Link to the replay of the ritual can be found here
You will need:
A black candle and holder
A white candle and holder
Lighter or matches
A pen or pencil
Two pieces of paper
Cauldron or fireproof dish
You may also want to add some herbs, oils or crystals. I’ve added a few suggestions but go with your intuition.
Suggestions for herbs and oils for releasing and cleansing:
Carnation - release
Coriander – release
Ginger - cleansing
Thyme – release
Suggestions for crystals:
Moss agate – release, cleansing
Fluorite – cleansing
Orange calcite- cleansing
Citrine - cleansing
Suggestions for herbs and oils for positivity:
Basil – happiness, peace
Lavender – happiness, peace
Marjoram - happiness
Parsley – happiness
Suggestions of crystals for positivity:
Blue lace agate - healing, peace
Amethyst – peace, calming, happiness
Citrine – happiness, joy, confidence, abundance
Rose quartz – happiness, healing, calming
Sunstone – happiness, confidence, peace
As we take our first few steps into the new calendar year, and before our diaries fill up too much with plans for the year ahead; we believe it’s a good idea to release any negative energy or burdens from last year that may still be hanging around, so that we can stride forward unencumbered and ready for a fabulous 2024.
When you release something, it leaves behind a void, nothing loves a void more than negative energy. So once everything has been released, we will fill the void with positive goals for the year ahead. This can be anything you would like to achieve; you can be as wild and free with these ideas as you want to.
This ritual can be done at any time of the year, when you want to release anything that no longer serves you.
If you haven’t done so already, place the candles in their holders, dress with oil if you are using it, and surround with any herbs and crystals.
Together we will now connect to our sacred space, thereby linking all our energies both far and near; take three long deep breaths.
Standing or sitting, with both hands on your heart and say, "From my heart”, stretching both hands into the air, say "To the sky”.
Putting both hands on or facing down to the earth, as close to it as you can get, say "To the land”.
Putting both hands on your heart, say "To my heart”.
Leaving both hands on your heart, say "From my heart”, reaching out your right hand, "To all points on the compass".
Reach out your left hand and place your right hand on your heart and say, "To all directions”. Putting both hands on your heart, say "To my heart”.
Janus, God of the dawn of each new day
Of beginnings and endings,
Transitions, thresholds and boundaries.
He who sees both forwards and backwards in time
We ask you to be present at our ritual
To guide us on our path
And to watch over us as we release what no longer serves us.
Janus, we welcome you.
Light your black candle and sit quietly for a few moments, setting your intention to release.
When you are ready take a piece of paper and write ‘Release’ at the top, then write down everything that you don’t want to take with you into the new year.... When you have finished, fold the paper away from you three times if possible and place it in front of the black candle.
Light your white candle and sit quietly for a few moments, setting your intention for positive goals. When you are ready take a piece of paper and write ‘Positive goals’ at the top, then write down everything that you would like to achieve in the new calendar year, you may want to make a quick copy of these goals to remind you of them as we are going to burn this one.... When you have finished, fold the paper towards you three times if possible and place it in front of the white candle.
Now take the piece of paper with the items you want to release and light it from the black candle carefully, drop it into the cauldron to burn. As you watch the paper burning visualise releasing all the things on the list and say: Fiery transformation power of flame, release and let go, without any blame’
Take the second piece of paper with your positive goals and light it from the white candle carefully, drop it in the cauldron to burn. As you watch the paper burning visualise reaching those goals and being totally successful in achieving them. Say:
Fiery transformation power of flame, may I reach my goals, life won’t be the same.
Allow the candles to burn out safely and bury or throw away the ashes.
Time to feast. What do you have to eat and drink?
We will now disconnect our sacred space.
Janus, we thank you for watching over us, for guiding and supporting us during our ritual.
Janus, we bid you farewell.
Standing or sitting, with both hands on your heart and say, “From my heart, stretching both hands into the air, say “To the sky”.
Putting both hands on or facing down to the earth, as close as you can get, say "To the Land“
Putting both hands on your heart, say “To my heart”.
Leaving both hands on your heart, say “From my heart”, reaching out your right hand, say “From all points of the compass”.
Reach out your left hand and place your right hand on your heart and say, “From all directions”.
Both hands on your heart, say “To my heart, thank you”.
Image from Unsplash