Just before sundown, we kindle the flame outside, or light a vigil candle from the lighting flame, and speak the following:
On this night, the longest night, we bid temporary farewell to the Sun, as it begins its long journey into the Underworld.
On this night, we keep the fire burning bright as a beacon of hope and a guide for those who are lost.
(offer oil and incense to the fire)
On this night, when the wind and the wolf are howling, we keep the watch and wait for the blessed return of the sun, the return of hope and joy to our world to light the beginning of the New Year.
Bright and shining Sun, though far away from our fire, know this flame is burning for you.
(offer oil and incense to the fire)
Sacred Fire, burn within us as we keep this space whole and holy.
(offer oil and incense to the fire)
Bright Sun and Sacred Fire, accept our offerings!
Litany of the Hours
At the top of each hour beginning at 6:00pm, we make offering to a different Deity/Being. The prayers may be extemporaneous, and offerings may be prepared ahead of time or decided upon in the moment at the speaker’s discretion. It is common practice to follow the offering with a poem or tale, either personal or based on myth that includes some aspect of the Deity or Being to be honored. Songs are also appropriate.
6:00 – Gatekeepers/Warriors. Examples include Odin, Hekate, Freyja, Mannanan mac Lir, Zeus, Athene, etc. Prayers are spoken for thanks in protection against the cold and fell spirits and for safe travels for those who wander on this night.
7:00 – Earth Mother. Examples include Nerthus, Jord, Gaia, Colorado/Local Earth, Prithivi, Aine, Danu, etc. Prayers and offerings are to the Mother, Sustainer of all, as she sleeps beneath the dark and cold.
8:00 – Hearth Goddess. Examples include Hestia, Wéstyā, Vesta, Brighid, etc. Prayers and offerings are in thanks for keeping the fires of the hearth contained, for accepting and transforming our offerings for the Kindreds, and for standing watch this long night in the darkness.
9:00 – Sky Father. Examples include Dyḗus Ptḗr, Tyr, Zeus, Odin, Helios, Heimdalr, etc. Prayers are for perspective, wisdom, strength of mind, and right action.
10:00 – Bardic Deities. Examples include Bragi, Brighid, Vac, Oghma, Ogmios, Lugh, Cerridwen, Taliesin, Odin, Saga, Kvasir, The Muses, Apollo, Orpheus, etc. Prayers are for inspiration, from the past and into the future, for tales, poems, and songs that teach, comfort, and heal and keep us company on the long winter nights.
11:00 – Thunderer/Storm Deities. Examples include Thor, Zeus, Indra, etc. Prayers are in thanks for protection against storms and winds to keep our foes at bay.
12:00 – Chthonic Deities. Examples include Hades and Persephone, Hela, Ferryman, Charon, Cernunnos, Arawn, An Morrighan, etc. Prayers are for peace and plenty in the Underworld for our loved ones who have passed, for wisdom from the Well, and for giving thanks and honor for guiding the souls of those who have passed.
01:00 – Ancestors. Prayers to our Ancestors are made in general terms and in personal terms. Persona stories may be shared as we remember our ghosts of Yule’s past.
02:00 – Personal Allies and Patrons. Prayers to our personal allies and patrons are made as we move into the wee hours of the night for strength and stamina as we continue to do the work of the vigil. Personal stories may be shared regarding our advent of relationship and/or experiences with our allies and patrons that have been formative in our paths. Those with no allies may ask questions and spend some time deciding if this is an action they wish to pursue in their personal practice. Note: the alliance of any person with a Deity/Being is a personal choice and is in no way a requirement for practice. Not everyone feels called to ally themselves with a specific entity, and this is perfectly acceptable and encouraged as an equally valid expression of paganism.
03:00 – Moon. Examples include Ménōt, Mani, Selene, Phoebe, Diana, Trivia, Arianrhod, Elatha, etc. Prayers are in thank for providing light and guidance in the darkness of night, control of the seasons and the oceans (keeping order in our little microcosm of the greater cosmos), and inspiration and hope.
04:00 – Winter Goddess. Our examples are Skadhi and the White Goddess who descends from the Rocky Mountains. Prayers are in welcome and thanks for capturing the waters for the coming growing season, for granting Earth Mother a well-deserved rest, and for strength and endurance of the cold and snow yet to come, even as the light increases each day.
05:00 – Nature Kin. Prayers to the Nature Kin are spoken aloud and offerings made to spirits of place who begin to stir before the dawn. Bird songs may be heard within the hour.
06:00 – Dawn. Examples include *Xáusōs, Usas, Eos, Aurora, Zorya Utrennyaya, etc. Prayers are for illumination in the dark, inspiration and wisdom in the liminal spaces between the worlds, perspective, and new beginnings.
07:00/Sunrise – Note: At sunrise, at The Prairie Home, we ring bells to welcome the Sun’s return and sing “Happy Birthday.” This is a household custom, and we encourage households to build their own customs throughout the year as they arise in your family practice. They do not have to be based on lore or tradition; they simply need to be meaningful to your family.
Sunrise Service on the Winter Solstice Day: May perform a Core Order, if desired, in honor of the Sun. It is common to leave the Gates open after a full Core Order at Dusk the evening before and close the Gates to end the vigil after sunrise (and then retire to the house for pancakes) at The Prairie Home.
On this night, the longest night, we bid temporary farewell to the Sun, as it begins its long journey into the Underworld.
On this night, we keep the fire burning bright as a beacon of hope and a guide for those who are lost.
(offer oil and incense to the fire)
On this night, when the wind and the wolf are howling, we keep the watch and wait for the blessed return of the sun, the return of hope and joy to our world to light the beginning of the New Year.
Bright and shining Sun, though far away from our fire, know this flame is burning for you.
(offer oil and incense to the fire)
Sacred Fire, burn within us as we keep this space whole and holy.
(offer oil and incense to the fire)
Bright Sun and Sacred Fire, accept our offerings!
Litany of the Hours
At the top of each hour beginning at 6:00pm, we make offering to a different Deity/Being. The prayers may be extemporaneous, and offerings may be prepared ahead of time or decided upon in the moment at the speaker’s discretion. It is common practice to follow the offering with a poem or tale, either personal or based on myth that includes some aspect of the Deity or Being to be honored. Songs are also appropriate.
6:00 – Gatekeepers/Warriors. Examples include Odin, Hekate, Freyja, Mannanan mac Lir, Zeus, Athene, etc. Prayers are spoken for thanks in protection against the cold and fell spirits and for safe travels for those who wander on this night.
7:00 – Earth Mother. Examples include Nerthus, Jord, Gaia, Colorado/Local Earth, Prithivi, Aine, Danu, etc. Prayers and offerings are to the Mother, Sustainer of all, as she sleeps beneath the dark and cold.
8:00 – Hearth Goddess. Examples include Hestia, Wéstyā, Vesta, Brighid, etc. Prayers and offerings are in thanks for keeping the fires of the hearth contained, for accepting and transforming our offerings for the Kindreds, and for standing watch this long night in the darkness.
9:00 – Sky Father. Examples include Dyḗus Ptḗr, Tyr, Zeus, Odin, Helios, Heimdalr, etc. Prayers are for perspective, wisdom, strength of mind, and right action.
10:00 – Bardic Deities. Examples include Bragi, Brighid, Vac, Oghma, Ogmios, Lugh, Cerridwen, Taliesin, Odin, Saga, Kvasir, The Muses, Apollo, Orpheus, etc. Prayers are for inspiration, from the past and into the future, for tales, poems, and songs that teach, comfort, and heal and keep us company on the long winter nights.
11:00 – Thunderer/Storm Deities. Examples include Thor, Zeus, Indra, etc. Prayers are in thanks for protection against storms and winds to keep our foes at bay.
12:00 – Chthonic Deities. Examples include Hades and Persephone, Hela, Ferryman, Charon, Cernunnos, Arawn, An Morrighan, etc. Prayers are for peace and plenty in the Underworld for our loved ones who have passed, for wisdom from the Well, and for giving thanks and honor for guiding the souls of those who have passed.
01:00 – Ancestors. Prayers to our Ancestors are made in general terms and in personal terms. Persona stories may be shared as we remember our ghosts of Yule’s past.
02:00 – Personal Allies and Patrons. Prayers to our personal allies and patrons are made as we move into the wee hours of the night for strength and stamina as we continue to do the work of the vigil. Personal stories may be shared regarding our advent of relationship and/or experiences with our allies and patrons that have been formative in our paths. Those with no allies may ask questions and spend some time deciding if this is an action they wish to pursue in their personal practice. Note: the alliance of any person with a Deity/Being is a personal choice and is in no way a requirement for practice. Not everyone feels called to ally themselves with a specific entity, and this is perfectly acceptable and encouraged as an equally valid expression of paganism.
03:00 – Moon. Examples include Ménōt, Mani, Selene, Phoebe, Diana, Trivia, Arianrhod, Elatha, etc. Prayers are in thank for providing light and guidance in the darkness of night, control of the seasons and the oceans (keeping order in our little microcosm of the greater cosmos), and inspiration and hope.
04:00 – Winter Goddess. Our examples are Skadhi and the White Goddess who descends from the Rocky Mountains. Prayers are in welcome and thanks for capturing the waters for the coming growing season, for granting Earth Mother a well-deserved rest, and for strength and endurance of the cold and snow yet to come, even as the light increases each day.
05:00 – Nature Kin. Prayers to the Nature Kin are spoken aloud and offerings made to spirits of place who begin to stir before the dawn. Bird songs may be heard within the hour.
06:00 – Dawn. Examples include *Xáusōs, Usas, Eos, Aurora, Zorya Utrennyaya, etc. Prayers are for illumination in the dark, inspiration and wisdom in the liminal spaces between the worlds, perspective, and new beginnings.
07:00/Sunrise – Note: At sunrise, at The Prairie Home, we ring bells to welcome the Sun’s return and sing “Happy Birthday.” This is a household custom, and we encourage households to build their own customs throughout the year as they arise in your family practice. They do not have to be based on lore or tradition; they simply need to be meaningful to your family.
Sunrise Service on the Winter Solstice Day: May perform a Core Order, if desired, in honor of the Sun. It is common to leave the Gates open after a full Core Order at Dusk the evening before and close the Gates to end the vigil after sunrise (and then retire to the house for pancakes) at The Prairie Home.
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