21 Days of the Winter Solstice 6

Saule by Lisa Hunt

There are many sun goddesses to call upon, Saule is a Latvian goddess of the sun and fertility and is one who speaks to me. Her name translates to "sun." 

A devotional practice that I maintain through December is to invoke a sun goddess once a week, beginning in early December. I like this invocation which I adapted for the Winter Solstice. The original is from Stephanie Woodfield's book, Drawing Down the Sun.

I begin by lighting a yellow, orange, or gold candle.

Hail O Mother Sun! (or deity's name)

Help my inner light to burn in these days

of the waning Sun.

In the Underworld, Your golden rays 

bring warmth to the dead.

Shine upon me in the darkest hours of Winter.

Instill me, Mother Sun, with Your wisdom

And fill me with Your radiant healing.

Let me shine as does Your light.

I now burn incense as an offering. Use whatever you think is suitable. I like this recipe from "Pagan Christmas, The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide" by Christian Ratsch and Claudia Muller-Ebeling, it smells divine!

Sun Incense

3 parts Frankincense

1 part cinnamon bark or cassia

1 part cardamon seed

Grind ingredients in a mortar and pestle. Place by spoonfuls on a hot charcoal disk.

(Based on a recipe from Seidir - the pseudonym of Yvon de Loup, 1871-1926, a French occultist of the Martinist Order.. The recipe comes from his studies of occult botany (Belledame 1990, 117).

If you are invoking Saule, pronounced Sow-lay, this incense adapted from Drawing Down the Moon is lovely.

Saule Incense

2 tbsp amber resin

1 tbsp myrrh

1 tbsp dried apple bits, finely minced

1 tbsp rose petals

This incense can be mixed together and placed onto the hot coal.

Beginning on the day after the Winter Solstice, I recite this invocation, also from Drawing Down the Sun:

Hail to the dawning sun,

Sun Maiden of new life and healing.

Hail to the noon day sun,

Mother of all life,

All seeing immortal eye.

Hail to the setting sun,

Lady who journeys through

the realm of shades and spirits.

You who overcome every darkness,

Radiant goddess of rebirth.

During the recitation of this prayer, you can anoint yourself with an appropriate solar oil, beginning with the forehead for the Maiden, the heart for the Mother, and the feet for the Dark Goddess. Oils that I like to use: pomegranate, frankincense, and Dragon's Blood.*

Blessings dark and deep!

* Do a patch test after diluting oils for use on the skin.

Follow proper safety precautions when using candles, fire, and charcoal. Open a window to insure that there is proper ventilation.