January

January 1 the same steps. At the end of the year, even if you haven’t met all your Saturday goals, throw the paper away and start 4th I with a clean sheet next year. a v/c 3:16 am James Kambos a → J 6:02 pm Color of the day: Brown Incense of the day: Magnolia

New Year’s Day - Kwanzaa ends

Notes:

The Climb Begins

Now nature begins its climb toward spring and summer, to growth, maturity, and eventually the harvest. We also begin our own climb. We have a clean slate before us. To what heights will you climb this year?

On a sheet of clean white paper, write two or three goals you’ve set for yourself this year. Or write them in your Book of Shadows. They could be health or diet goals, or perhaps a career or education goal—anything you desire. After you’ve written them, say:

Now nature begins its climb to growth and the harvest.

I, too, begin to climb and to fulfill my wish. Keep the paper or Book of Shadows on your altar or other special place. Read your goals, meditate on them, and repeat the Words of Power about once a month. As you achieve a goal, you may strive for another. Just repeat

January 2 January 3

Sunday Monday

4th J New Moon 1:33 pm Color of the day: Orange Incense of the day: Juniper

Gifts of the Shadow

Anew moon at the start of a fresh year is the perfect time to reveal any latent gifts seeking expression in the months to come. The darkness of this moon phase provides a safe space for any hidden qualities that might feel a bit vulnerable to emerge.

All you’ll need is a mirror and a black candle. In a darkened room, gaze at your shadowy form in the mirror, inviting contact with any unconscious gifts that are ready to be honored. Allow yourself to go into a light meditative state as you look at yourself with a soft focus.

Before lighting the candle on a heatproof surface, hold it in both hands and charge it with new moon energy. Then light the candle where it casts light onto the mirror. Gaze at yourself once more and allow any insights to arise. What within you wants to be seen, heard, and lived? How can you express these gifts in the days and weeks to come? When done, snuff out the candle with thanks.

Melissa Tipton

1st J a v/c 11:21 am a → K 5:44 pm Color of the day: Silver Incense of the day: Clary sage

Magical Snowflake Window Art

Window art is a great way to create a screen of privacy and protection between your home and the outside world. For this spell you’ll need paper, scissors, and tape.

Start with a square of paper. Trace the four corners with your finger and speak your intention aloud. Fold the paper to create a triangle. With every fold, imagine the power of your intention doubling. Fold the paper again to make a smaller triangle. Fold it again to make a triangular crease at onethird of the triangle. Repeat from the other side to create a tiny triangle with two “tails.” Cut the tails off so the edges are smooth. As you cut shapes in the folded paper, say:

With every cut, I call to me

Protection and privacy.

It’s a fortress, you can see.

So move along, good day to thee. Once you feel the paper will convey your meaning, open it up and envision it working. Tape your magical snowflake up in a window. Astrea Taylor

January 4 January 5 Tuesday Wednesday

1st K a v/c 7:45 pm Color of the day: Gray Incense of the day: Cedar

1st K a → L 7:17 pm Color of the day: White Incense of the day: Lavender

Grow Your Wealth

Magically clarify and bless your financial goals today so your savings account will grow throughout the year. Put a little potting soil in the bottom of a pot. Crumple up a dollar bill into a loose ball and hold it in both hands. Close your eyes and bring to mind the amount of money you’d like to have in your savings account by the end of the year. In your mind’s eye, imagine checking your account and seeing this number. Feel the joy of having already accomplished your financial goal. Place the dollar in the pot and put a little more soil on top. Then pot a jade plant on top of the dollar. Once the jade is potted, water it. Choose to be open to creative ideas for earning and receiving money. Also vow to take continuous action toward earning the money you desire. As you care for your jade plant throughout the year, know that money is constantly coming to you, from both expected and unexpected sources.

Tess Whitehurst Chakra Clearing Spell

The beginning of the year is a good time to do all sorts of cleansing, clearing, and balancing spells. One that is particularly useful is a chakra clearing spell. Chakras are the energy centers of the body, and are vital to the flow of physical energy. Because they are connected to emotions as well, when the chakras are blocked, you can feel sluggish, unhappy, and out of balance.

The seven chakras are located at the root (base of the spine), sacrum (lower abdomen), solar plexus (belly), heart, throat, third eye (middle of forehead), and crown (top of the head). Each chakra is associated with a color in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue/ purple, and violet or white.

To do this spell, sit quietly and visualize each chakra, starting at the bottom. See it glow with color and strength, and say this spell for each of the seven in turn until you feel them clear and the energy moving freely:

Chakra strong and chakra clear,

Bring me energy for this year. Deborah Blake

January 6 January 7 Thursday Friday

1st L Color of the day: Purple Incense of the day: Carnation

A Spell for Hibernation

Avoid the winter blues by embracing hibernation. For this spell, don comfy clothes and fuzzy slippers. Have dark chocolate or a cup of hot chocolate ready. Set a blue candle in a dish of crushed ice—blue for the winter blues and the subtle blue of ice and snow. Sit before the candle on a comfortable couch or chair, wrap yourself in a blanket (again, fuzzy is good!), and repeat:

As the depths of winter near,

May I sleep deep like the bear.

Curling up in dark embrace,

Nurturing soul with calm and grace. Meditate for a moment on the quiet benefits of winter’s cold depths. Imagine yourself slowing down and feeling the patient rhythm of the season. Munch the chocolate or sip the cocoa, feeling it sustain you. Blow out the candle and place it on your altar. Each morning, light the candle for a moment and pause, considering how you will embrace winter’s rhythms that day. Blow out the candle and carry on.

Susan Pesznecker

1st L a v/c 5:23 pm Color of the day: Rose Incense of the day: Cypress

Looking Forward, Not Back

Janus is the two-headed Roman god of beginnings and endings. Because January is named after him, this is a great month to work magick with him. For this spell you will need a piece of flash paper, a pencil, a fireproof bowl, and a candle.

Set up your items in a safe space and then reflect upon the past calendar year. What is the one mistake, relationship, or embarrassing moment that you’d like to leave in the past and discard going forward? When you’ve decided what that is, write it down on your piece of flash paper.

Using your candle, light the flash paper and place it in the bowl while saying:

Janus, god of beginnings and endings,

Within your fire I seek cleansing.

I now leave this bad memory behind,

Entering the new year with piece of mind! When done, blow out your candle. No longer dwell upon what you wish to be forgotten. It is past. Ari & Jason Mankey

January 8 January 9 Saturday Sunday

1st L a → A 12:26 am Color of the day: Blue Incense of the day: Rue

1st A 2nd Quarter 1:11 pm Color of the day: Yellow Incense of the day: Almond

Midwives Day (Bulgaria)

Brigid is the goddess of many dominions, including fertility and childbirth, which is the focus of today, as it’s Midwives Day in Bulgaria. We will focus on Brigid as maker and one of her animals, the pure white bull.

Our work honors Brigid for looking after babies, and those either wanting to have a child or who are pregnant and ready to soon give birth. This is an offering from your heart to her spirit and familiars. If this is not right for you at the moment, gift it to a family member or friend. Goddess Brigid leads and commands ale production, and she should be feted for that too. She and her white bull love cakes, and with that in mind, let’s construct an offering.

On your doorstep, place a freshly baked cake next to a mug of ale, with a full head of foam. Around the ale, place a few coins to pay Brigid for her generosity and assistance. Stephanie Rose Bird Shedding Some Light

Sundays are associated with Apollo, Ra, and other deities of the sun. We can use the influence of solar energy to shed light on and bring clarity to issues that remain obscured to us. This spell is best done during the day when the sun is at its zenith.

Sit outside in the full sun. If you can use some lemon incense or lemon essential oil to work with the sun energy, do so. As you inhale the lemon scent, picture the issue that you are having trouble understanding or seeing clearly. See it being surrounded by a dense fog. Lift your face to the sun and feel its warmth radiating around you and see it burning off that fog. As the fog lifts from around the issue you are dealing with, look at it with fresh eyes. Use any information you can garner in order to change your perspective on the situation.

Charlynn Walls

January 10 Notes:

Monday

2nd A a v/c 2:23 am a → B 9:47 am Color of the day: White Incense of the day: Narcissus

Brain Freeze, Be Gone!

If you’ve been experiencing any sort of mental blockage or “brain freeze,” take a walk outside to meet the brisk January air at sunset. Stand in one place and focus on your breath while facing west. Close your eyes and bring to mind those mental blockages from which you wish to break free this year.

With each issue that comes to mind, take a deep belly breath through your nose and forcefully exhale through your mouth. Continue this with each thought that comes up, and feel free to do so multiple times for each issue. Multiple thoughts may come quickly.

To add an extra boost, consider taking a handful of sea salt and/or any of the herbs vervain, nettle, or clove. With each forceful exhalation, throw a little bit of the salt or herbs to the thought you are offering to the setting sun.

Raven Digitalis