. Then draw a long arrow on the paper and

write down your intention ALONGSIDE the arrow, not at the point of the arrow—this is a

journey and a process, not just a destination.

Again, if you like, you can be cryptic and use code or initials if you don’t want anyone else to

see. No one else need know unless you want to share, and if so we’re here to listen.

Once again, take your time and be honest and realistic with yourself. This is your chance to set

that intention, and take advantage of the power here tonight.

[wait for everyone to finish]

Now let’s take turns to send that intention out into the universe.

And I’m going to invite you to take part in a bit of sun magic.

This is totally optional, and you can each make your own choice.

Just let me know if you do or you don’t when I ask you.

If you say yes, I will sprinkle a few drops of morning sun water over your head, and what we’ll

say will be different than if you say no.

[Let each person come to central altar, place their paper on the burn tray.]

Do you want to participate in sun magic?

[If yes, sprinkle them with water, over and behind them.]

Repeat after me…

“I am in the Sun.

And I breathe sunlight into my intention.

My intention joins with the breath of the universe.

So mote it be.”

[Ignite the paper.]

[If no.]

Repeat after me…

“I breathe light into my intention.

And my intention joins with the breath of the universe.

So mote it be.”

[Ignite the paper.]

5. Gifts of the Goddesses

As well as keeping our circle, the four goddesses have agreed to bless gifts for each of us.

Let us turn towards the east…

East

Ame-no-Uzume, I bring a bowl of topazes.

[place bowl in center of 12-pointed star on central altar]

Please grant us your blessing on them.

So mote it be!

[take bowl from center and place by her picture]

South

Sekhmet, I bring a bowl of rubies.

[place bowl in center of 12-pointed star on central altar]

Please grant us your blessing on them.

So mote it be!

[take bowl from center and place by her picture]

West

Sulis, I bring a bowl of mother of pearl.

[place bowl in center of 12-pointed star on central altar]

Please grant us your blessing on them.

So mote it be!

[take bowl from center and place by her picture]

North

Skaði, I bring a bowl of shungite.

[place bowl in center of 12-pointed star on central altar]

Please grant us your blessing on them.

So mote it be!

[take bowl from center and place by her picture]

When we are done, you are welcome to take some of each of these home with you.

6. Close

6a. Grounding and blessing

Before we close, let us ground ourselves.

Let’s close our eyes.

Breathe in the energy of our circle—feel its strength, its love, and its support.

And as you breathe out feel that energy flowing down your legs, through your feet, and into the

ground.

When you feel thoroughly connected to the earth, open your eyes.

[Wait until all eyes are open.]

We have left behind what we needed to release,

We have merged our intention with the breath of the Universe,

And in so doing, we have passed through the Gates of Yule together.

We do not walk alone.

Our friends in Root and Bone walk with us.

Our ancestors walk with us.

Our deities walk with us.

We are blessed,

Our circle is blessed,

Our coven is blessed.

6b. Release the quarters

Let us turn towards the north…

North

Skaði, goddess of the frozen earth, we thank you for your presence. Stay if you

will, but go if you must. Hail and farewell!

West

Sulis, goddess of the hot spring water, we thank you for your presence. Stay if you

will, but go if you must. Hail and farewell!

South

Sekhmet, goddess of the cleansing fire, we thank you for your presence. Stay if

you will, but go if you must. Hail and farewell!

East

Ame-no-Uzume, effervescent goddess of the dawn, we thank you for your

presence. Stay if you will, but go if you must. Hail and farewell!

6c. Open the circle

[The celebrant stands in the center of those assembled. Using her wand, she withdraws the line

of light she cast earlier, starting in the east and moving widdershins.]

The circle is open, yet never broken.

The work is done: so mote it be!