January 1st restarts the calendar new year, but is it really the best time for setting new resolutions and starting fresh? I would argue that it’s not! In today’s post, I’ll be talking all about the energy of January. Plus, we’ll look at how to ring in a witchy or pagan new year if you still feel like celebrating!
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I love history, and I think everything we can learn about the past is super interesting, so here’s a micro history lesson for you!
We have Julius Caesar to thank for the current date of the new year. After he rose into power, local calendars were more or less eliminated. A huge swath of the world made the switch to the Julian calendar, which was based on a 12 month cycle. You know, like what we observe today. He also marked January as its beginning in honor of Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings.
Janus has two faces which allow him to look forward into the future and backward into the past simultaneously. This actually aligns really nicely with many of the themes of winter. Prior to about 45 BCE, the new year was typically observed in March at the time of the Spring Equinox.
When we came into the 16th century and Christianity began to spread across Europe, the New Year was commonly marked as Christmas day in honor of the birth of Christ. Consequently, celebrating on January 1st became a heathen practice. Then Pope Gregory officially changed the New Year back to January 1st. In 1582, he established the Gregorian calendar which many of us follow to this day.
Not everybody follows this calendar exclusively, so you do still have several cultures across the world who honor the new year in February or March instead of January.
What's the Problem with a January New Year?
I mean, if it’s working for you, then there’s really no problem.
For some people, though, starting fresh and setting resolutions in January just feels wrong. It might feel overwhelming our completely out of alignment for the time of year or stage of life they are in.
The dead of winter really is a time for rest, reflection, and survival. Early people who lived by the cycles of nature understood that January was a cold, dark, and harsh time of year. They were more likely staying inside, waking late and going to be early, conserving resources and energy, and generally trying not to starve, freeze, or get eaten by predators.
If your soul is telling you to spend your pagan new year staying warm, sleeping longer, spending time with family, drinking lots of mead, and not getting eaten by wolves, then you’re tapping in to the ancient spirit of deep winter. It’s possible you’re starting to think about what you hope to achieve come spring time. It’s very normal, though, if you’re not actually ready to start acting on those intentions!
Gardeners know that January is the time for buying and storing seeds, not planting them. If you don’t have the energy to dive into new, active life changes, that makes sense. You may, instead, find that your desire is to be left alone in your hermit cave with a book and a hot cup of tea.
But... It's New Year's Eve!
I get it. There’s something to be said for the energetic force that comes from a whole world of people collectively celebrating a fresh start for the new year. That energy doesn’t just go away because we want to go full hermit mode.
If you find yourself itching to participate, or experiencing some New Year’s FOMO, it’s also okay to tap into that energy. At the end of the day (year?), you’ve got to do what works best for you as a witch.
So here are some witchy was you can celebrate a pagan New Year.
Set SMART Goals instead of Resolutions
Have you ever noticed that resolutions have a habit of fizzling out almost immediately? They have such a high rate of failure because they set us up to fail. New Year’s Resolutions are often broad, generic, and rooted in the energy of lacking something.
Most resolutions sound like this:
“I want to lose 50 lbs this year” or “I hope I find a partner”. If you’re familiar with intention setting (and if you’re practicing witchcraft, you should be), then you might already see the problem here. These generic resolutions are fully focused on what you don’t have yet! They’re also way too generic. How are you going to lose 50 lbs? When will you achieve that goal? How are you going to find that new partner? What kind of partner will they be?
Even in the mundane world, these are destined to fizzle out. As intentions, they can be downright dangerous. I can lose 50 lbs through serious illness or limb loss. I might end up with a partner who is a bad match or highly abusive.
Instead, try setting a SMART goal with some solid magical theory. SMART is an acronym that stands for:
Specific – what exactly you want to achieve
Measurable – how you will know you achieved your goal, backed with proof and evidence
Achievable – the goal is realistic and possible within a set time frame
Relevant – the reason you want to achieve this goal. What’s the big picture?
Time Bound – your goal has a specific deadline for when you intend to accomplish it
Suddenly, “I want to be a better witch” might become “I will improve my connection to the cycles of nature by observing all 8 sabbats in the coming Wheel of the Year, completing at least two activities in alignment with the season’s energy, and journaling about each experience.”
Take it to the next level by using solid magical theory. Set up your space as you would for a ritual, use positive statements, and word your intentions as though they have already happened! You should also jot down some action steps you intend to take to reach your goal once you feel energetically moved to do so.
Need help aligning with the Wheel of the Year? You can get step-by-step guides to the sabbats in my shop, or learn more from these posts below.
Make a Vision Board
This form of manifestation magic resembles setting resolutions because you base it on things you want to achieve over a set amount of time. The act of creating it weaves magic directly into the board, and its physical nature keeps your goals tangible, concrete, and right in front of you.
Vision boards also require a smaller energetic load to create and maintain while you wait for your motivation to thaw with the snow.
To craft your own vision board, cut out, create, or print images, words, phrases, and inspirational quotes that align with your intentions. Combine them on a board or paper in a way that’s pleasing to you. Then display it in a place where you’ll see it every day.
You can make separate boards for each goal or stick them all together in the same board. I prefer to dedicate each section of my board to a different goal, but it’s your magic. Do what feels right.
Experiment with Scripting
Winter is the time for reflection, and nothing is more reflective than journaling. Add some manifestation magic to your pagan new year journaling rituals with scripting practices.
Set aside some time to think about what you want to manifest in the coming year. Then journal about it. Write about what your life will be like in explicit detail once your desire is manifested. Really paint a picture of your new life by incorporating your senses and emotions, what your new daily life looks like, new routines and experiences you will have, and any other details that bring the story to life for you.
Be sure to script using positive language, and present tense verbage. Write as though it’s already happening. Include statements of gratitude to your guides, gods, or the universe for these blessings.
The more often you do this, the stronger you connect with the new intention and reality, so scripting is a great habit to form in the winter months or any time of year.
Work Through Energetic Blocks
Instead of setting new resolutions, spend your pagan new year processing and eliminating energetic blockages that have held you back from reaching your goals in the past year. Removing your blocks will pave the way for faster and more powerful manifestations in the coming year.
Blocks are hidden thoughts, fears, challenges, feelings, and traumas that get in the way of your manifestations. They are often hidden deep in your subconscious and require some exploration to find. Try out these processes to uncover and work through yours:
- State your intentions or goals aloud, and observe yourself for any negativity, discomfort, nagging feelings, or sarcastic thoughts that pop up. Those are signs of blockages that need to be released before you can truly get what you want.
- Journal about all the good things that come from staying right where you are. What gifts or blessings can you identify? Look at your list of good things, and see if you can identify any triggers, traumas, or pains within those blessings that need to be released.
- Explore meditation, reiki, chakra work, energy healing, self care practices, shadow work, or even therapy as methods to work break down energetic blockages.
It’s important to keep in mind that you won’t break down all your energetic blocks in a single night, but this is a great time to start identifying them! The wintry energy of reflection and healing meshes well with this type of work.
Hold a Simple Pagan New Year Ritual
This quick and easy pagan New Year ritual is nice if you want to observe the new year with a witchy and magical twist.
You will need:
- slips of paper and a writing tool
- a black candle for release
- a fire proof container that can collect ashes
- a white candle for new beginnings
- Can’t use fire? No problem! I’ll include fire free alternatives below!
Step 1: At some point before midnight on New Year’s Eve, spend time writing down things you want to release on slips of paper.
Step 2: Next, charge the black candle with the energy of releasing, or carve “release” into the side of the candle. One by one, burn the papers in your fire safe bowl, allowing the flames to cleanse your life of these things. Be sure to gather the ashes in the bowl. Let the candle burn down or extinguish it, and save it for another release ritual.
Step 3: Now, take the ashes outside, and cast them into the wind so they blow away from your home. You can also toss them into running water, flush them, or bury them off your property. Clean and cleanse the bowl well. You’ll use it again later.
Can’t use fire? You can write on slips of toilet paper instead and flush them down the toilet or tear up your papers into tiny pieces, and throw them into the wind instead.
Step 4: At some point on New Year’s Day after the clock strikes midnight, jot down intention statements for the things you want to manifest in the new year. Use positive, present tense statements for strongest impact.
Step 5: To start, charge the white candle with the energy of fresh starts and new beginnings, or carve “New Beginnings” into the side of the candle. One by one, burn these intentions, allowing the flame and smoke to carry your intentions out into the universe. Gather the ashes in your cleansed and cleaned fire proof bowl. Let the candle burn down fully if you can. If not, extinguishing and saving for another intention setting ritual is fine.
Step 6: Finally, take the ashes outside, but this time cast them onto your property. You can throw them into the backyard, sprinkle them into your plants, bury them near the front door, or even bury them in a house plant inside. Keep the bowl on your altar until the next time you clean/change it up.
Can’t use fire? Tear up the slips, and toss them onto your property, bury them in your yard or a house plant, add them to a sachet and hang them near your door, or add them to a container like a jar or box. At the end of the year, you can go through the slips and see what manifested.
Participate in Your Favorite New Years Traditions
Being a witch doesn’t mean you have to let go of all your favorite traditions! If you want to participate, then you should! After all, who am I to tell you what you can and can’t do? Here are some not-so-pagan and pagan new year traditions I’ve seen people celebrate.
- Refresh your shrines and altars dedicated to gods, guides, or ancestors. Clean up clutter, and leave fresh offerings. Be sure to thank them for their guidance in the past year.
- Eat 12 grapes in the 60 seconds following the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Set intentions for the coming months with each grape.
- Place pennies in your windows to bring abundance.
- Eat lucky foods like black eyed peas, ham, cabbage, and greens.
- Hide a plastic new year’s baby in baked goods for one lucky person to find.
- Take a ritual bath intended to cleanse you of the past year and start the coming year with a clean slate.
- Do a year ahead tarot spread to catch glimpses of your future. Pull one card for each month, one for each sabbat, one for each season, or even just a single card to represent to overall energy of the coming year.
- Practice meditation to begin your year harmoniously.
- Clean and cleanse your home for the new year.
- Turn off all the lights in your home, and switch them all back on after midnight to mark the new year.
- Spend your pagan new year doing only things that align with your intentions for the coming year.
- Wear red to bring good luck.
- Write a letter to yourself from the perspective of you a year from now. Write to your current self all about the amazing things that your future self has manifested.
- Eat, drink, be merry, and drink some more in the style of the ancient Babylonians and Egyptians.
- Rest, recover, and do absolutely nothing.
How Do You Celebrate a Witchy, Pagan New Year?
Your pagan new year can be whatever you want it to be – magical or mundane, busy and lively or quiet and still, solitary or surrounded by friends, filled with witchy rituals or a long night’s rest.
No matter how you feel called to honor this transition, make sure it works for you!
How will you be celebrating your witchy, pagan new year? Tell us about it in the comments below.
