Yule Ritual 2025 | "Light is Reborn"

divinewarriorwitch
2 days ago
3 min read

A large room with yoga mats and blankets on the floor in front of a large metallic gong placed in front of a wall with a large picture of a sunlit forest.

On Sunday, December 21st, the Divine Warrior Witches hosted a cozy Yule Ritual at Crescent Moon Gifts in Tacoma, Washington in celebration of Yule and the winter solstice. The evening included a gong bath, the crafting of witch ladders, and a beautiful candlelit ceremony.

SO BELOW | Winter Solstice

Presented by High Priestess Serenity

A woman stands at a lectern in a dimly lit room with blue lighting and a small tree. She wears a dark dress, with tables in the background. — High Priestess Serenity

The winter solstice is a time of profound significance, as it brings us to the longest night and the shortest day.

A time when the sun seems to stand still in the sky, even while the power of darkness is at its peak.

But after a peak comes decline, and from midwinter forward the days will begin to lengthen.

With the solstice comes hope, as each day brings more light into our lives.

This is the time to celebrate the rebirth of light.

AS ABOVE | Sabbat Astrology Message

Presented by High Priestess Cawnawyn Mor

CRYSTAL | Selenite

Presented by Rowan and Jasper

A selenite candle holder on a black tablecloth containing a lit battery-operated tea light candle, next to some greenery and a white card with blue decorative trim and typed information about selenite. — These beautiful selenite candle holders were gifted to all who attended this ritual in person.

The final crystal for our 2025 series is selenite, a transparent to translucent crystalline variety of gypsum. Selenite develops primarily through evaporative processes in sulfate-rich aqueous environments, including evaporite deposits, saline lakes, and marine basins where water loss allows gypsum to precipitate.

In spiritual and metaphysical practice, selenite is associated with purification, clarity, and the gentle illumination of intention. It is often worked with during Yule as a symbolic representation of returning light, stillness, and renewal during the darkest point of the year.

YULE RITUAL | Gong Bath, Witch Ladders, and Candle Lighting Ceremony

Coordinated by High Priestess Heather

A large metal gong hangs from a wooden frame, in front of a picture of a sunlit forest and surrounded with soft cream colored furry blankets. — Kjirsten Winters' beautiful gong setup.

Gong Bath by Kjirsten Winters

Our ritual began with a gong bath by special guest and beloved community member Kjirsten Winters. We spread out around the room on yoga mats and blankets for a cozy and transformative experience.

Kjirsten regularly hosts Art Temple at Crescent Moon Gifts. We highly recommend her events, which include gong immersion sound baths, Kriya Yoga, and art making with supplies provided.

Crafting Witch Ladders

On top of wooden table is a length of braided strings, braided into the length are golden star, pentacle, and moon charms, small crystal stones, and feathers — A completed witch ladder.

Next, we gathered around a crafting table and got to work making witch ladders. Practitioners selected colored cords and braided into them charms, crystals, and feathers with intention.

A long table with a black tablecloth, decorated down the center with winter foliage, crafting supplies such as feathers, charms, strings, and scissors, and battery-operated tealight candles in beautiful selenite candle holders. — Ritual crafting table.

Candle Lighting Ceremony

Once crafting was complete, we turned out the lights and began our candle lighting ceremony. This ceremony was inspired by a ritual found in A Book of Pagan Family Prayers & Rituals by Ceisiwr Serith. The ritual, Yule Feast, includes the poem "Light is Reborn," which we recited together during ceremony.

Around the table, one by one, we each recited a line from the poem. Each time a line was spoken, a candle was lit. By the time the poem ended, the room was full of light. Kjirsten sounded her gong and we all cheered. The moment was truly beautiful.

CAKES | Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Baked by Rowan and Jasper

A white dish, surrounded by red and green foliage and tealight candles, displays over a dozen powdered sugar dusted red velvet crinkle cookies. — Red velvet crinkle cookies baked by Rowan and Jasper

Ingredients

2 cups flour

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tbsp red gel food coloring

1 1/2 tbsp milk

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

For Rolling:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl.
Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy
Add eggs one at a time to butter & sugar mixture, beat until combined.
Beat in vanilla, lemon juice, and gel food coloring until combined.
Add dry flour mixture from medium bowl into large bowl until just combined.
Add milk & fold in chocolate chips until just combined.
Cover and chill in refrigerator for 2 hours
Preheat Oven to 350°.
Place Granulated and Powdered Sugar for rolling in 2 seperate shallow bowls.
Form 1 1/2-inch balls of dough and roll in each bowl of sugar to coat generously. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
Bake cookies for 12 minutes, rotating halfway through. Cookies should appear puffed and cracked with edges set.
Store for up to 3 days. Enjoy!