Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions, which I gave up on decades ago, choosing goals or a focus word, I decided to try something I had never heard about. Rauhnächte. Have you heard of it?
"The Rauhnächte (Mystic Nights) are a period of 12 holy nights between Christmas and Epiphany (Dec 25th - Jan 6th) in ancient Germanic/Celtic traditions, seen as a time when the veil between worlds is thin, perfect for introspection, setting intentions, and spiritual cleansing to prepare for the new year. Rituals include smoke-cleansing homes to banish spirits, reflecting on the past year, and a popular "13 Wishes" practice where one wish is burned nightly, leaving the 13th as a guiding intention for the year ahead."
From what I've read, start and end dates vary. Is the 13th wish chosen by that which we cannot see, or by pure chance? You decide.
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On December 24th, I wrote 13 wishes on paper and chose them one by one without looking. I tossed wishes into the fire place each night, starting the 25th. One by one my wishes went up in flame. Poof!!
13 days is a long time to wait and wonder. It felt kinda weird. Am I dismissing 12 wishes forever-n-ever-n-ever? I sure hope not. I truly hope by participating in Rauhnächte that I did not open up my world to weirdness. According to my friend Google the Mystic Nights are also celebrated by Pagen, and probably others. Like me, who are not German/Celtic/Pagen. I can't even pronounce "ROW-na-tek-teh"!! Translated from German as "Rough Nights". Also known as "Twelve Nights". I did not smudge my house, nor burn incense or do any other related rituals. Of which there are many.
January 6th finally arrived. A familiar notable date. I grew up celebrating Dia de Los Reyes Magos (aka Three Kings Day) on January 6th in a much different way. That is another story.
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wait for it
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wait for it
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the first wish I wrote down!
I was completely stunned!! I am still stunned. How in the heckle bejeckle did this happen? I mean, my first wish made it though to the end? 2026 is the Year of the Horse and my wish is about horses. I recently received the book Sacred Spaces and a beautiful Horse Journal from Linda, to help me along my way. Did I mention my first wish remained?! Jaw Drop.
Looks like it is up to me to make my chosen wish happen. Next month, it will be two years since I was on a horse. Nemo and I walked around the arena briefly, maybe 5-10 minutes.
me and Nemo
2.3.24
You gotta believe.
6 comments:
I have never heard of that, but how cool is it in how it worked out for you! We are gonna hold you to it you know! Looking forward to some between the ears photos!
I figured as much!
I find your experience fascinating. “The last will be first,” applies for sure. Love it! Hope this year is all you’d wish it to be!
You got this!! :)
Pretty cool. Your wish was one I didn't write down, but wished for anyway.
Sounds like a good plan!
I'm moving one of my mules to a friend's place this summer. She has a lot of places to ride. She doesn't like going by herself and now I don't either. Fingers crossed.
Oh my goodness!! And it’s the year of the horse and Fire Horse! That is stunning!! (I’m going to try it next year!)
The great thing about riding horses is that you don’t have to do anything, or go faster, than you feel safe doing. It’s your journey and your horses!
You look good on Nemo!
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