Simple but powerful magic for endings and beginnings
The new year is a potent time for simple, but incredibly powerful magic.
Today in The Magical Library, we’ll explore a 3-part magical practice to honor the year we’ve just experienced, let go of what we’re leaving behind, and bring in the new with intention.
Whether you recognize the new year on January 1, Samhain (October 31), the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Equinox (Ostara), you can apply this simple magical practice to have a fresh start in the new year. In fact, you can use this practice on any portal of an ending and beginning, including your birthday (aka your solar return) or even an anniversary! (This would be a really beautiful practice to do as a couple for your anniversary!)
Wondering how to prepare for the new year? Let’s get started.
You will need:
- About an hour of quiet, undisturbed time
- A journal or notebook and pen
- Optional: A fire or a fire-safe space with a lighter or matches
Part 1: Reflect
For a fresh start in the new year, first, we take time to reflect on the year we’ve just had. To begin, find a time and place where you will be undisturbed for about an hour. Grab your notebook or journal and something to write with. Get comfortable. I also recommend getting a cozy beverage, your favorite cocktail, or a glass of wine. (You should also have water handy.)
Once you're comfortable, close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Set the intention to reflect on the year that’s just passed. Begin to let your mind wander on the events of the past year. When you’re ready, open your eyes.
Open your notebook so that you have two clean pages side by side. Start asking questions for self-reflection and begin to write out all of the events that come to mind from the previous year. For any events that feel good, write them on the right page. For any events that do not feel so good (or worse), write them on the left page.
Just keep writing until nothing else comes to mind, or you need a breathing break to reset.
Once you’ve written down everything of note you can remember, take time to review each item.
As you reflect on your left page, circle anything you need to let go of and release.
As you reflect on your right page, take time to soak in all the goodness. Celebrate. Feel those beautiful feelings of joy, appreciation, fun, excitement, and make way for your fresh start in the new year. 🎉
Part 2: Release
After your questions for self-reflection, explore the items you’ve circled on the left page. Add anything else to the page that you want to release to set the stage for your fresh start in the new year. You may also want to make a list of emotions, thoughts, and beliefs that you do not want to bring into the new year with you.
Once you feel complete, it’s time to release!
Rip the paper out and burn it!
If you’re not able to burn it, you may also shred it or tear it up into lots of pieces. You want to destroy the paper as both a literal and symbolic gesture to release what you’re leaving behind.
As you watch the paper’s destruction, feel the feelings of all that is written on it being released and let go of for good. This simple but powerful self-development act releases you from the burdens on that page so that you can move into the future more freely!
Once you’ve completed your releasing magic, drink some water and take a few minutes to ground yourself.
Part 3: Renew
Now that you’ve reflected and released, you've set the stage for a fresh start in the new year!
To begin the Renew stage of this magic, get calm and centered.
Get comfortable, place your hands on your heart or belly (or both), and close your eyes. Take several deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose as you inhale fresh, light, good feelings. Breathe out through your mouth as you exhale any funkiness, stagnation, heaviness, or negativity.
Once you feel centered, set the intention to create the year ahead that you most desire. What feelings do you want to feel in the year ahead? What do you want to create, attract, and manifest?
When you’re ready, open your eyes and, on a fresh sheet of paper, begin to write all of it down: all of the emotions, all of the creations, everything you want to experience in the new year.
Once you’ve finished writing, drink more water and ground yourself again. Review your list.
Sit comfortably, place one hand on your heart and the other on your belly. Close your eyes.
Imagine you’re in this same time next year, reflecting on the year that just passed. Imagine that you realize that EVERYTHING ON YOUR LIST became a reality this year! What feelings would you be feeling? What thoughts would you have? FEEL those feelings now. Really let yourself feel them. Bask in them.
And when you’re ready, open your eyes, knowing you’ve just completed some true magic. Finally, you have a fresh start in the new year! It is done!
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