Simple Solstice Sunrise Ritual to Celebrate

My partner and I have developed a new solstice ritual four years ago. I am sharing this with you in case it is helpful.

It’s simple … we go out and watch the sunrise. We go out at dawn and watch the sunrise. The goal is to head out as the light returns and watch the sun come up over the mountains, buildings, or whatever is around. We started this in Montreal, overlooking the St. Laurence River, then shifted to watching the sun rise over the city. This year, we will head to the beach and watch the sun rise over the mountains and the water. I also enjoy watching the “Hogfather” TV series by Terry Pratchett as it provides a mythic perspective of the importance of the sun coming up on the Solstice day.

You can do this ritual huddled in blankets on a winter morning with insulated thermoses of your favorite hot drink or add more complexity by including a small or more formal ritual.

If you’d like to keep it simple, here’s a short prayer that you can say as the sun rises:

Hail to the Sun,
As the light grows, so may the joy within me.

If you’d like a longer ritual, here’s a framework you can use. This framework uses the ADF framework for rituals. Feel free to adapt it. To follow this ritual, you will need a beverage of some kind – if you’re somewhere chilly, I recommend something hot!

As the Sun rises, we take a moment to recognize the event.
May the Spirit of the Earth support us this day, and the Sun’s ascent

As the Sun rises, we stand in the center of the Worlds,
With the earth beneath us, the Sky above us, the Water around us swirls.

May the Sun shine on us as we open the Gates to the otherworld.
By land, sea, and sky, the Gates OPEN, the ways unfurled

We call to the Kindreds, spirits strong and true,
The ancestors, nature spirits, and shining ones too.
May You be welcome around the fire.
We call to the Spirit of the Sun to inspire.

To all the Kindreds, we offer you this:
A warm drink to share, may our spirits uplift.

Pour out a little of your drink on the ground

Our offerings made, we now ask to hear,
The Kindreds’ message to guide us this year.

Take an omen with your favorite method.
Then raise your beverage for the Kindred’s blessing.

May these waters be blessed as the Waters of Life,
To bring us their peace, and to ease all our strife.

If you want to do any work or magic, do it here.

Our thanks to all who joined us here today.
We thank the Spirit of the Sun for lighting our way.
Thanks to the ancestors, nature spirits, and shining ones,
Bless us this day, as we journey on.

Thanks to the Spirit of Earth,
For the strength you’ve given since our time of birth

May the Solstice bring you blessings throughout the year.

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AI Notice: A human created the ritual and AI was used to find rhymes.
Sunset image is from Pixabay.com.