December is filled with beautiful opportunities to mark our turning from darkness to Light. Rituals of lights are performed in Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice and New Year celebrations, providing us with many chances to honor our personal growth. Whether you choose to observe them in solitude or in the company of loved ones, ceremonies give us a method for paying tribute to the transformation in our lives. Here is a simple ritual you can enjoy alone or with others which turns your hearth into a place of ceremonial celebration!
You will need:
A wood-burning hearth or stove (a basket will do if you have neither)
One or more candles, music and aromatherapy to create a blessed atmosphere
Twigs or small sticks
Notepaper and pens
Start by creating a sacred space. Simply light one or more candles, select some soothing music and fill your space with captivating aromas. You may wish to use an aromatherapy spray, light some incense or simmer a natural potpourri on the stove by combining water, cinnamon sticks, cloves and a dash of nutmeg.
Gather your group or your own thoughts and select a stick or twig symbolizing something you wish to release from your past year. It may be a feeling, a painful interaction with someone, an unhealthy personal habit or a phase in your life. Share aloud what your item symbolizes, imbuing the stick with your deep desire to release old energy. Then lay your twig in a cold or crackling hearth; if you have no fireplace, simply lay the stick in a basket. If you are practicing in solitude, allow ample time to share with the Higher Realms everything you wish to release. If you are in a group, each person can take turns discarding as many symbols as they would like until all feel complete. Then, if the hearth is cold take a moment to light it, silently watching the refuse of the past year transform into pure Light and Energy. Items placed in a basket can be ceremoniously scattered in Nature following your ritual.
Once all Releases have been expressed, it is time to affirm your Intentions for the new year. I recommend from one to three Intentions; any more than four and it is difficult to remember all the things you are trying to achieve. This leads to unnecessary guilt and shame when priorities are set but never accomplished. Have few enough Intentions that you can memorize them quickly and call them to mind repeatedly over the coming year.
Taking a pen and paper (I like sticky notes, which can be immediately posted for reference), write down your Intentions. The more succinct you can be, the easier the Intentions will be to memorize. For example, bringing more compassion into your relationship with Nathan can be simply written as, “Compassion toward Nathan.”
I encourage my students to select at least one Intention relating to their spiritual practice; make your Journey a priority each year and you will find you grow more quickly. These might be praying or mediating with more discipline, opening your heart to Divine Guidance regularly or other goals that deepen your Connection to Goodness. Finally, read your Intentions aloud. If practicing in a group setting, have each person read just one Intention they feel comfortable sharing with others.
Close your ritual by offering gratitude and asking the Higher Realms to bless your Intentions. Be sure to save your paper and keep it close for your reference. I like to rewrite my Intentions on two or three sticky-notes, placing one in my office, another in my car and another in my home. This reminds me to check in with them again and again and not to forget them as the months roll by. Our Intentions are meant to unfold within us over the entire year, until the next time we are ready to Release what no longer serves and Renew our connection to Divine Light.
Grace and Clarity 