Why October Should Be Considered For New Year's Resolutions
The leaves are starting to turn colors, there is a sweet smell and crispness to the air, the children are back in school and while the temperatures may not entirely reflect it- autumn is here! For me- fall has always come with a sense of renewed enthusiasm for what lays left of the year. A moment to reflect on what has already happened, albeit too quickly these days, and what I’d like to accomplish before the year ends- including a sense of refreshed motivation to accomplish it. I like to utilize this momentum to being my new years intentions and start a ritual called the 13 nights.
Something about the new school year makes me want to set goals, gives me the faith I can accomplish them, and the perceived discipline to break the goals into achievable steps. Also probably the High Holiday celebrations and constant remindings of renewal and rebirth. Why not use this energy to reset the rest of my year and what I hope to bring in for next year- so I do. I was introduced to the 13 nights ritual when discussing this with my reiki master a few years ago as a way to utilize this vigor in personal growth, build trust in myself, and a test myself on how I trust the universe. While I cannot guarantee it works - full disclosure, half the time I forget what I wrote down- this practice has given me a less overwhelming and more achievable path for my year ahead.
Understanding the ritual of Rauhnächte and the 13 Nights comes first with respecting its background in Celtic and Germanic tradition. Believed to have been called the “Smoke Nights” (due to use of incense), Rauhnächte refer to the nights between the winter solstice and the new year. These nights are symbolic as days of transition - from Life to Death and vice versa (new Birth and rebirth)- a time for self reflection, gratitude, and to bridge the new year with the old. The veil is thin- use it!
PS- As the time approaches, I will give more ways to honor the solstice and Rauhnächte. This is a ritual that I get the most use when I begin in autumn as I have the time to reflect and be intentional with myself and my future.
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