Needed items:

• A candle to represent the sun
• Two apples (or more) to represent the earth and its bounty
• A bowl of water to represent the sea and its power
• A ritual hammer
• A small Yule log with three candles (or actual log if possible)
• Mead
• Large offering bowl
• Wand (optional)

“Greetings, fellow warriors and seekers of the old ways. We gather here tonight to celebrate Yule, the rebirth of the sun and the longest night of the year. As the darkness recedes and the light begins to return, we give thanks to the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon for their gifts and guidance. Let us raise our horns in honor of Odin, Thor, Frigga, Frey, Sunna, Mother Earth, the land, the Landvættir, the ancestors, and all the mighty beings who have watched over us and given us strength. May this Yule bring us health, prosperity, and joy. Hail the gods! Hail Yule!”

The Yule ritual begins as the Gothi lights a Yule log with three candles (or actual log if possible), symbolizing the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. 

The Gothi faces east and raises the hammer of Thor, making the Hammer Sign, shouting:

“I call upon the powers of the east, of the rising sun and the dawning of a new day. Hail to Sunna, goddess of the sun, bringer of light and warmth to our world. May your rays guide us through the coming year, bringing prosperity and growth to all.”

The Gothi then turns to the south and repeats the hammer hollowing, shouting:

“I call upon the powers of the south, of the burning fire and the passion of the heart. Hail to Frigga, goddess of love and fertility, may your warmth and nurturing touch bless us with abundance and joy. May your love guide us through the coming year, bringing happiness and fulfillment to all.”

The Gothi then turns to the west and repeats the hammer hollowing, shouting:

“I call upon the powers of the west, of the deep waters and the wisdom of the ancestors. Hail to Frey, god of fertility and abundance, may your bounty and generosity bless us with abundance and prosperity. May your wisdom guide us through the coming year, bringing success and fulfillment to all.”

The Gothi then turns to the north and repeats the hammer hollowing, shouting:

“I call upon the powers of the north, of the cold and the dark, of the power of the storm and the thunder. Hail to Thor, god of strength and courage, may your power and protection bless us with safety and strength. May your courage guide us through the coming year, bringing victory and success to all.”

Finally, the Gothi turns upwards and repeats the hammer hollowing, shouting:

“I call upon the powers of the above, of the stars and the skies, of the wisdom and the mystery of the cosmos. Hail to Odin, god of wisdom and magic, may your wisdom and insight bless us with knowledge and understanding. May your magic guide us through the coming year, bringing enlightenment and power to all.”

The Gothi then turns downwards and repeats the hammer hollowing, shouting:

“I call upon the powers of the below, of the earth and the stones, of the stability and the foundation of our world. Hail to the land and the ancestors, may your blessings and guidance be upon us, guiding us through the coming year, bringing us strength and stability in all we do.”

“Winter’s chill fills the air

As Yule approaches, we prepare

To honor the gods and goddesses

In the old ways of our ancestors”

“Frigga, Frey, Sunna, Thor, and Odin too

We pray to them, our hearts full and true

For blessings and abundance in the year ahead

As we gather round the Yule log, our heads”

“We light the fire and dance in the glow

Singing songs of joy and merriment, we go

Drinking mead and feasting on boar

Celebrating the longest night and the return of the sun once more”

“Yule is a time of renewal and hope

As we look to the future and let go of what we cannot cope

We raise our horns to the gods and goddesses

In gratitude and reverence, we bless this Yule fest.”

Light the candle and take a moment to focus on the flame, allowing its warmth and light to fill you with strength and courage.

When you are ready, hold the apples in your hand and speak the following words:

“I honor the earth and its bounty,

For it provides for me and mine.

May the earth be blessed and fertile,

And may its fruits be plentiful.

Hail to the earth and its bounty!”

Place one (or more) of the apples in the offering bowl, for the Gods/Goddesses/Mother-Earth/land/Landvættir/ancestors.

Next, take the bowl of water and hold it in front of you. Gaze into the water and speak the following words:

“I honor the sea and its power,

For it shapes the land and guides us on our journeys.

May the sea be calm and safe,

And may its power be harnessed for good.

Hail to the sea and its power!”

Finally, hold the hammer in your hand and speak the following words:

“I honor the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon,

For they are strong and mighty,

Guiding us on our path and protecting us from harm.

Hail to the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon!”

As you speak these words, feel the power of the gods and goddesses flowing through you, giving you strength and courage for the days ahead. 

“Hail to Yule, the time of rebirth and renewal,

May it be a time of joy and prosperity for all.

Hail to the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon,

May they guide us on our path and protect us always.

So may it be.”

“Hear me, o Norse Gods and Goddesses,

I come before you with open heart,

No matter my background, no matter my hue,

I feel a connection, deep and true.”

“You see not my skin, but what lies within,

You care not for the color of my kin,

But for the love and devotion I bring,

To worship and honor you, my Norse kin.”

“So hear my call, oh great ones above,

Grant me your wisdom, your strength, your love,

For I am a Viking, a spiritual warrior bold,

And I will serve and worship you, until I grow old.”

“For your wisdom and guidance, I will forever be grateful,

And I will spread your word, to all who are receptive,

For all are welcome, to worship at your feet,

No matter their background, no matter their seat.”

“So hail to the Norse Gods and Goddesses,

May your wisdom and love be ever present,

And may all who feel drawn to you,

Be welcomed with open arms, no matter what they do.”

“The sun grows strong and bold

As Sunna shines forth from the sky

In the dark days of Yule

Her light brings warmth and cheer”

“With each passing day

Her rays grow brighter and bolder

Bringing light to the land

And banishing the cold”

“All hail Sunna, goddess of the sun

Bringer of warmth and light

In these dark days of Yule

We give thanks for your shining rays”

“As the days grow longer

We celebrate your growing strength

And look forward to the warmth

That you bring to our lands.”

“May Sunna’s light shine upon us

As we revel in the joys of Yule

Bringing warmth and cheer

To all those who celebrate her.”

“In the cold, dark depths of winter

Frigga, goddess of love and marriage,

Guides us through the longest night

With her warmth and light.”

“She spins the golden threads of fate

And weaves them into our lives

Bringing us joy, love, and happiness

In this sacred time of Yule.”

“Her bountiful hand bestows gifts

Upon those who honor her name

As we gather round the Yule fire

And sing her praises in the flames.”

“Frigga, queen of the Norse gods

Bless us with your loving grace

As we celebrate the Yule season

In your holy, sacred place.”

“May your presence fill our hearts

With love, joy, and peace

As we honor you, Frigga,

Goddess of the winter feast.”

“In the midst of Yule,

The God Frey walks tall,

His golden hair shining bright,

As the snow falls like a curtain.”

“With his boar by his side,

He brings gifts to all,

The fields and forests flourish,

Under his loving call.”

“Frey, God of fertility,

Of love and abundance,

He blesses our homes and hearths,

With his divine presence.”

“So let us raise a toast,

To the God of Yule,

May his blessings be upon us,

And fill our hearts with joy.”

“Hail Frey, God of prosperity,

May your light shine upon us,

As we celebrate this Yule season,

With love and gratitude.”

“With Mjolnir in hand and a heart of steel,

Thor roams the land, his power revealed.”

“In the dead of winter, when the snow falls deep,

He rides the skies, his might to keep.”

“With a mighty crash, he smashes the ice,

Defending Midgard from the cold, dark vice.”

“At the Yule season, he brings the light,

Guiding us through the longest night.”

“With a feast of mead and a great hall ablaze,

Thor’s strength is honored in the Viking way.”

“So raise your horns and give a cheer,

For Thor, the god of thunder, is here.”

“With his mighty hammer and his fearless heart,

He keeps us safe and guides us through the dark.”

“Hail to Thor, the mighty god,

Protector of Midgard and all that trod.”

“May his strength guide us through the Yule,

And lead us to victory, with our shields held true.”

“For Thor, the god of thunder, is our guide,

In this season of Yule, let us stand by his side.”

“In the cold, dark depths of winter,

Odin rides forth on his steed Sleipnir,

His piercing blue eyes shining bright,

As he roams the frozen night.”

“He wields his mighty spear Gungnir,

A symbol of strength and power,

Defending his people from the cold,

And bringing warmth in the darkest hour.”

“As the Yule season approaches,

Odin’s presence is felt anew,

His wisdom and strength guiding us,

As we celebrate and renew.”

“For Odin is the Allfather,

The ruler of the Norse gods,

His wisdom and strength ever present,

As we honor him and his cause.”

“So let us raise our cups to Odin,

And give thanks for his might,

For guiding us through the dark winter,

And bringing us to the light.”

“Hail to Odin, the Allfather,

May your wisdom and strength never fade,

As we honor you this Yule season,

And look forward to the coming days.”

“The land, our ancestors’ home,

The rugged earth beneath our feet,

A land of ice and snow and cold,

But also one of fire and heat.”

“The spirit of the Vikings runs deep,

In our veins and in our hearts,

We honor those who came before,

Their strength and courage never fades.”

“Our ancestors roamed these lands,

Exploring and conquering far and wide,

Their legacy lives on in us,

As we continue their Viking pride.”

“We are a people of the land,

Battling against the elements,

Our bond with the earth is strong,

Our connection with our ancestors ever present.”

“We may be scattered across the globe,

But the Viking spirit lives on,

In every corner of the world,

We are one with the land and our kin.”

“So let us raise our voices loud,

And sing our praises to the sky,

For the land, our ancestors, and the Viking spirit,

May they be with us always, never to die.”

“O Mother Earth, at Yule time

Your beauty shines so bright

Your fields are blanketed with snow

And your trees are wrapped in white”

“The air is crisp and cold

But warmth fills our hearts

As we gather round the hearth

And give thanks for all our parts”

“We honor you, O Mother Earth

For your bounty and your grace

We raise a horn in tribute

To your eternal embrace”

“May your fields be fertile

And your children thrive

As we celebrate Yule

And the gift of new life”

“Landvættir of the land,

Hear our call this Yule night,

As we honor and thank you,

For the gifts you give us right.”

“From the earth that nourishes,

To the winds that sweep the skies,

From the fire that warms our hearth,

To the waters that quench our thirst.”

“We thank you for your presence,

In the fields, the mountains high,

In the forests, in the rivers,

In the seas that never die.”

“We offer our sacrifice,

Of food and drink, of song and dance,

As we celebrate the turning of the wheel,

And the birth of a new year of abundance.”

“Landvættir, hear our prayer,

Bless us with your guidance and care,

As we seek to live in harmony,

With the land and all its beauty fair.”

“Landvættir of the land,

We honor you this Yule night,

As we celebrate the gifts of the earth,

And the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.”

“We are the spiritual Vikings,

True to our hearts and the Gods we follow,

We do not bend to control or pressure,

We do not conform to the rules of others.”

“We listen only to what is true in our hearts,

To the wisdom of the Gods and Goddesses,

We do not follow fake made-up Christiantru rules,

Or the puritanical ways of others.”

“We are our own guides,

Determining what is right for us,

Our own knowledge and wisdom,

Leading us on our path.”

“We are the spiritual Vikings,

Defying the expectations of others,

Following only what is true in our hearts,

And the guidance of the Gods.”

Recite Voluspa from the Poetic Edda. Jackson Crawford edition recommended.

“In the beginning, there was chaos

A world of fire and ice

Where only the giant Ymir lived

And the cow Audhumla fed”

“But the gods were born

From the union of fire and ice

And they killed Ymir

And created the earth from his body”

“Then came the golden age

Of peace and prosperity

But the world was not perfect

And the serpent Nidhoggr gnawed at its roots”

“The gods built a great hall

To keep out the frost giants

But they could not prevent

The inevitable end of the world”

“The wolf Fenrir would break free

And the Midgard serpent would rise

The mighty Thor would fall

To the serpent’s deadly bite”

“The world would be consumed

In the flames of Ragnarok

But from the ashes, a new world

Would arise, reborn and renewed.”

“Winter comes, with snow and ice,

Nature falls into a cold demise,

Just as Ragnarok came to pass,

And the world was laid to waste.”

“But just as the seasons turn anew,

And spring brings life and growth anew,

So too shall the world be reborn,

After Ragnarok’s fiery storm.”

“For in the ashes of the old,

A new world will unfold,

With green fields and blooming flowers,

And a new era of peace and power.”

“So let us not despair,

For the cycle of life is fair,

And though Ragnarok may come to pass,

We will rise again at last.”

Rune of Kenaz – “Kenaz, bring forth the light of knowledge and wisdom to guide us in the coming year. May we learn from our experiences and use them to make positive changes in our lives. Let us be open to new opportunities and embrace the unknown with curiosity and determination.”

Rune of Sowilo – “Sowilo, infuse us with your strength and courage. May we face the challenges of the coming year with confidence and resilience. Let your light shine upon us, illuminating our path and providing us with the energy and vitality we need to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.”

Rune of Gebo – “Gebo, bless us with your abundance and generosity. May we be surrounded by abundance in all forms – love, friendship, prosperity, and health. Let us be open to giving and receiving, and may our relationships be filled with mutual exchange and support.”

“With these three runes, we call forth blessings for the coming year, and ask the universe to guide and support us on our journey. So it shall be.”

“Now is Yule, the time of light’s dimmest glow

When our minds turn inward, to the depths below

We look into the darkness of our very souls

As part of the yearly cycle, we turn inwards, whole”

“At this time, things may seem bleak and dreary

But do not despair, for the light will soon be cheery

Sunna, the Sun Goddess, begins her journey back

Bringing warmth and light, to rid us of the dark”

“This is also the start of twelve chaotic days

As old energies are swept away

It is best to stay indoors, and avoid the Wild Hunt’s fray

Odin leads this hunt, as the old year’s reign comes to an end”

“So take joy in what has been, and look forward to what’s to come

For a new year’s cycle, full of warmth and fun

Blessed be Yule, and the return of the light

May our souls be filled with joy, and our hearts take flight.”

“Great Sunna, goddess of the sun and warmth, we honor you on this longest night of the year. We offer you this mead, a symbol of the life-giving warmth of your rays.”

“Frigga, goddess of hearth and home, we honor you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of the warmth and comfort of our homes.”

“Frey, god of fertility and abundance, we honor you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of the abundance and prosperity that you bring.”

“Thor, god of thunder and strength, we honor you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of the power and might of your hammer.”

“Odin, all-father and god of wisdom, we honor you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of the wisdom and knowledge that you bestow upon us.”

“Mother Earth, we honor you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of the nourishment and sustenance you provide for us.

“Ancestors, we honor and remember you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of the connections and traditions that bind us together.

“Lands of our heritage, we honor and celebrate you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of our love and respect for the land and its people.”

“Landvættir, spirits of the land and its elements, we honor and thank you on this night of Yule. We offer you this mead, a symbol of our appreciation for the protection and guidance you provide us.”

“May the gods, goddesses, land, Mother Earth, Landvættir, and ancestors bless us on this night of Yule and throughout the coming year. Hail the gods! Hail the goddesses! Hail the land! Hail the ancestors! Hail Mother Earth! Hail the Landvættir! Hail Yule!”

“With swords unsheathed and shields at hand,

We march to war with brave hearts strong.

But peace is just as vital to us,

For it brings us joy and frith.”

“With frith we thrive and prosper,

Our bonds grow stronger each day.

We share our wealth and resources,

And work together for the common good.”

“In frith we find our happiness,

And live our lives with honor and pride.

We honor our gods and ancestors,

And cherish the gifts they provide.”

“So let us strive for peace and frith,

In our homes and in our hearts.

For it is the foundation of our success,

And the key to a happy and fulfilled life.”

“For as the wise old saying goes,

‘Frith is the foundation of all good things.’

So let us cherish and protect it,

For it is the cornerstone of our existence.”

“Hail to the gods of peace and frith,

May they bless us with their wisdom and guidance.

May our lives be filled with joy and happiness,

And may we always strive for peace and frith.”

“So let us raise our swords and shields,

Not for war, but for the pursuit of frith.

For in peace and frith, we thrive and prosper,

And live our lives with honor and pride.”

“Hail to the gods of peace and frith!

Hail to the pursuit of peace and frith!

May our lives be filled with joy and happiness,

And may we always strive for peace and frith.”

“We give thanks to Sunna for bringing us light and warmth during the darkest days of the year.”

“We give thanks to Frigga for her wisdom and guidance, and for protecting our homes and loved ones.”

“We give thanks to Frey for his abundance and fertility, and for the blessings he brings to our crops and livestock.”

“We give thanks to Thor for his strength and courage, and for defending us against the forces of chaos.”

“We give thanks to Odin for his wisdom and inspiration, and for guiding us on our journey through life.”

“We give thanks to the land for providing us with all that we need to survive, and for the beauty and mystery it holds.”

“And we give thanks to our ancestors, for their wisdom and guidance, and for the legacy they have left us.”

“We give thanks to Mother Earth for her endless generosity and for providing us with all that we need to thrive.”

“We give thanks to the Landvættir for their protection and guidance, and for the blessings they bring to our land and communities.”

“We honor them with this feast and sacrifice, and we ask for their continued blessings and protection.”

“Hail to the gods and goddesses, hail to the land, hail to Mother Earth, hail to the Landvættir, and hail to the ancestors.”

“May our Yule celebration be filled with joy, abundance, and blessings.”

“Skål!”