Under the last New Moon of the year, imagine we are sitting in the darkness together.
You in your home, me in mine, connected by our sense of shared community and by the darkness.
See yourself there. Seated around a campfire, firelight flickering over your face and hands. We are here for a circle of honoring and remembrance - and a ceremony of releasing what is no longer needed into the enveloping, encircling darkness.
December is the darkest month of the year, and the new moon following the solstice is the darkest day within this dark month - the day when the moon has disappeared completely from the sky. The day when we can release what no longer serves us and set intentions for the month (and the year) ahead.
We begin this process with light. Wherever you are, light a candle. If you don’t have an actual candle, imagine illuminating one in your heart. Not as a show of spirituality, but as a reflection of something ancient. Something profoundly human—linking us to the ancestors and the earth beneath our feet.
Before electric lights, candles were all we had to illuminate the long nights. Holding these small flames, we connect with the simplicity of their light—a reminder of what it means to be present with the dark.
Setting Simple, Benevolent Intentions
Intentions, especially at this time of year, can easily become about fixing something we believe is broken within us. But what if, instead, we turned toward intentions that are simpler and more benevolent? What if we set intentions that bless what is already here?
Rather than resolving to lose 35 pounds, we might decide to listen to our bodies. To form a relationship with our bodies—to pay attention to their signals and symptoms as guidance. Instead of forcing ourselves into a rigid diet or exercise plan, we can simply be available.
The same applies to other areas of our lives. If a new relationship is in your heart, the question isn’t “How can I make myself better so I’m lovable?” There’s nothing wrong with you. Instead, consider intentions like: I am becoming the love that my love will recognize.
When we allow ourselves to be real, vulnerable, and open, we invite authenticity into our lives. We become ready for the kind of relationships, experiences, and growth that can only come when we stop pretending to be perfect and start embracing who we are.
Presence Over Perfection
This shift in intention isn’t just for relationships or physical health. It’s for everything we do. It’s not about giving the “perfect” Christmas gift, but about staying present in the moment. Can we remain present with ourselves, even when things feel awkward or imperfect?
During Thanksgiving last year, I visited my son and daughter-in-law at their new home. It was a chance for our family to celebrate with her family—a joyous event. In an effort to bring the best food, I made my famous "foolproof" apple cake. But when it was served, it was dry and not sweet enough—the worst apple cake I’ve ever made.
Luckily, my intention this time wasn’t about perfection. It was about staying with myself, even when I felt the familiar pull to “perform” or to make everything perfect. This allowed me to be softer and more willing to let little things like this go. To be present, even when things felt awkward—even when my apple cake was served in all its imperfections.
When we inevitably mess up, the real question becomes: Can I come back to myself? Can I return to presence, even after I’ve lost it? That’s the heart of the intentions I hope to share with you.
Listen to me read the meditation to you
Meditation: Embracing the Darkness
Now, as we sit together in the Sanctuary—firelight flickering over the faces of our Soul Caller friends—let’s close our eyes and join our hearts.
Allow yourself to sink into the support of your chair. Close your eyes or lower your gaze. If you’d like, place your hands over your eyes to block out any remaining light.
Let the darkness come around you. Let the darkness envelop, enfold, and enclose you. Feel yourself floating up up up until you are suspended, floating in the oceanic darkness of the sky. A moonless night. Surrounded by the deep void. Above you, faint twinkles of starlight. Below, far away, faint twinkles of cities and towns.
You float - between heaven and earth - suspended in a vast, amniotic darkness. A deeply holding space where you could speak anything out loud, and the darkness would absorb it like a sponge. Scan your body, heart, and thoughts for anything you’d like to release into this space. Speak it aloud, if you can. Offer up whatever your body, heart, or mind no longer needs to carry.
Imagine the darkness receiving your words, taking them from you. Notice if there’s any resistance to letting go. Can you yield this to the darkness, to the great mystery holding us all?
Now, turn your attention to what you’d like to invite into your life during this next moon cycle. What qualities or intentions feel right for this moment? Perhaps you’d like to support yourself more gently, stay open to surprise, or tend to your own heart. Let these intentions fill you like light returning to an empty space.
As you rest in this intention, imagine a tiny light appearing in the distance. Let your curiosity guide you toward it. This light might reflect on water, shimmer in a window, or glow softly nearby. As you draw closer, notice its qualities. What is this light? What does it offer you? What invitation does it hold for the coming cycle?
Take your time to explore this light. When you’re ready, write down what you discovered. This is your guidance—a gift for this moment in your life.
Bringing It Back to the Circle
After the meditation, I encourage you to take a few moments to sit in the darkness, release what no longer serves, and invite the light to guide you forward. Let this practice remind you: even in the darkest times, light is waiting to emerge.
Share your reflections in the comments below. The process of speaking and listening adds depth and clarity to this process - and opens us to the cocooning quality of the community and the season.
A ritual to take with you into the the dreamspace between years
A Ritual for releasing the old year and welcoming the new.
Though I often dread the early nights and the long darkness of December, I find there is always a gift in this time—a deep stillness that allows something new to emerge.
Thank you for being here with me.
With love and all the blessings of a bright new year,
Amy
What’s coming in 2025
New Moon Circle - a monthly live call in the Soul Caller Sanctuary (at the School of Magic) Learn more and see the calendar here.
Lovely! ❤️ Thank you Amy!