Wiccan Ritual for Solstice:

Wiccan Ritual for Solstice:
Ritual Bath: Bay Leaves, Blessed Thistle, Chamomile, Hyssop, Rosemary.
Place any or all herbs in cheesecloth and tie well; run under tap. You can also make a strong tea from the herbs, and strain into the bath. Light orange or gold candles anointed with frankincense oil or solar tea, and imagine a golden glow in your bath and around your aura. Bathe yourself in the herbs and the solar energy, clearing away anything you no longer need to hold on to. After your bath, bring your candles with you to the circle, and place on the altar or at the quarters.

The Altar: Decorate with an abundance of evergreens, to welcome the nature spirits to the festivities. Keep the greenery on the altar for protection until Candlemas, when they can be burned in honor of Brigit at her fire ritual.

You will need three candles: yellow, brown and aqua.

Ritual: Cast the circle, call in the quarters, and call upon a Solar Deity, if you choose, or just imagine your circle infused with orange-gold solar power. Prepare incense.

Incense: Bay, Blessed Thistle, Cedar, Chamomile, Frankincense, Juniper Berries, Oak Bark, Rosemary. Bring any or all of the above ingredients into your ritual circle and add each herb one at a time, while grinding by hand with a mortar and pestle and focusing on the properties of each herb as it is added. Consecrate your incense by dedicating it to the Sun or one of the Sun Goddesses, and charge it full of solar light. When the incense is prepared, burn some on a charcoal as you focus in on your goal.

Candles: The yellow candle represents the Mercury/Mars sextile, symbolizing powerful energy for communication, and the courage to speak your mind; how would you like to manifest this energy in your life at this time? Write down your intention on a small piece of paper, and place it under your candle; carve the Mercury symbol into the candle, anoint it with oils, and imagine your intention being released to the cosmos as you light your candle.

Repeat with the following:

The brown candle represents the Sun in Capricorn, symbolizing patience, responsibility, and place in society; how would you like these energies to manifest in your life? Write down your intention on a small piece of paper, and place it under your candle; carve the Capricorn symbol into the candle, anoint it with oils; create an affirmation to support your intent; write down your goals, and repeat the process as before.

The aqua candle represents the Moon/Neptune semi-square in Pisces/Aquarius; how can we bring our spiritual vision into reality? Create an affirmation to support your intent; write down your goals, and repeat the process as before.

When you feel the ritual is complete, thank the Sun Goddess, and burn each paper as you focus once again on the intention of the goal, releasing the energy to the wind and elemental helpers. Thank the nature spirits, Deities or elementals, and close your circle, allowing the candles to burn all the way down, or instead, burn them for a little while for the next several days, symbolizing the newly waxing year.

It is recommended to “charge” a few candles during a Sabbat ritual; anoint them with oil, add appropriate herbs, and consecrate. You can burn your candles anytime you’re working on your goal; they can bring you back to the energies of your Yuletide ritual, reinforcing your focus on the dreams for the future. May the magic of rebirth take you where you need to be in the new year, in perfect love and perfect trust. Blessed Be.