For Winter Solstice
You come as a babe,
Radiant hope of nations,
Potential flowing in blinding waves
From your gentle hands.
Golden youth whose piercing vitality
Enlivens and quickens the land
You come as a warrior,
Gleaming sword and brazen shield
Driving back the cold-hearted foe
Undefeated, untiring, unstoppable
Defender of life whose shining might
Guards the heavens and the Earth
You come as a King,
Golden-crowned sovereign
Fair and bright, fearsome and cruel
Divine Emperor of all our days
You hold life and death in your hands
The awful power to heal or to destroy
You come as a wise man,
Whose clear but ancient eyes
Have seen all of history unfold
Burning with visions of gods and heroes
Undying memories of all that was
Irradiate our minds and souls
Daystar, Invincible sun
As you have watched over the earth since the beginning
Watch over us now
As you have driven back the darkness with your rebirth
So now drive back the walls that separate us from eternity
Warm the waters here below and let the well open as a gate
Charge the flames here above and let the fire open as a gate
Bless the reaching branches here before us and let the tree open as a gate.
Let the gates be open!
Closing
Invincible Sun, who wields power over life and death,
We thank you for all the blessings you bestow
On this day and all days
As we leave this sacred space, we know that your eyes are ever watchful,
Your sword ready, your power undiminished.
Radiant, eternal and undying one,
We ask that you withdraw again to your throne in heaven
As your warmth withdraws from waters below, let the Well close as a gate
As your light withdraws from the flames, let the Fire close as a gate
As you withdraw from the worlds here created, let the Tree close as a gate.
Let the gates be closed!
Let all be as it was before, but bettered by our work.
