Happy New Year, My Friends! I do know about you, but 2023 has been a year of struggles and rising from the ashes for me. Between having emergency surgery (and almost losing my own life) in July to having family struggles, I am waving good-bye to one of the hardest years of my life. Though, upon reflecting on it, 2023 did teach me how resilient I am. So, that’s a blessing and if I have learned anything, it is to count your blessings! (:

Last night, in the wake of welcoming in this glorious New Year, I was preparing myself for weeks to welcome in the New Year properly! I gathered each herb and artifact that I was to use and kept it safe in my studio, away from tainted energies. I thought it would be appropriate to share some of my magickal tips and rituals! In the past, I have done several different things: between cooking and baking to burning a list of what I was leaving behind in the previous year. Whatever works for you, you do! There is no wrong way to do it! The rituals and magickal practices that I am listing are ones that I have done last night and wanted to share with you! Perchance, these rituals may kindle a fire in someone to inspire one to try…and may even help someone (:

1.) Save your laundry (and dishes) for January 2nd!: Okay, so I will admit, I am being a wee bit superstitious about New Years after what I endured last year, but I started off my 2023 by doing several loads of laundry and dishes. Legends and superstitions claim the following:

• When it comes to laundry and dishes, you do not want to wash away good luck or good fortune. You may potentially sweep away upcoming money.
• There is also a superstition that you may potentially wash away a loved one.  

2.) Blow Cinnamon through your front door: Cinnamon is a power-house spice that you can find in any grocery store! It is used in rituals involving money, protection, prosperity, good luck and abundance workings. A ritual that I started to do after my surgery is on the first of the month, I blow cinnamon through my front door and into my home.

• I keep a jar of cinnamon by my front door that I have blessed it specifically for blessing my home on the first of the month. I will charge it under the Full Moon’s rays to ensure that it is working to its full potential.

3.) Create a Manifestation Jar: My favorite ritual! In my personal jar, I have money/abundance/prosperity drawing herbs, coins, and other personal magickal items to open doors for opportunities! The intention as you are constructing this is to think about what you wish to manifest.

As I created mine, I lit incense, listened to joyful and uplifting music and I wrote from my heart. That is the true essence of magick– when you craft from your heart, you are in true alignment with your soul and its desires.

The herbs that I used are the following:

• Tonka beans.
• Cinnamon sticks.
• Orange slices with anise stars glued onto them.
• Allspice berries (though you can use ground!)
• Whole Nutmeg (you can use ground!)
• Patchouli.
• Yellow mustard seeds.
• Crushed rosemary.
• Bay leaves to write your wishes on.

Before closing it, I breathed life into it and spoke to it. Each day, give it a little shake and speak to it. Remember, this is your hopes and dreams… and the intention is to allow it to come to life!

I also lit a green chime candle to fuel my spell.

4.) “Out with the old, in with the new.”: In Irish folklore, what I have read (and have done this every year for decades) is that at Midnight, you open up your back door/window and allow the old/precious year to exit. Then, you open the front door.

Over the years, I tweaked it:

• I open my back door at 11:59PM and visualize the year and all of the hardships that I endured, escaping my home. Usually, I burn incense– it adds a degree of ritual and this is what that is!
• At midnight, I open my front door and allow the New Year’s air to whip through my home in a cleansing sweep.

I go through my home, with smoke and will cleanse my home. Then, give my floors a lovely wash.

(Yes, this is all done at Midnight.)

5.) Don’t forget to ring in the New Year!: Take out your bells, whistles, pots and pans! Make noise! Yell, shout! Have joy and hope for a brand new slate! My family “rang” in the New Year at Midnight and it was wonderful!

6.) New Year’s Simmer Pot: I simply adore simmer pots! I plan on making on later this afternoon! It’s a great way to fill the house with a divine scent and you can magickally craft it. You can use whatever you have in your cupboard, depending upon what it is.

For my simmer pot, I will be using the following ingredients:

• Cinnamon sticks.
• Orange slices.
• Frozen cranberries.
• Rosemary.
• Sunflower petals from my garden.
• Calendula petals.
• Bay leaves with intentions, written on each individual leaf.

7.) Burn a candle to light the way into a better tomorrow: Colors have power and intention. I mentioned a green chime candle but I also lit an additional green candle in my home. Green is the color that represents money, prosperity, healing, balance, peace, tranquility and hope!

8.) Dress for what you want to manifest: Piggy-backing on what I said about colors, for New Years, wear red for good luck and/or green for prosperity and abundance! I took it a step further (:

• I wore one of my older Salem sweatshirts, that represents my home- a place that I will be moving back to… a place that my Ancestors have lived and died– my roots! I also wore my most colorful Finfolk mermaid leggings!
• For my child, I dressed them in ‘Spiderman’ Pj’s: Spiderman is strong, brave, courageous, honest, helpful and a faithful and loyal friend. I wanted my child to emulate those treasured characteristics and embrace them in 2024!

Tonight, we will be doing the same thing! I have on my Finfolk mermaid leggings called ‘Sanderson’s spell’ which has colors of red and gold, perfect for ringing in the new year! And my child will be wearing Buzz Lightyear PJ’s!

My Friends, this is our year– it’s our come-back year! May all of your dreams come true. I wish you all great health, flowing of abundance and to be surrounded by those that bring your heart great joy.

Much love. Until next time.

-FB.