The Yule Vigil takes place on the longest night of the year. This year in the Northern Hemisphere that night is tomorrow night, the 20th. That is the night that we pray the Sun/Son to return to us. In fact, it is called a vigil because we literally stay awake all night. Not only do we pray, we protect the space from any who threaten the birth of the Sun/Son. If you have ever attended the birth of a child and sat up all night with the laboring mother then it is a comparable experience.
At least that’s how we witches used to start the Yule celebration. Yep, it gets complicated with our working lives, but it is still doable, if you have the stamina to do it. What I see too much of these days is people who just aren’t willing to stay up all night. They get too sleepy. They go to bed and then they miss the big moment. the birth of the Sun/Son at dawn. Imagine sleeping through the birth of a baby! Missing that first cry at birth. Missing the power of the Sun at dawn as it pours its lifegiving force onto the Earth.
So for those of you who have experienced a Yule Vigil and the return of the Sun, WHOOP! For you wienies who have never taken this moment of power into yourself, Stay up all night tomorrow night and watch the Sun rise Sunday morning. You can sleep afterward.