Day 2: Inner Reflection and Renewal
Embracing Darkness to Find Inner Light
Morning
Ritual: This morning you will begin the Twelve Nights of Wishes Ritual
Each morning, for the next twelve mornings, light the candle on your alter. Using tweezers, burn one of the wishes without looking at it. As it burns, focus on your intention and visualize your wishes coming true. Feel the positive energy surrounding your desire. Allow the ash to fall into the bowl of salt. Save this salt for use as black salt in the coming year. Once the wish has burned, blow out the candle. Leave everything set up on your alter space.
Repeat each morning - until the morning of January 1st. When we will close the ritual.
Afternoon
Recipe: Prepare a hearty winter winter meal to share with close friends or family. Keep the mood cozy and intimate. Light lots of candles, play holiday music, build a fire if you can. Include festive dishes and seasonal ingredients. This nourishing meal celebrates the winter season, solstice, and the beginning of Yule.
Leave a plate of Yule dinner leftovers out on the porch for wandering spirits, a gesture believed to secure a bountiful harvest in the coming year. It's akin to leaving milk and cookies for Santa, though the spirits offer a considerably more rewarding investment in return.
I prepare a plate of whatever vegetables we had for dinner, bread, and honey. Then using a vintage handkerchief with hand worked lace trim, I place this on a stump out in my garden along with a small glass of wine for my garden guardians and land spirits.
Evening
Herbal Concoction: Brew a mug of herbal tea using lavender, peppermint, and rose petals. Allow its calming aroma to guide you into meditation.
Herbal Infused Hot Chocolate
This wholesome herbal-infused hot chocolate is a delightful treat for the whole family to enjoy. It combines the richness of cocoa with the soothing qualities of herbal tea and a touch of sweetness, making it a comforting and guilt-free indulgence.
Ingredients
2 cups milk (I like to use a blend of cashew and coconut milk)
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or local honey
2 tablespoons of dried herbs to make a strong tea (e.g., peppermint, chamomile, rose, or lavender)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of sea salt
Optional topping: whipped coconut cream with grated dark chocolate
Instructions
In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of milk over low heat until it's just about to simmer. Remove it from the heat.
Add the herbals to the hot milk, cover and let steep for about 10 minutes, or until you achieve your desired flavor. Strain the milk to remove the herbs.
In a blender, combine the remaining 1 cup milk, raw cacao powder, maple syrup (or honey), vanilla extract, and pinch of sea salt.
Pour the steeped herbal-infused milk into the blender.
Blend all the ingredients until the mixture becomes smooth and frothy. This should take about 20-30 seconds.
Pour the blended mixture back into the saucepan and gently reheat it over low heat, stirring continuously. Be careful not to boil it; you want it just hot enough to enjoy.
Pour the herbal-infused hot chocolate into mugs.
If desired, top each serving with a dollop of whipped coconut cream and a sprinkle of grated dark chocolate.
This healthy herbal-infused hot chocolate offers a comforting and nutritious twist on a classic favorite, making it an ideal beverage for family gatherings or cozy evenings by the fire. Enjoy the warmth and the unique herbal notes that this recipe brings to your hot chocolate experience.
Activity: After dinner, gather together to craft, play games, or watch a favorite movie. In my household we make ornaments to hang on our bedroom doors.
Tarot and BoS Work: Each night for the next twelve nights, draw a tarot card to symbolize a month of the year ahead. The card drawn tonight represents January 2024. Pay attention to the imagery, symbols, colors, and emotions the card evokes. In your Book of Shadows, record the card drawn and describe the cards' symbolism. Explore your emotions, thoughts, and any memories that arise during this contemplative process. If needed, draw additional cards to gain deeper insights or clarity on that month. You may even draw a card of each area of your life your are curious about - financial, love and relationships, health, . . Write it all down to refer back to in the coming year.
Repeat each night for twelve nights.