Erin Reese: Return of the Light: New Year's Intention Ritual

Recently, on December 21, we welcomed the New Moon in the sign of Capricorn – earthy, cardinal, grounded, realistic Capricorn. This was a particularly special New Moon as it also fell on the date of the Winter Solstice. On this longest night of the year, we also welcomed the much-needed Return of the Light. “Ah, thank ye gods,” we say. “I’m ready to get some sunshine back in my world again!”

To celebrate the Solstice, I attended a women’s circle gathering. We created this very simple ritual to say goodbye to 2014 and welcome the New Year. In tune with the seasons, we understand that whatever seeds we plant now will most likely come to fruition at the time of the Summer Solstice. When the Sun enters Cancer on June 21, your seeds may not be entirely ready to harvest, but they will surely be close!

You can of course get creative and alter this ritual to suit your mood, your materials, and your timing. Have fun. This is for you!

Return of the Light: Intention Ritual for 2015

Material you will need: candle, pen, paper, scissors, needle, thread, beads or berries, and a quiet hour.

Get yourself a candle – you can decorate a special votive holder for the occasion (we used green and red paper around a jelly jar and tied sprigs of ivy, holly, pine needles and berries around it with colored ribbon). You can also use one of those awesome $0.99 religious candles with the Virgin de Guadalupe, Mother Mary, Jesus Christ, or a word like “PROSPERITY” printed on it, available at your ethnic food store or a spiritual shoppe. You can also use a big taper, or pillar candle – anything will do but it is best if you use a new one.
Say a prayer/intention invoking the Divine, or your subconscious if that is easier for you, and light your candle. Sit in quiet meditation of the past year 2014, and let your life unfold around your imagination. See what is there to be discarded. Blow out the candle, symbolizing the snuffing out of the past, releasing back into the darkness to be transformed.
Release the past in the following manner: Draw a snowflake shape, a heart, a tree, a symbol (even a simple circle will do) – big or small – on a piece of paper. On or in the middle of the symbol, write down anything that you are ready to release from your life. This can be situations, relationships, beliefs, habits, limitations – anything that has served its purpose. Write them down inside the snowflake or circle or symbol.
With reverence for all that these experiences have taught you, release. Do this by cutting or tearing the paper into small bits, and offering by fire (burn in a safe ceramic bowl, for instance, or put into the hearth), water (dissolve in a stream or bowl), air (blow to the wind over a hill, for instance), or earth (bury in the ground). Let go!
Now, relight your sacred candle. Go into meditation and revisit your Divine image, higher self, or inner voice/subconscious. Ask to be shown what is needed for 2015, what would serve you best to bring into your life this coming year. Sit quietly for a few moments. Let it emerge. Breathe deeply and hold three to five key intentions clearly in mind. Open your eyes.
Find a needle and thread. Holding your intentions in mind, string five beads on your thread – one bead for each key intention. (We used cranberries in our ritual so if you have those around, they make a nice touch, too.) Tie the string off, with an extra loop at the top for hanging. Admire your handiwork!
You have just created a super-charged 2015 Intention talisman. Hang it somewhere where you can see it regularly – draping from a window, on your wall, near a mirror, even in your car. This has been energized by the Divine, by the Goddess, by your highest Self. Let it serve to remind you of your True North for the coming year.