So, I usually do some type of end-of-the-year ritual to bring the current year to an end as we enter into a new year. It is my way of clearing out the old while making room for the new. It allows me to take into account what has happened this year and give gratitude for it, learn from it, while also preparing for what I will experience in the upcoming year. Because each year that I live has a different tone, with different blessings and lessons, my ritual changes from year to year. But here is a snapshot of what I do in case you would like to start creating your own New Year rituals.
During the Days Leading Up to New Year's Eve:
I usually clean my home space throughout the days leading up to New Year's Eve so it is all done before the big day. I clean and organize my home so it is fresh and ready for the new year. I make sure that clothes are clean and put away, all the clutter is straightened up, and dishes are clean and put away. For me, this represents leaving clutter and uncleanliness behind as I enter the year with a clean slate and space, making room for abundance and clearing away blockages.
On New Year's Eve:
A few hours before 12 a.m., I usually start around 9 p.m., I put all of my stones in the windowsill to get rid of old energy and recharge them for the new year (I leave them there to charge in the moonlight until the next day). I wash the outside and inside of my doors—front door and patio door—with hot soapy water to get rid of the dirt of the old year so the portals/doorways are clean and inviting for positive energy and abundance to flow through my home. I then sprinkle salt (any salt will do) around my home and outside of the door entries, across the bottom of the doorway, to block evil and negative spirits from being able to come in. Once that is complete, I crack the window and/or door, so everything that I am clearing out has a way to exit out of my home, and light a few candles as I begin my burning ceremony. While I am doing the burning ceremony, I am simultaneously praying, meditating, putting out my intentions for the coming year, sending out gratitudes for the things that went great this year (naming them), and acknowledging lessons learned and areas that I desire growth in, while also asking my spiritual tribe to guide me.
Burning Ceremony:
I burn sage, then palo santo, then incense (Nag Champa is one of my favorites). As I burn each item, I make a complete loop around my home so that every crevice, closet, tub area, behind the shower curtain, etc., is being cleansed. So, a total of 3 times around my home—once for each item I'm burning. I'm making sure to speak intention into each space. If I'm in the kitchen, I'm speaking love for healthy eating and the enjoyment of cooking delicious meals into that space. If I'm in the den, I'm speaking love and peace over that space so that it is inviting for my spirit to dwell and find peace there, while also being a safe space for peaceful beings that I'm in relationship with and that align with my greater self. And so on, and so forth. Once the burning ceremony is complete, I close the windows and doors after about 5 minutes.
I tend to stay away from white sage, leaving that for Indigenous people since it is now becoming difficult for them to get it for their cultural practices. I use either blue sage, culinary sage, or dried rosemary as a substitute. Sage is considered a medium for communication with the spiritual world, ancestors, and higher powers as it cleanses the body, mind, and spirit. Palo Santo is used in ancient rituals to cleanse a space, person, or object of negative energy. Incense is used to cleanse away negative energy and create a sacred space while connecting you with the divine or higher realms through its fragrance. As an article I read on Help Us Green states, "The smoke from incense acts as a spiritual broom, eliminating impurities and creating an environment that is sacred and conducive to spiritual connections and experiences." Using these items should be done so with intention and mindfulness, to not only honor your spiritual tribe but also the culture in which these practices come from.
Wrapping Up the End of the Year:
Most of the time, I am still praying and setting my intention for the upcoming year as we cross out of the old year and into the new year. I get very detailed about what I want for myself in the upcoming year—from as big as financial goals to as detailed as my hair growth. I'm covering it all: vacations, relationships, home life, everything! If for any reason I finish before the clock strikes 12, I will spend the remaining time left on New Year's Eve quietly meditating until the new year is officially here and will bring everything to an end with gratitude for a safe journey into the new year.
Let me know in the comments if you have any special New Year's rituals!
Love you lots!
-Sacred
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