Our Yule High Rite of 2009 will be on December 19th at 4pm IS BEING RESCHEDULED TO JANUARY 2nd at 4pm. We will be dividing parts of the ritual up throughout the evening, and even though the main ritual is at 4pm, folks are welcome to stay as we celebrate our optional all night vigil. Participants can start gathering no earlier than 2pm at CedarLight Center to enjoy the center. Please arrive no later than 3pm. Times are subject to change, please check before you leave.

• Lore of the Season
  We have decided that it was time to show the Gods that we have been listening to their guidance. We are bringing a token of our work to offer back to the Gods and show that we have been walking our talk. Our prayer is: “..to reaffirm our commitment to the gods and/or oaths that were made to the gods.”

  For our Yule High Rite we will be honoring Odin and Freya, with Thor as our gatekeeper. Since this is an optional all night vigil, our normal ritual structure will be divided throughout the evening, with the main ritual being at 4pm for those unable to stay the night. There will be a sumbel at midnight which will include scheduled praise offerings and dedicant oaths. And there will also be a ritual to welcome the sun around 7-8am to close our all night vigil.

  A note on praise offerings:
  In order to keep our service to a reasonable amount of time but still allow for individual expression, we will be providing cards to write an offering. These cards will be placed into group offering box and offered to the fire. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of their commitments/oaths to be placed into the box. These would include: copies of poems, manuscripts, dedicant program copies, etc.

  If your offering entails singing or some other estatic expression, you are encouraged to email the DIC at adf_md_druid AT yahoo.com for their will be limited spaces available for this type of offering.

  We are limiting praise offerings during the ritual, but will have an open praise offering altar for anyone who wishes to give praise to the Gods anytime during the night that is not on the schedule.

  Throughout the night we will have a lit yule log of candles. During the waxing hours of the night, candles will be extinguished to symbolize the darkness of the long night. After our midnight sumbel and we acknowledge the sacredness of no light, we will start re-lighting candles to signify the return of the sun.

  Also throughout the night we will be having games, watch movies, make talismans, give away door prizes and auction off goods to support CedarLight Grove. You can see some of the goods we are auctioning off on forum, complete with pictures.

  Our tentative schedule is as follows:
  3pm: Arrival time and ritual setup
  3:30pm: Pre-Ritual Briefing
  4pm: Main ritual to honor the Gods.
  6pm: Revels/Dinner
  6:15pm: Auction and Door prizes start during revels
  8pm: First candle out on the yule log
  8:30pm: Talisman making workshop
  9pm: Second candle out on the yule log (Still talisman workshop)
  10pm: Third candle out on the yule log, Games or movie (possibly “Hogfather” movie)
  12am: 2nd Ritual (Sumbel), all candles out to represent the absence of the sun
  1am: Meditation and quiet time.
  2am: First candle lit, “Getting to know you” game
  3am: Games or movie?
  4am: Second candle lit, Games or movie?
  7am: Third candle lit, Closing ritual to welcome the sun
  8am: Breakfast

• This Rite is a DRY RITE
  Our celebrations are dry, meaning no alcohol permitted except the Waters of Life during ritual.

• Bring a Dish for the Potluck!
  Bring a dish to share with the Grove after ritual if you wish to participate in the feast. Participants who bring a dish to share are welcome to participate in the feast. Your dish should serve approximately 6-10 people. Please label whether your dish has meat or not for our vegetarians. It’s also a good idea to list the ingredients if available.

  • Suggested Seasonal Food to Bring:
    - Chili’s
    - Cookies (gingerbread, but all kinds!)
    - Stews and Soups
    - Beef Jerky
    - Pumpkin Pie (pies in general)
    - Stuffing
    - Loaf of grain bread (no white)

  Considering bringing some small snacks too if you are staying all night. Others will be doing the same so we have plenty to eat throughout the long night.

• There are cans of sodas and bottled water available at the Grove for 50 cents each. Feel free to contribute beverages to the Grove!

• Dress Warmly
  The High Rite will be done outdoors, and it may be chilly. So be prepared and bring some warm clothes. If you have a chair you’d like to sit in during the High Ritse, we suggest bringing that too.

• Donations
  All CedarLight events have a suggested donation of $10 per person. This can be contributed to Dagda’s Cauldron either at the Grove, or online.

  All donations go towards CedarLight Center bills and upkeep.

  YULE AUCTION

  We have some FANTASTIC items ready to go for the Yule High Rite Auction this year. We have items like, metal and bone spearheads, a medusa wall sconce, a bottle of home-brewed blueberry wine, fantastic jewelry and artwork, quartz stones, a quartz skull, a drinking horn stand, etc. You can view all of these things on our forum (all you have to do is sign up to view them). Consider bringing some extra cash and/or checks with you and support CedarLight by bidding on something you like.

  Note: All non-members have to pay on-site, we cannot accept IOU’s from non-members.

• Children and Pets
  Children are welcome to all CedarLight events, but must be attended at all times. If your children start running around during ritual or being noisy, you will be asked to escort them out of the sanctuary. We do not yet have children activities planned for this event. Pets however, are not allowed.