End of year offering to the Universe…

Something that my partner and I have done for the past two new years and will do again this year is writing a letter to the universe, going over the lessons of the past year, and setting intentions for the new year.  The idea is to look at the year and put it into context, thanking the universe for the experience of this life and asking for support as you trust and surrender into the next year.  

It is a beautiful ceremony and can be done with your partner, family, friends, or solo.  Take time to sit at the computer or write longhand all the themes, struggles, and victories of 2022 along with what each of these things taught you along the way.  Then shift into your intentions, hopes, and dreams for 2023.  

In the evening, get together with the other folks you are doing the ceremony with and read each letter aloud.  When everyone is done, you place the letters on a fire and, in noble silence, watch the offering burn, doing your best to maintain a feeling of gratitude for all the lessons of the closing year and all the opportunities of the forthcoming year.  

We simply take a large stainless steel mixing bowl, put some palo santo (or other kindling in it), maybe some incense if you have it, pour a little agua Florida (or cheap perfume or cologne), and light it up with a match and burn the letters an offering.  

Pro Tip: Feel free to modify to make this your own.  When doing ceremonies it is less important to “do it right” and more important to be in the moment and do what feels right to you. The most important thing is to maintain a sense of presence, intention, sacredness and connection to what you are doing and to the people you are doing it with.