End of Year Rituals
“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”
- Alfred Tennyson
End of year traditions and/or rituals are as important as making a New Year’s resolution. I personally do not make resolutions. I make an intention and set obtainable qoals. I write out those goals at the end of the year, before the new year rings in; however, before I even begin to make an intention or set a goal, I peform my yearly rituals in December.
“Rituals are the formulas by which harmony is restored.” ~ Terry Tempest
When Systems and Rituals Coincide
I’m a systems person. I like things to have a place; to be organized, in order to be efficient and to increase productivity. Plus, having things organized is aesthetically pleasing.
A system is “a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized framework or method.”
I’m also a traditions person. Having a ritual every year is an action step. Goals don’t become accomplishments without action. A ritual is order and it’s action. It’s “a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.”
I start with reflecting on the year, to see what progress I’ve made, to appreciate where I am and to visualize where I see myself going. Reflecting on what transpired throughout the year gives me a bird’s eye view of the goals I accomplished and the goals I still need to work on.
My annual rituals include:
Review. Reflect. Revise. This relates to goals and was written in a prior blog post.
Declutter and De-own. 1) To make room and welcome the abundance I’m destined for by getting rid of things that no longer serve where I am and where I’m going in my life. 2) To clear stagnate energy by removing inanimate objects I’ve held onto for far too long.
Energy isn’t just felt by a person. It’s felt in a room, in the air, in the space. If something feels off in a room, take inventory of your surroundings to see if there are unused or old objects and items you need to get rid of. Those inanimate objects hold energy. When you declutter a space, you are clearing stagnant energy.
Think about it. How many times were you motivated to change a room around and once you did, the space felt lighter? That’s because the energy wasn’t circulating and when you moved things around you shifted or raised up that energy. I suggest when you clear a space open a window to ensure the energy escapes! Then light a scented candle or sage the area if the latter is your choosing. Caution: clearing that energy is IMPORTANT! I can tell you from experience, I rearranged and Feng Shui’d and boy oh boy! It shifted some energy that caused me to have to move abruptly - which wasn’t great at the time, but turned out to be a blessing.
Buy a new journal for the new year’s intentions, to do, thoughts, inspiration etc. It’s like writing a new book/chapter each year!
Thank my blessings buy dumping out a gratitude jar. I begin the jar every year in January, roll the paper like a small scroll, and I started tying a pretty ribbing or yarn around them before I place into the jar—do all things with intention. It amazes me to see the blessings I’ve had throughout the year!
Start writing out my goals for the next year (If you want to learn how to strategize and organize your goals my book How to be a Goal Achiever shows you how.
Wipe my whiteboard clean and write out a snapshot of my goals, sort of like a visionboard.
These rituals began on a whim. I started taking 1- 2 weeks off toward the end of December through the New Year, and in doing so, I had all this time on my hands to do things I kept putting off, like hanging art on the walls, decluttering, moving things out and around etc. Eventually it just became a habit.
Out With the Old, In with the New
In performing these end of year rituals, you’re establishing a system and in doing so you’re taking “a series of actions…” There’s power in action. Action changes things. Action notifies the Universe you’re ready to receive. You’re letting go of the lack or fear mentality by releasing either old ways of thinking, or physical objects, to make way for a new mindset or to make way for something new, something better in its place (people and environments should be decluttered from our lives too).
Make it a point to rid yourself of old things that remind you of where you were, so that you can focus on bringing in things that replicate where you are, and where you’re going.
Start thinking abundantly in all areas of your life and watch the magic happen!
Thank you for your continued support. Have the happiest and healthiest of holidays. Rest and relax so that you can begin anew when 2023 chimes in!
XO ~ Gillian
