✨12 Pagan Prayers for Yule✨ (Patreon)

Merry Yule, witches! Are you doing anything special today? The photo in this post has some journal prompts for you for the Twelve Days of Yule and below are Twelve Pagan Prayers for Yule by Patti Wigington. Enjoy!

The winter solstice, the darkest and longest night of the year, is a time of reflection. Why not take a moment to offer up a pagan prayer for Yule?

Try a different devotional each day, for the 12 days of the Yule Sabbat, to give you food for thought during the holiday season—or simply incorporate the ones that resonate with you into your seasonal rituals.

1.) Prayer to the Earth

Just because the earth is cold doesn't mean there's nothing going on down there in the soil. Think about what lies dormant in your own life right now, and consider what may bloom a few months from now.

"Cold and dark, this time of year,

the earth lies dormant, awaiting the return

of the sun, and with it, life.

Far beneath the frozen surface,

a heartbeat waits,

until the moment is right,

to spring."

2.) Yule Sunrise Prayer

When the sun first rises on Yule, on or around December 21 (or June 21 if you're below the equator), it's time to recognize that the days will gradually begin to lengthen. If you're hosting a winter solstice gathering, try to time things so your family and friends can greet the sun with this prayer as it first appears over the horizon.

"The sun returns! The light returns!

The earth begins to warm once more!

The time of darkness has passed,

and a path of light begins the new day.

Welcome, welcome, the heat of the sun,

blessing us all with its rays."

3.) Prayer to the Winter Goddess

Despite the fact that some people hate cold weather, it does have its advantages. After all, a good cold day gives us an opportunity to cuddle up indoors with the people we love most. If your magical tradition honors a seasonal goddess, offer up this prayer during Yule.

"O! Mighty goddess, in silvery ice,

watching over us as we sleep,

a layer of shining white,

covering the earth each night,

frost on the world and in the soul,

we thank you for visiting us.

Because of you, we seek warmth

in the comfort of our homes and hearths."

4.) Yule Prayer for Counting Blessings

Although Yule should be a time of joy and happiness, for many people it is stressful. Take a moment to be thankful for your blessings and remember those less fortunate.

"I am grateful for that which I have.

I am not sorrowful for that which I do not.

I have more than others, less than some,

but regardless, I am blessed with

what is mine."

If you have a set of pagan prayer beads or a witch's ladder, you can use it to enumerate your blessings. Count off each bead or knot, and consider the things you are thankful for, like so:

"First, I am thankful for my health.

Second, I am thankful for my family.

Third, I am thankful for my warm home.

Fourth, I am thankful for the abundance in my life."

Continue counting off your blessings until you have thought of all of the things that enrich your life and the lives of those around you.

5.) Prayer for the Beginning of Winter

In early winter, the skies become darker and the smell of fresh snow fills the air. Take a few minutes to think about the fact that even if the skies are cold and dark, it's only temporary, because the sun will return to us after the winter solstice.

"See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way

for the bright sun soon to come.

See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way,

for the world to awake once more.

See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way

for the longest night of the year.

See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way

for the sun to finally return,

bringing with it light and warmth."

6.) Yule Sunset Prayer

The night before the winter solstice is the longest night of the year. In the morning, with the return of the sun, the days will begin to grow longer. As much as we enjoy the light, though, there is a lot to be said for acknowledging the darkness. Welcome it with a prayer as the sun sets in the sky.

"The longest night has come once more,

the sun has set, and darkness fallen.

The trees are bare, the earth asleep,

and the skies are cold and black.

Yet tonight we rejoice, in this longest night,

embracing the darkness that enfolds us.

We welcome the night and all that it holds,

as the light of the stars shines down."

7.) Nordic Yule Prayer

Yule is a time to set aside animosity between yourself and people who would normally antagonize you. The Norse had a tradition that enemies who met under a bough of mistletoe were obligated to lay down their arms. Set aside your differences and think about that as you recite this prayer inspired by Norse legend and history.

"Beneath the tree of light and life,

a blessing at this season of Yule!

To all that sit at my hearth,

today we are brothers, we are family,

and I drink to your health!

Today we do not fight,

We bear no one ill will.

Today is a day to offer hospitality

to all that cross my threshold

in the name of the season."

8.) Snow Prayer for Yule

Depending on where you live, you may be seeing snowfall long before Yule arrives. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and its magic, both as it falls and once it covers the ground.

"From the reaches of the north,

a place of cold blue beauty,

comes to us the first winter storm.

Wind whipping, flakes flying,

the snow has fallen upon the earth,

keeping us close,

keeping us together,

wrapped up as everything sleeps

beneath a blanket of white."

9.) Yule Prayer to the Old Gods

In many Pagan traditions, both contemporary and ancient, the old gods are honored at the time of the winter solstice. Take a moment to pay them tribute, and call upon them during the Yule season.

"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 Amaterasu! To Demeter!

Hail to Ra! To Horus!

Hail to Frigga, Minerva Sulis and Cailleach Bheur!

It is their season, and high in the heavens,

may they grant us their blessings this winter day."

10.) Celtic Yule Blessing

The Celtic people knew the importance of the solstice. It was important to put aside staple foods for the coming months because it would be long before anything fresh grew again. Consider, as you recite this devotional inspired by Celtic myth and folklore, what your family has put aside—both material goods and things on the spiritual plane.

"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."

11.) Elemental Prayer for Yule

In the middle of winter, it's hard to remember sometimes that though the days are dark and cloudy, the sun will soon return. Keep this in mind during those dreary days by invoking the four classical elements.

"As the earth grows colder,

the winds blow faster,

the fire dwindles smaller,

and the rains fall harder,

let the light of the sun

find its way home."

12.) Yule Prayer to the Sun Gods

Many ancient cultures and religions honored solar deities during the winter solstice. Whether you honor Ra, Mithras, Helios, or some other sun god, now is a good time to welcome them back.

"Great sun, wheel of fire, sun god in your glory,

hear me as I honor you

on this, the shortest day of the year.

Summer has gone, passed us by,

the fields are dead and cold,

all of earth sleeps in your absence.

Even in the darkest times,

you light the way for those who need a beacon,

of hope, of brightness,

shining in the night.

Winter is here, and colder days coming,

the fields are bare and the livestock thin.

We light these candles in your honor,

that you might gather your strength

and bring life back to the world.

O mighty sun above us,

we ask you to return, to bring back to us

the light and the warmth of your fire.

Bring life back to earth.

Bring light back to earth.

Hail the sun!"

Source:

Wigington, Patti. "12 Pagan Prayers for Yule." Learn Religions, Aug. 2, 2021, learnreligions.com/about-yule-prayers-4072720.