As the year quickly draws to a close, I am reminded that it is once again the time to think about shedding oneself of any emotional baggage or regrets that bind us. We need to discard old burdens, push them out. And start to realize that the coming new year brings so many opportunities. We are essentially reborn into a much happier state of being – with new goals, new ambitions, new heights of achievement to attain, as well as the resolve to see these things through. Let go and see nothing but positive for the coming new year.

Now, there are many traditions around the globe as we see this entrance into the new year, but I want to share one with you that my family has done for several years. It enables you to symbolically banish the old from your life and release it so it can burden you no more. It also adds a welcoming ritual to your celebration that will help ensure your luck in the new year to come.

First, gather up all the things that you would like to see happen in the new year. For example, if you wish for your business to succeed, grab a business card. If you need more income, grab a copy of the want ads, or job description you want – or gather up some coins or a dollar bill. Photos of your family are always a nice choice. Just grab whatever feels right.

On a piece of paper, write the following:

‘Out with the old,

In with the new,

May prosperity and fertility

Come to you

On this New Year

So it shall be.’

Fold this little petition towards you three times.

You will toss these items into a plastic zip lock bag. You can also add money-drawing herbs like bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, magnetic sand if you have some. Anything that you desire in the coming new year.

Take the bag outside of your home and hide it somewhere that you will know where to find it.

A few minutes before midnight, light a candle – any color will do. Say the following:

‘As I light this candle,

I bid the the Old Year farewell,

With gratitude for milestones passed,

And memories cherished.

And I welcome the New Year in

With love and warmth and blessings.

That the quality of this new year be assured,

I now dedicate a moment to visioning

Some ways to make this year

A year of excellence,

A year of fortune.’

Pause for a moment to envision the kind of year that you want to have and the kind of person that you want to be. Enhance these visualizations by imagining your objectives charged with energy and bathed in glowing light. Then continue:

‘And thus do my wishes for the year 
take on their own life and purpose. 
So does the year itself 
take on a glowing life and power; 
A bright year, a bold year, 
a golden year, a year of magic! 
So may this year bring luck, 
and peace, and prosperity 
to one and all.’   

From By Candlelight, by Janina Renée

Allow the candle to burn continuously, or relight it every morning to reactivate the energies of your eve celebration. Whether the candle takes a few days or a few months to burn down, you can be satisfied that its flames will radiate your blessings to last the twelve months out.

The morning of January 1, go outside and bring the zip-lock baggy inside your home. Symbolically, you will be bringing all these wonderful opportunities into your new year!

Anything written on paper in the baggy, remove and burn. Scatter the ashes to the wind.

Stay positive and focused this year, my Witches. Like attracts like… so focus on all the best things in your life – and it shall attract more.

Blessings to each of you, from the Swamp Witch & all of us at Inexplicable Things. May the new year be more prosperous than you can imagine! 

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