Happy New Year, my fellow witches and wizards! As we bid farewell to the previous year, let us embrace the magic and mysteries that await us in the coming year. The transition from one year to another is always a significant time. It is a time for reflection, setting intentions, and casting spells for the year ahead. As we embark on this new journey, let us harness the power of our craft to manifest our desires and create positive change in our lives. In this witchy new year, let us remember the importance of self-care and self-discovery. Take the time to explore new spells, rituals, and potions that resonate with your own unique energy.
Take the time to explore new spells, rituals, and potions that resonate with your own unique energy. Connect with the elements and the moon's cycles to bring balance and harmony into your life. This year, let us also remember the power of community and coming together as witches.
The Witches’ New Year
Most of you know October 31 as Halloween. Some of you likely celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1, and some of you probably celebrate (or are at least familiar with) Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday that runs from October 31 to November 2.
You might be less familiar with Samhain (pronounced sow-en; sow rhymes with now), which is an ancient Celtic holiday honoring the dead still celebrated by Wiccans and many other Pagan groups, albeit in different ways than the Celts.
Learn more about Samhain traditions, rituals and myths.
If you’re not familiar with it, Wicca is an earth-centered religion, and practitioners—called Wiccans and/or Witches—generally believe in and honor many different deities, which are usually considered aspects of an overarching Goddess and God. Wicca draws its practice from ancient Celtic, Germanic, Nordic, Roman and Greek practices, but is a modern construction and eclectic blend of old religions. Paganism is a blanket term used to describe many earth-based religions including modern Druidism, Celtic Reconstructionism, Nordic Reconstructionism, Wicca and many more.
“Earth-centered” means, more or less, that a religion is naturalistic, placing heavy emphasis and value on the natural world and the environment. Native American religious traditions, while markedly different from modern Pagan religions in many ways, are another example of earth-based or earth-centered spiritual practices.
Paganism: A Very Short Introduction by Owen Davies offers a good overview of Wicca and other Pagan groups, including more information on holiday celebration, magical practice, cosmology and more.
Wiccans follow The Wheel of the Year, which corresponds to the equinoxes, solstices and cross quarter days. Samhain is a cross quarter day, as it falls between the fall equinox (around September 21 – 23) and winter solstice (around December 21-23). It is one of, if not the most, important holidays for Wiccans. In addition to being a time to honor family members, friends and pets who have passed away, Samhain is the final harvest holiday and marks the end—and therefore beginning—of a new cycle on the Wheel.
Most Wiccans believe in reincarnation and view death as simply another stage of life. This doesn’t mean that the loss of someone important isn’t sad, but in Wicca, death isn’t something to be feared or ignored. The Celts believed that the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest on Samhain, making it the ideal opportunity to commune with passed loved ones. Wiccans more or less believe the same.
Samhain is a holiday that recognizes shorter, colder days and the dominance of night and invites self-reflection and quiet meditation. As the final harvest before the long winter, it is a time to take stock of what’s grown (literally and metaphorically) over the past year and contemplate the coming year. Practitioners decide what, if anything, they want to leave behind or stop doing (such as a bad habit or negative energy), and what they want to actively cultivate moving forward.
This year has been marked by loss for me. With a full-time job, graduate classes, and other responsibilities, sometimes it’s hard to find that time for quiet contemplation. Whether or not you believe in magical practice, reincarnation or spirits, these long quiet nights are an ideal opportunity to reflect on the people you’ve had to say goodbye to and what you hope for the coming year.
I hope to work on being more present and mindful of what I’m doing, and spend more quality time with the people I care about. What about you? What accomplishment are you most proud of this year? What do you hope to do better next year?
Celebrate the Spirit of the Witches’ New Year
Kelly reads, writes and sometimes sews, always with a large mug of tea. Her job as the Clerical Specialist at CLP – West End gives her plenty of ideas for stories that find homes in obscure literary magazines.
Kelly reads, writes and sometimes sews, always with a large mug of tea. Her job as the Clerical Specialist at CLP – West End gives her plenty of ideas for stories that find homes in obscure literary magazines.
Connect with fellow practitioners, share your knowledge and experiences, and support one another on this magical journey. Whether through online covens, local gatherings, or virtual meetups, let us grow and learn together. As the wheel of the year turns, may we embrace the changing seasons and the lessons they bring. Let us celebrate the solstices and equinoxes, honoring the cycles of nature and aligning our energy with the Earth's rhythms. Above all, in this witchy new year, let us remember the importance of gratitude. Be grateful for the magic in your life, the love and abundance that surrounds you, and the connection you have with the universe. Gratitude amplifies our spellwork and invites even more magic into our lives. So, my fellow witches and wizards, as we embark on this new year, may it be filled with enchantment, growth, and love. May your spells be potent, your manifestations be abundant, and your journey be filled with wonder and awe. Here's to a witchy happy new year! Blessed be..
Reviews for "Protecting Your Energy in the New Year: Witchy Practices for Self-Care"
- Sarah - 2 stars
I found "Witchy Happy New Year" to be quite disappointing. The plot felt predictable and cliché, and the characters lacked depth and development. The writing style was also subpar, with weak descriptions and unimaginative dialogue. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unengaged with the story.
- John - 1 star
I cannot believe I wasted my time reading "Witchy Happy New Year". The storyline was incredibly boring and unoriginal, making it difficult to stay interested. The characters were poorly written and lacked any real personality. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the prose was flat and unexciting. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
- Emily - 2 stars
"Witchy Happy New Year" fell flat for me. The concept had potential, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, making it a struggle to get through the book. The plot twists were predictable and the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfactory. Additionally, the romance aspect felt forced and unbelievable. All in all, it was a disappointing read.