CircleOfOne, Yule,
12/31/04
CircleOfOne has come to the conclusion that if
we’re to thrive where we’ve been planted then we should begin paying closer
attention to our own environment. So
we’ve begun looking at how the seasons and holidays actually affect our lives
here in Florida. Rather than consulting
books and articles that have been written by strangers in strange lands, we’ve
decided to look closer to home to develop traditions and customs for our area. Yule and Winter are generally a time of great
hardship and severe weather for many people.
But for us here in Florida this is a time of abundance. The weather is cool and crisp and allows us
to play out doors without the bugs.
Florida crops grow best during these winter months. Flowers still bloom around us. This is the best season for many of us to
become active and get things done that we don’t do during the hot months.
So, I searched through many Yule Time and
Christmas traditions to find something that signified the abundance of our
season. It was a little tough, but I
finally managed to find something. Tonight,
we’re going to pay tribute to the much misunderstood and often maligned Fruit
Cake. What better symbol of abundance
than a Fruit Cake just filled with everything under the sun? Dating back to the Romans, fruitcake was once
a relatively modest affair of pomegranate seeds and barley. Over the years, they’ve been created with
every form of fruit, spice and alcohol known to man. Fruit Cakes have a reputation of lasting for
quite a long time. They have
perseverance. Now it’s been a popular
belief that there exists only one original Fruit Cake that is simply passed on
person to person each year. This is not
true; in fact, over 800 million Fruit Cakes are created each and every year to
be enjoyed around the world. Sadly, the
very first original Fruit Cake was lost many, many years ago. It is said that there was actually a fourth
Wise Man who journeyed to Jesus’ birth.
Unfortunately, it was discovered that he carried the Fruit Cake and he
was accosted by angry townsfolk who threw him into a cave and rolled a huge
boulder into the entrance. It’s been
said that it was that original Fruit Cake that sustained him for the remaining
years of his life.
Introductions
(Begin by introducing
yourself and encourage others to do the same)
Altar Devotions
(Light all the candles on
the Altar)
By the powers of the Ancient Ones,
In the names of all who have gone before;
We remember thee, we honor thee.
Purify the Area
(Use the incense and walk
counter-clockwise around the outside of the circle.)
Cast Circle
Three times round, this Circle’s bound,
With a zest for life and just enough spice to keep
things interesting
Three times round, this Circle’s bound,
With the fruits of our labors and the spirit of
our friendships
Three times round, this Circle’s bound,
With the common wholesomeness of our everyday
hopes and dreams
Fashioned by the ingredients of our existence, we
create this Sacred Space. Where night
and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, all meet as one. So, Mote it Be
Call Quarters
North; I
call forth the Elements of the North.
In the dark of night you bring with you winter's
chill to invigorate our bodies and encourage us to move and enjoy all that life
has to offer. We call to you to join us
as we celebrate your season. Hail &
Welcome!!
East; I
call forth the Elements of the East.
In the soft glow of dawn, you bring with you the
breezes of springtime to refresh our spirits as you persuade us to follow our
dreams. We call to you to join us as we
celebrate this Yuletide season. Hail
& Welcome!!
South; I
call forth the Elements of the South.
In the brilliant light of day, you bring with you summer’s
heat to cause us to take pause, regenerate our energies, and ignite our
passions. We call to you to join us as
we celebrate this Yuletide season. Hail
& Welcome!!
West; I
call forth the Elements of the West.
In the shadows of dusk you bring with you the
rains of fall to nurture the lands that sustain us and wash clean the
environment around us. We call you to
join us as we celebrate this Yuletide season.
Hail & Welcome!!
Anoint
(Walk the inside of the
circle to anoint and welcome each person in whatever
fashion feels comfortable)
Invocation
Great God, we invite You to join our Solstice
Celebration. Leave Your wintry tasks and
come to play with us this festive night.
As Sage, Father, and Newborn Sun we call to You. We rejoice as we feel the touch of Your
grace, and the breath of Your dancing fire, as the days once more grow
longer. Be with us tonight, Blessed Be.
Great Goddess, we invite You to join our Solstice
Celebration. Venture out from beneath
Your wintry cloak and come to play with us this festive night. As Maiden, Mother and Crone we call to
You. Lady, renew our hope as we feel the
touch of Your grace; warm our souls with Your embrace. Be with us tonight, Blessed Be.
Unite energies
(You’re on your own, use a unique method to bring everyone into focus
and unite the energies for the evening)
Name the Working
(Create the Fruitcake)
1 Cp Golden Raisins (Prosperity)
1 Cp Currants (Growth)
½ Cp Dried Cranberries (Hope)
½ Cp Dried Blueberries (Protection)
½ Cp Dried Cherries (Independence)
½ Cp Dried Apricots (Love)
1 Tsp Lemon Zest (Longevity)
1 Tsp Orange Zest (Good Fortune)
¼ Cp Crystallized Ginger (Power)
1 Cp Quality Brandy (Friendship)
1 Cp Sugar (Love)
1¼ Sticks Butter (Nurturing)
1 Cp Apple Juice (Healing)
1 Tsp Cloves (Peace)
Raise Power
(Raise Power any way you
wish, use something that will include the whole group. Try something new or different if you like.)
Sacred Space
(While in sacred space – ask if anyone needs/wants anything special)
(Ask if anyone has any questions, concerns, or comments)
(Take care of the wish box)
Great Rite
Male; Let
it be known that no man is greater than a woman
Female; Nor
is a woman greater than a man.
Together; For
what one lacks, the other can provide and what one needs, the other can supply.
Male; As
the Athame is to the male
Female; The
Chalice is to the female
Together; And
as they are joined, they become one in truth.
For there is no greater Magick in the entire world than that of Love
Cakes and Ale
Female; Great
Goddess, thank you, for the Blessings this drink provides. May we never thirst.
Male; Great
God, thank you, for the Blessings this food provides. May we never hunger.
Together; You
are the Vine; we are your branches. For without You, we can do nothing
Release Quarters
North, South, East and West. Together we’ve mixed the ingredients for the
coming year. We thank you all for
joining in our celebration. Go if you
must, stay if you will. Know that you
are always welcome here. Blessed Be!
Open Circle
The timer has rung. The Fruitcake is done. Time to turn off the oven and bid goodnight
to our Coven. May this circle be open,
but unbroken. Merry we meet, Merry we
part and merry may we meet again.
Feast
FREE RANGE FRUITCAKE
INGREDIENTS
4-5 cups Sun-Dried Fruit, any variety, diced
(Raisins, Currants, Cranberries, Blueberries,
Cherries, Apricots, Mango, Pineapple)
Zest & Juice of One Lemon
Zest & Juice of One Lime
¼ Cup Candied Ginger, chopped
1 Cup Gold Rum
1 Cup Sugar
1 ¼ Sticks Butter
1 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice & Apple Juice, combined
¼ Tsp Ground Cloves
¼ Tsp Allspice
1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 Tsp Ground Ginger
1 ¾ Cups Flour
1 ½ Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
2 Eggs
½ Cup Toasted Pecans, broken
Brandy or Gold Rum for Basting and/or Spritzing
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 325 degrees
Grease a large glass baking pan
In a medium bowl zest the lemon & lime, then
squeeze the juice into a one-cup measure. Add just enough apple juice to
complete the one cup needed for the cake. In the same bowl combine dried
fruits, candied ginger and both zests. Mix to combine.
In a non-reactive pot combine dried fruits, rum,
sugar, DF butter, juice and spices. Bring mixture to a soft boil stirring
often, reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn off heat and leave to
cool for about an hour.
Combine dry ingredients and then add half of the
fruit mixture. Bring batter together with a large wooden spoon and then stir in
eggs one at a time until completely integrated. Add remaining fruit mixture and
combine well, then fold in nuts. Spoon batter into the baking pan and allow
batter to sit for 15 minutes before baking.
Bake for 1 hour, check for doneness by inserting
toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If
not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again.
Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or
trivet. Baste or spritz top with brandy or rum and allow cooling completely.
When cake is completely cooled, seal tightly and set aside. Every 2 to 3 days,
feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy or rum. The cake's flavor will
enhance considerably over the next two weeks.
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