Winter Solstice Wishes
It’s seriously the most magical time of the year.
Ever since I can remember, my mom and I have been writing our wishes or intentions for the new year on the 21st of December. She calls it “Espíritu de la Navidad” or Spirit of Christmas and the idea is that during that night, the Spirit of Christmas comes through our windows and and we receive it with candles and the utmost hope that this following year will be great and work in our favor.
After this crazy year, I thought it would be nice to share this little ritual to get us excited about this new (and hopefully better) year ahead. It is also a great time for goal setting as a business!
To complete this ritual you will only need:
Candles with a scent that brings you joy (We use orange and cinnamon scented ones because they remind us of Christmas)
Paper
Pen
1. First, we prep by cleaning the house
I always start off the day with some “winter cleaning” and sweep the floor and make sure things feel like they are new and clean, as the thing we are about to ask for. I grew up with the belief that the Spirit of Christmas was about to visit so, makes sense that we’d want to make a good impression. My belief now is that in some way, a new year feels like a clean slate or blank canvas, and in a way an ordered and clean space is just that.
2. At midnight, we open the windows and light our candles
It is finally time to open the windows and doors to let the vibrant and new energy come in. It is also time to light our candles and begin writing but more on that step later. We light the candles and even incense to represent all of the new light coming in and to guide us during the actual darkest night of the year.
3. The list of wishes
Now comes the most fun (and sometimes most difficult part): asking for what you want to bring in during the new year. I always start off my list by giving thanks for all of the things that came true during the past year and also for the things I didn’t ask for but that came anyway and felt like a true blessing.
Then I write 21 wishes in order of importance and always include the best of wishes for the world as a collective, my family and friends. The amount of wishes doesn’t really matter as long as all of them are made with a deep sense of love and gratitude and knowing that you are deserving of what you are asking for (or even of better things!).
Once the list is finished we have to keep this paper somewhere where we can find it the next year. If the previous year this same ritual was performed, we reread that list and cross off the wishes that have come true and burn it in the flame of the candles while giving thanks. Candles should be left on until they are fully consumed.
