An End of Year Ritual

The end of the year is an inward season; it lends itself naturally to reflection.

Here’s an end of year ritual to integrate the happenings of your year and to intentionally open to the inklings that might be calling. Do what you need to make it your own.

Set and Setting

Let’s get the vibe right! We need some mood food to let our system know we’re doing something special here. Choose a set amount of time you can give your undivided attention to - whether that’s 30 minutes or an entire morning. Choose a setting where you feel most able to quiet the mind and connect inward. For me, that’s often on a walk in nature. For you, it might be your local coffee shop or your meditation pillow. Make it stand out - whether that’s with a fancy beverage, incense or finding a sacred spot nestled in the woods.

Settle + Be With Your Surroundings

This is not a task to check off the to do list. This is about sinking in and engaging the moment. Take time to allow the mind to chill out, slow down and tune into your surroundings. Embodied presence is an enlivening of the senses. I usually find a nice spot down by the river to sit. I place my hands on the earth and take my attention wide to encompass my surroundings. I imagine myself melting into the whole of it all.

Reflect - Write or Muse

After you feel connected and calm, reflect on all that has transpired over the year. It can be helpful to take it month by month. What do you remember from last January? Listing it all out. The good, the bad, the ugly… the beautiful.

Who were the new people, places, animals, objects in your life? What did you create? What did you do less of? What was the tone of your year? Was there a theme? What did you learn? Let it rip! Whatever comes to mind let it spill out of you at this time.

Higher Self + the So-So Self

When did you show up to life powerfully, as your best self? What are you proud of yourself for and what do you want to celebrate?

When and how did you fall short of who you know yourself to be? This isn’t about shaming ourselves rather noting areas that might be asking for attention and some work.

Do you feel resentful or gummed up over anything that happened this year? Is there anything sticking that you might be open to releasing?

Release

A simple, yet powerful way to drop the emotional weight you might still be holding onto is to visualize removing them from inside of you and setting them out in front of you. Offer them out to the universe as energy to be transmuted and reused. Breathe in a cleansing breathe.

Future Self

Did you receive any insights or messages as to where your path is headed? What do you sense is next on the horizon for you? Ponder ways you might actively support these knowings. Are there people to reach out to? Are there habits or behaviors you’re ready to stop doing? Things you’ll need to start doing?

Gratitude

How many things can you be grateful for? Allow yourself to genuinely connect with this gratitude.

Movement

End your ritual with some movement. Whether it’s a mini dance session, a sprint through an open field or simply rubbing your palms vigorously together.