Winelady

The light in the Dark: Winter Full Moon Ritual
Best if held with four people respresenting the EAST, WEST, NORTH and SOUTH. If not then no worries! The ritual should take place outside, but is completely acceptable inside as well due to the cold weather. Each person should have an item to place upon the altar that represents the season of Imbolc (It is celebrated either at the beginning of February or at the first local signs of Spring)

* Quarter candles are colored candles based on the colors of the four cardinal directions: green for north, yellow for east, red to the south and blue in the west.

You'll want to include quarter candles on your altar which are colored candles based on the four cardinal directions:
GREEN: NORTH
YELLOW: EAST
RED: SOUTH
BLUE: WEST

Also include a glass ofwassail (which is basically mulled wine, look up recipe if desired) or other seasonal drink. If you're including Cakes and Ale as part of your celebration, place your cakes on the altar as well.

The person in the north quarter lights their green candle, holds it to the sky, and says:

We call upon the powers of Earth,
and welcome you to this circle.
You hold the seeds within you, warm and deep,
waiting for the return of daylight.
Keep the roots of life sacred within your womb,
until it is time for growth to begin once more.
Place the green candle on the altar.

The person to the east lights the yellow candle, raises it to the sky, and says:

We call upon the powers of Air,
and welcome you to this circle.
The whirling winds of winter
bring snow and cold to our hearths and homes.
They also bring with them change,
opportunity, and renewal as they blow.
Place the yellow candle on the altar.

Moving to the south, light the red candle and hold it to the sky, saying:
We call upon the powers of Fire,
and welcome you to this circle.
May you keep us safe, and warm our homes,
the spirit of the sun.
Place the red candle on the altar.

Finally, light the blue candle to the west, and hold it to the sky, saying:
We call upon the powers of Water,
and welcome you to this circle.
Snow and ice, sleet and rain,
wash away that which we no longer need.
Place the blue candle on the altar.

Have everyone in the circle join hands and say:

We gather tonight to rejoice by the light of the moon.
We celebrate the season of darkness,
knowing that the next turn of the Wheel will bring light.
We use this time of darkness for thought,
introspection, and growth.
As the moon above, so the earth below.

Go around the circle, passing the wassail. As each person takes a sip, they should share one change they plan to make in the coming months. Now is a good time to make plans for future, with the coming change of seasons and how you plan to make them manifest.

Take a moment to reflect out loud or in silence on the darkness of the season, but also open the mind up to understand without darkness there is no light.

You can choose to close up the cirlce or continue on to a new ritual. (such as drawing down the moon, which is a beautiful ritual that will is an invocation of the goddess.