Nights of Yule - Celebration of the Evergreen

The evergreens were important to the Ancients, not only as a source of wood and as a symbol of seasonal solidarity, but also as a means of obtaining Vitamin C in the wintertime. White Pine Tea was used as a treatment for those who were ill during the winter months. The animals outside often use the evergreen trees for shelter when the Winter Goddess breathes out across the land, since the deciduous trees have lost their leaves and no longer have the safety and security that they bring. In contrast to their protective and healing powers, the evergreens, when consumed in teas or tinctures of potent strength, can be toxic. Further, there is some evidence that the World Tree may be an evergreen (specifically, a yew tree: a tree that symbolizes immortality, renewal, and transformation as one of the only evergreens in all of Britain and one of the five sacred trees brought from the Otherworld at the division of Ireland into five parts). On this day, we honor the Spirit of the Evergreen, the sacred pillar of the worlds and symbol of the spirit of health and well-being in the dark time of the year.

Devotional/Prayer: Honoring the Spirit of the Evergreen

Light eight flames and speak the following:
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Evergreen, we honor you, on this, the eighth night of Yule!
With perseverance, you grow in the face of overwhelming obstacles,
In circumstances that make you stronger.
You transcend the odds, rising in strength and renewal after every dark night of your soul.
Teach us, by your everlasting presence,
To persevere through dark and cold,
To wait and weather the most furious storms,
And to bloom, ever-green and shining, no matter the gloom of the skies.
Your power to harm and to heal are balanced within.
Teach us to balance within ourselves,
For our greater good and for the good of our tribes.
Evergreen, shining tree of wisdom and strength,
Accept our offering! (offer clean water)