Create a Ritual for Your New Year..

Ritual is an ancient practice intended to alleviate stagnant energy, release your fears and set your intentions for the future. This practice allows us to create ‘life by our own design’. By actively envisioning our future, we are able to manifest our own destiny – however that may look to you. It is the art of letting go of what no longer serves you, and cultivating your hearts desires. We have the power to draw in whatever we so desire, the hardest part is figuring out what that is. Focus on the aspects of your life that bring you the most joy, what comes naturally to you? Harness this power and create your destiny.

Whether you participate in New Year’s Resolutions or not doesn’t matter. Any time is a good time to set your intentions and create some goals for yourself. Every day is an opportunity to start fresh. Yet there’s something special about the collective energy that gathers around the turn of a new year. With new years, brings new beginnings. Take this opportunity to set your intentions for the year ahead.

Rituals allow us to connect with our true selves and welcome the inside out. There is a spiritual function of our psyche that thrives on rituals, as they are a way to process life transitions and reconcile with your past. There are endless forms of ritual and there are no rules. You can follow any style you so desire, or better yet – make up your own entirely. There is a romance in creating your own ritual, something sacred for yourself to look forward to each year.

Whether creating your own or looking for some direction to get you started, here are our favourite aspects of ritual & intention setting.

Begin with finding a sacred space to sit & be – a space where no one can disturb you, away from any distractions that may catch your eye. Preferably away from technology. This may be under your favourite tree, atop a rock by a creek or simply in a cozy corner of your living room.

You may like to create a little alter with a few of your favourite possessions – good luck charms, images of an important figure or deity etc then light a candle & some incense to set the mood. You may like to clear the energy of the space with a sage smudge stick or by lighting some Palo Santo to remove unwanted energy.

Enter your ritual with a gentle meditation. This will allow you to clear your mind, be present in the moment and channel divine intervention to supercharge your manifestations. Simply close your eyes and focus all of your energy on your third eye – the gateway to your creative life force. Another option is to light a candle and keep a gentle gaze on the flame. If you find yourself distracted by thought, stop yourself, label it ‘thinking’ and come back to your breath. Once you feel ready to come back into your body, focus your attention on gratitude. Reflect upon all that you have to be grateful for. What aspects of this past year stand out? We have so much to be thankful for every day. If we can focus on what we have, rather than what we don’t have – life will be so much more joyous. Harness this gratitude and allow it to overcome your entire body.

If any negative thoughts come up, or moments you need to release from your psyche – write them down. In doing so, as the pen reaches the paper – feel the weight of the words lift from you and out, releasing them onto the page. Later it is a good idea to burn the page, have a ceremony to cremate your negative experiences. Now you are ready to move forward.

Now it’s time to set your intentions for the year ahead. You may like to close your eyes again and visualise how you would like your year to look. Picture yourself this time next year, what would you like to have achieved? Where would you like to see? What experiences would you like to have? See the world through your ideal lens, feel a magnetic and graceful way of being enter your heart. Choose a fresh piece of paper and write in clear concise form what you are invoking and welcoming in for 2019. Write in the first person, present tense, while focusing intently on the visions that make your body and spirit feel healthy and receptive.

If you need a little more guidance in envisioning your goals, use a set of tarot cards whose images may prompt your rawest reactions. Take your time to manifest, create, and explore what the cards trigger in you. Your first reaction is usually the closest to home.

Close your ritual by shutting your eyes, feeling into all that you wrote, embodying gratitude, and blowing out the candle.

You may like to fold your goals and carry them around in your wallet over the next year. This will keep them close to your heart and in your mind’s eye. It is important to have a strong visual in your mind, it’s best to picture yourself having achieved your goals. How does that look? Harness that image and remind yourself of it frequently.

Move forward with confidence, knowing that you are on the right path and the future is bright.