This is a full moon ritual for the December, 2017 Super-Full Moon. Please feel free to copy, alter, or make any changes you feel would meet the needs of your group, coven, tribe, or individual needs. It’s the last full moon before Yule, and a great opportunity to release from the things in life which are weighing you down. This ritual uses the cleansing flames from fire for the clearing process. We encourage people to bring the things, or a symbol of them, to the ritual for burning (and therefore releasing); this can include just about anything. If something is too large, non-flammable, or a living being, then the participants can write them on paper and burn the paper to symbolize them.
You’ll need the following items:
Quarter Candles (yellow, red, blue, green)
Goddess Candle
Paper and pencil for each participant
Small piece of obsidian for each participant
Fire pit or cauldron suitable for safely burning small objects and paper
Altar – decorations for this cold moon can be seasonal greens (holly, ivy, mistletoe, pine boughs, etc.)
Ritual Begins
[ritual leader speaking] Under a full moon light, this sacred sphere I do conjure!Enveloping and surrounding all who gather with the protective energies from the physical, etheric, astral, mental, and spirit planes
Calling of the quarters
East
Invisible, yet mighty eastern winds, surround us with the power of the air; your strength ever mighty but without form; invisible and invincible – We bid you welcome.
South
Bright and steady southern flames, warming us with the power of fire; your heat penetrates deep unto our souls; eternal and without compare – We bid you welcome.
West
Rhythmic and calming western waves, relaxing us the power of water; your calmness a beacon for all humankind; endless and complete – We bid you welcome.
North
Life and the great planetary harmony, behold the power of earth; providing for our needs, asking nothing in return – We bid you welcome
Prayer to the Goddess
Great Goddess, we stand before you in reverence and awe on this night of divine light. We ask for your continued blessings and protection in all aspects of our lives. As we take our places in the great circle of life, we know it is you who sits at the center; guiding us, teaching us, and providing for our needs; both the ones we can see and the ones we cannot. We, who are worthy of your blessings, ask for your presence tonight in this circle.
Opening Statement
Tonight we once again gather together under the light of the full moon; this moon is known by many names across many cultures. It’s the Cold Moon, the Bitter Moon, the Big Winter Moon, the Oak Moon, or the Long Night Moon. Now is the time when winter reminds us that it is here to stay; the warm days are but distant memories and we must focus on the realization that our days will be short and the nights long, cold, and dark.
As Yule approaches, bringing with it the longest night of the year, we may feel a sense of dread at the lengthy darkness ahead of us. Yet have faith and remember that we will once again see the sunlight, and the abundant warmth it provides. This annual shifting of the seasons serves as a lesson to us all. The cold and hardship of winter relates to the difficult things in your life that you’ve had to endure though in order to grow and develop; as with the flowers in our gardens and the crops in the fields, something must die in order to be reborn.
I beseech each and every one gathered here tonight – once you’ve come to terms with understanding the lesson of the seasons, put the thoughts of the coming darkness behind you and instead take your thoughts of the coming rebirth of spring and the good fortunes ahead and share them with others. Counter the cold outside, with the warmth of your heart, your hearth, and your home. Send glorious waves of positive energy to your fellow human, reach out to lend a helping hand to someone in need, offer your most valuable asset, your TIME, to those who are troubled and need to talk, share a meal with someone who is hungry, offer a bed to someone who needs rest. Give and you shall receive.
Open your heart and your soul will be nourished.
Lesson of the Session
The cold and lengthy darkness of winter can be difficult on many people; often allowing depression to surface unknowingly. We suggest turning to the stone, Obsidian as an aid to help you through the cold. It has been used since prehistoric times to protect people against depression. It is the stone of the soft-hearted and gentle people of the world. Carry obsidian to help block negativity of any kind, it symbolizes self-control and resilience. Obsidian has protective energies in the sense that black is the absence of light, and therefore, can be used to create a mask of invisibility in times of negativity. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the power of what nature provides us with; this is one of those occurrences.
[At this time, the ritual leader gives each person a piece of obsidian to take home]
Cleansing in Preparation for Yule
This cold moon is first and only Super Moon of 2017, making it a great time to perform spells which need a little extra boost of power. Magickal workings include cleansing, travel, communication, writing projects, clearing the air, illuminating, grounding, and centering.
The Great Guardians of the South have provided us with this cauldron of cleansing flames to consume that which is old and no longer valid in our lives; by burning the remnants of things useless and without value, we should use these flames to strike them from our memories.
[Offer each person paper/pencil to write things down]Each of you may come to the cauldron when you are ready to cast the unwanted from your life and create an open space to fill with things that have meaning. As you burn each item, state the following, “I give up freely that which is no longer serving me”
[Once everyone has burned their items, have the group join hands and say the following]We gather tonight by the light of this cold moon, we feel the chill of winter on our faces, we see the first signs that the ice and snow are taking hold. The darkness is heavy and deep across the land, yet we refuse to surrender to the winter; instead we celebrate the season, and rejoice, for our bodies and minds are now cleansed and we are ready to fill those empty spaces with those things which strengthen our spirits and provide us with direction to grow and flourish. May the next turn of the Wheel bring us love and compassion, abundance and prosperity, fertility and life – As the moon above, so the earth below. So Mote it Be!
[depending on your particular beliefs, you can either take this time to share cakes and ale among those gathered, pass a talking stick and share thoughts on the future, or you can skip it altogether and go right to the closing]Closing the Circle
North
Immense and unmatched power of the earth; your gifts are too many to number and your abundance beyond comparison – we are honored by your attention to this circle.
West
Healing waters of life; leave us with the relaxing calm of the never-ending tides and the stillness of a mountain pond – we are blessed by your attendance in this circle.
South
Cleansing flames from the great fires; we’ve surrendered our unwanted to your fire so they’ll be transported far from us – we are thankful for your presence in our circle.
East
Invisible whispering winds; we feel your great power but also your soft caresses on our skin – we are humbled by your protective strength and offer you praises and thanks.
Center/Altar
Great Goddess, as we prepare to face the challenges of the cold of winter, we offer you our gratitude; for your abundance, your guiding wisdom, your continued blessings, and your unconditional love.
This circle is open but never broken!
Huzzah!
Links for Learning
Black Obsidian Meaning and Uses
- October’s Full Hunter’s Moon 2024 -Joining the Ancient Hunt - October 12, 2024
- September’s Full Harvest Moon Ritual for 2024 - September 12, 2024
- May’s Full Flower Moon 2024 – Blessed Abundance - May 22, 2024
