Opening the Rite: "Tonight we celebrate the Winter Solstice by Honoring some Winter and Solar Entities. I'm also going to be sharing a story that I've been working on for almost 10 years, which honors Reindeer Mother and her journey to return the sun to the sky.
I didn't used to connect to reindeer, especially not to that toxic old Christmas story of Rudolph–the different little reindeer who was bullied and friendless, and had to prove himself useful in order to be accepted. As a weirdo myself, that lesson never sat right with me.
It wasn't until 2017, when I came across an article by Gather Victoria (5), who talked about Northern Goddesses and spirit workers who may have influenced the lore of Santa and his team (of reindeer cows, not bulls)–the Sami people and their herds, the Solar Entities who herded reindeer, some who had Reindeer Antlers or drawn sleds, and one who was a reindeer Herself.
Soon the antlered Elen of the Ways brought Reindeer Mother to me and we began to journey together…those journeys helped to write my children's book and this annual day-long ritual that I perform with my family on the Winter Solstice. We make sun and reindeer masks and shake jingle wands to raise energy. For offerings, we bake cookies or mini cakes of reindeer and suns using yellow icing and solar sprinkles. Last, we finish our ritual off with this story."
Read The Sun Carriers: A Story About Reindeer Mother and the Sun.Calling the Hearth Mothers and Spirits: Light the Candle.
"Hearth Mothers and Spirits, we honor you. Bring Your presence of the Living Flame into our home. Bless us with your gifts of light and warmth. (4)
Hearth Mothers and Spirits, accept this offering."
Sprinkle offerings of pantry herbs into the flame.Earth Mother: "Earth Mother, you who goes by many genders and names, I invite you to this ritual. Earth Mother, accept this offering".
Purification: "Attendees: If yall want to, I invite you to purify your own space as I do mine".
Shaking the Jingle Wand, "In the names of my Hearth Guardians, I cleanse this space of all unwanted energies and entities. You are not welcome here and you must leave."
Repeat 3 times.
"This space is cleansed and protected."Inspiration: "Tonight's Spirit of Inspiration, we invite the Yule Goat, Julbocken, and their Rider of many names–Tomte, Nisse, Gnome, Elf. Liminal Beings who inspire many stories of hope, kindness, and generosity. Spirits of Charity who bring light, hope, warmth, and wishes to children and adults with a cart full of blessings. Beings who're celebrated with tiny and colossal straw goats worldwide. Julbocken and Rider, we invite you as tonight's Spirit of Inspiration. Be welcomed and accept these offerings."
Give offerings of oats.Open the Gates: "We call now to the Gatekeeper! Guardian between our world and the Other. Way Finder, Liminal Traveler! Antlered Healer, Elen of the Ways! Guide and Sacred Herder! Accept this offering and be welcomed in this rite!"
"Elen of the Ways accept this offering!”
Give offerings of Milk and Cinnamon.
"Elen of the Ways, I ask that you guide and protect us, join your magiks with ours, and help us open the Gates!" Open the Lantern.
(Touch Deer Antler to the Flame)
"Sacred Fire of the Heavens and Gods, You are the spark of inspiration, the flame of transformation, Burning within us, igniting our spirits with purpose.
May this candle flame become the cosmic fire.
Sacred Fire, burn bright within us!"
(Touch Deer Antler to the Well)
"Sacred Well, cauldron of the Underworld and the Chthonic Ones, Portal to the Ancestors, deep and ancient, Flowing from the womb of the Earth.
May this cup of water become the cosmic well.
Sacred Well, flow deep within us!"
(Touch Deer Antler to the Tree)
"Sacred Tree, Portal to all worlds, you are the embodiment of strength and endurance.
May this wood block become Yggdrasil.
Sacred Tree grow strong within us!
Elen of the Ways! Let the Gates be Opened!”
Open hands.
"Now we welcome the Kindreds Three. Ancestors of blood and spirit, culture and place, I invite you to this rite.
Ancestors, accept this offering.”
Give Cornmeal as an offering.
"Nature Spirits of land and air, fire and water, I invite you to this rite.
Nature Spirits, accept this offering.”
Give offerings of Cornmeal.
"Shining Ones, Known and Unknown, Seen and Unseen, With and Without Shrines in our home. I invite you to this rite.
Shining Ones, accept this offering.”
Speak aloud or type in chat–invite your Kindred to this rite!
Give offerings of Honeyed Water.
Beings of the Occasion: “Now we welcome the Beings of the Occasion!
Mothers Holle-Hulda, Winter Crones with your feathered quilts of snow that blanket our world below your sky homes…
Beaivvi ("bye-vee"), Reindeer Antlered Sami Sun Goddess, Healer of those who suffer from depression during these cold and dark months, … (7)
Reindeer Mother, Sun Carrier who returns the sun high into the sky, from Solstice to Solstice, bringing light and warmth back to us.
Sunna, Sun Goddess, Sister of the Moon God, Nurturer of All Jörð's ("Yerth") flora and fauna…
Cailleach, Deer Mother, Winter Hag. You who decides if winter stays or winter goes…
Saulė ("soul-leh" or "saal"), Baltic Sunbeam Spinner, Weaver of Sunlight… (11)
Welcome All and be honored at this Winter Solstice Ritual.
Winter and Solar Entities, accept these offerings!"
Give offerings of Oats, Whiskey, and Butter.
"May these offerings strengthen these Kindreds and Spirits of Winter and Sun, Fire and Ice, Life and Death, and the delicate Sacred Balance.
May these offerings also strengthen our relationships!"
9 1/2. The Working: Ahead of time, like Monday, tell attendees to bring something that reminds them of the Sun. It can be a stone, crystal, yellow/orange/white objects, Sun/Solar Deity statue or figurine, a wooden cut out, fiber art piece, a wheel, a ball, a circle, a sticker, or just a piece of paper and a writing/painting tool. Or if not suns, reindeer/deer images and figurines work, too!
"In my home, the Reindeer Mother Ritual is the favorite. On the Winter Solstice, I read my kids my story that I read to yall in the beginning and then we make reindeer, sun, and star cookies or mini cakes, and we decorate with solar colors and sprinkles. My kids pick the best one to give to Reindeer Mother to help fuel Her journey to carry the sun into the sky. We wear masks and shake jingle wands to give Her more energy, and to let Her know that we're cheering for Her–giving Reindeer Mother the courage and strength to carry on.
"The returning sun represents hope, warmth, healing, energy, joy, and potential. We still have to make it through winter, but we have the blessings, the tools, family, community, and the guidance to get through it. We're not alone. You're not alone. Not only do you have your herd around you, but you also have the power within you, too."
"In the beginning you should have brought something to represent the sun and/or reindeer for tonight's working of joy and empowerment. Go ahead and draw a sun or a deer–make it large enough that you can put symbols, words, sentences inside of it. These should be things that bring you joy and make you excited. They could simply be positive affirmations or a rune of the sun, success, potential such as Sowilo or Dagaz, or a simple sigil. Do this now, we're only going to spend about 5 minutes on it. If you'd like, you can also do this working on your own later."
Let them make their thingy, hold it, close their eyes, and then walk them to a little sunball floating in the snowy woods. Have them tap into this power source–"draw this energy into you. Allow the sun to give you strength, life, joy, and thus charge your little sun or reindeer. As time passes, see your little sun growing stronger, burning brighter, chasing away the cold and darkness. Reaching its potential. Take a few minutes to allow the sun's energy to purify and charge you. Also pay attention to any symbols or messages that you may receive during this time."
(2 minutes)
"It is time to return. Thank the Sun and any other entities that may have come to you. When you are ready, wiggle your toes and open your eyes. If you need to, jot down some quick notes or messages–you'll be able to dive deeper into your journey and messages afterwards–we can talk about them after, too, if you're comfortable. Give me a thumbs up or type in chat when you're ready to move on."
"As for your sun or reindeer, keep this in a special place, such as an altar, shrine, bedside, journal, wherever. Like the Honeysweets from August, touch and hold it from time to time. Let it cleanse and recharge you. Set it out in the sun to be fed, too. This simple tool can be very powerful and potent if you allow it.
Come the Summer Solstice, release it however you see fit–burying it, burning it, ripping it up, whatever works for you, for now it is the Summer Solstice's time."
"Now it's time for the omen."
Omens: “Who is speaking? Are you giving messages or omens?
Cailleach, what blessing do you offer?
Reindeer Mother, what blessings do you offer?
Mother Holle, what blessings do you offer?
Seasons of the Witch: Yule Oracle by Lorraine Anderson & Juliet Diaz
Recorded by Willow: Reindeer Mother. Antlered Healer, Elen of the Ways, holding a lantern and scratching Reindeer Mother's ear. Snacks, eat well, have fun. For some, this time of year might not be the brightest or happiest. Rest if you are able, create your own joy, instead of what is expected of you, what is traditional, societal. Take back your power, be authentic. Reinvent. Snow card.
Softness, patience, allowing. Be patient, be present, rest. Rest in beauty. A quilt of feathers wrapped around you, resting cozy. Taking care of yourself.
Mother Holle. What more can be said? The others have it covered outside of the missing whiskey offering. Be downy, like the down feathers, warm, taking care of ourselves. A reindeer, the reindeer card in the deck. Find the Reindeer Medicine card. Inner strength, journeys, fighting for your dreams.
Be present, self care, take the support. Do not draw from your own energy, so you can rest and recharge. Later you can use your energy to get things done.
My Summary: For the omen, Callieach, Reindeer Mother, and Mother Holle gave blessings of Rest, Accepting Support, and Save your energy for the future. Be present now and self-care. Create good memories and write your story. Be authentic. "Be the downy" feathers on a bird--feathers that keep the bird warm and healthy. All Entities were in high spirits.
Are the omens good?
Are they accepted?
Hallowing the Waters: Hold the Drinking Horn. “We ask the Kindreds to bless these waters. May they fill our cups with Their ________; and whatever else They feel we're in need of!
See the omens fill these waters.
"Behold the Waters of Life! Drink deep and know we are blessed.”
Thanking the Kindreds: “Winter and Solar Entities, Kindreds and Spirits All! We thank you for attending this rite and lending us some love, inspiration, protection, and guidance. Hail and Farewell!”
Closing the Gates: “Elen of the Ways! Thank you for guiding us and mixing your magiks with ours. Help us now to close the gates!
(Touching Deer Antler to Yggdrasil) May Yggdrasil be but a wood block.
(Touching Deer Antler to the Well) May this cosmic well be but a cup.
(Touching Deer Antler to the Flame) May this cosmic fire be but a candle flame.
May the Gates be closed!” Close the lantern.Thank Inspiration: "Yule Goat and Rider. We thank you for your inspiring presence and helping us with this ritual."
Thanking the Earth Mother: “Earth Mother we thank you for your support this day and every day. Our thanks and blessings. Hail and farewell, Earth Mother.”
Thanking the Hearth Entities: “Hearth Mothers and Spirits, We thank you for attending this rite, and helping to light the way with inspiration, warmth, and love.” Blow out the candle.
Closing the Rite: “This Winter Solstice rite has ended. Go in peace and in fellowship.”
Resources
Almqvist, Imelda. Swimming with the Deer Mother Spirit at Sunrise. 22 July 2025. https://imeldaalmqvist.substack.com/p/swimming-with-the-deer-mother-spirit
Ar nDraiocht Fein: Our Own Druidry. 2024. https://www.adf.org/about
Bailey, Arlene. Mother Christmas, a Female Santa and Antlered Female Reindeer. 11 Dec 2023. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=857074606422057&set=a.523148606481327
Franklin, Anna. The Hearth Witch's Year. Llewellyn Publications. 2020. Page 22.
Olson, Danielle Prohorn. Gather Victoria: Doe, A Deer, A Female Reindeer: The Spirit of Winter Solstice. 15 December 2017. https://gathervictoria.com/2017/12/15/doe-a-deer-a-female-deer-the-spirit-of-mother-christmas/
Olson, Danielle Prohorn. Gather Victoria: Remembering the Deer Mother of Winter Solstice. 2017. https://gathervictoria.com/2017/11/19/remembering-the-deer-mother-of-winter-solstice/
Pekantytär, Niina. Sápmi: Beaivvi The Sun Goddess. 5 Nov 2020. https://littlewomen.medium.com/beaivvi-the-sun-goddess-of-the-s%C3%A1pmi-dc092aefd77d
Shaw, Judith. The Reindeer Goddess. 18 Dec 2016. https://feminismandreligion.com/2016/12/18/the-reindeer-goddess-by-judith-shaw/
Stone Creek Grove, ADF. Standard Liturgy. 22 Nov 2021. https://stonecreed.org/rituals/standard-liturgy/
Three Cranes Grove, ADF. Ritual Scripts. https://threecranes.org/category/ritual-scripts/
We Are Star Stuff. Sol, Beiwe and Saule: Northern Sun-Goddesses. 11 Nov 2015. https://earthandstarryheaven.com/2015/11/11/sol-beiwe-saule/