Doing the twelve wishes ritual for the Winter Solstice is a quiet way to meet the year ahead. 

For me, the Winter Solstice is a turning point. Yes, it’s the turning of the wheel as we shift from shorter days and longer nights to longer days and shorter nights.

But it’s more than that for me. It is the day I return to one of my favorite rituals: the 12 Wishes.

It’s simple, grounding, and intentionally unhurried. It encapsulates everything I crave this time of year.

 

What the 12 Wishes Ritual Is (and Isn’t)

The twelve wishes ritual isn’t about goals.

It’s not about productivity or fixing yourself or mapping out every step of the year.

Really, it’s about listening.

The idea is to write twelve wishes, one for each month ahead. I also write a thirteenth wish, which becomes the one I set out to enact with intention and action.

Some wishes are specific.
Some are emotional.
Some don’t always make sense yet.

That’s what I see as part of the magic.

Let me share how I do the 12 Wishes Ritual on the Winter Solstice

 

Setting the Space

I like to begin by making the moment feel a little special. Nothing elaborate.

I light a candle or two. I brew a cup of tea. I set out dried orange slices (which I make the day prior) for warmth, abundance, and the reminder that light always returns. I set out pine cones for resilience and renewal. They represent seeds waiting patiently through the cold to grow again.

I set up my space in my sunroom near the windows as a way to bring nature in..

 

How to Do the 12 Wishes Ritual

1. Settle in quietly.
   Take a few deep breaths. Let the year you’re leaving and all the emotions—good and bad, positive and negative—loosen their grip on you. This ritual isn’t about analyzing the year. Just acknowledge all that it encapsulated for you.
2. Add things like dried oranges, a candle, and pine cones.
   Choose elements that have meaning to you and help you mentally step into the reflective space.
3. Write twelve wishes.
   Write one wish per slip of paper. Let the wishes come as they want to come. Examples might look like:
   • “More ease in my body.”
   • “Creative courage.”
   • “Trusting what I already know.”
   • “Joy without explanation.”
4. Fold them and place them together.
   Use a small bowl, a pouch, or a jar. I use a clear glass teapot my daughter gave me a few years ago. Choose a vessel that feels right to you.
5. Choose one wish for January.
   Now, mix them up and randomly select one slip. This is the wish you’ll keep visible or close for the month ahead. Burn it (safely!) to release it into the universe. I light the slip of paper with the candle and drop it in a stoneware bowl.
6. Release the rest.
   The remaining wishes stay folded. You’ll return to them one by one over the next 11 days, the last on January 1st. On January 2nd, draw the 13th wish. This is the one you focus on with your intention and action throughout the year.

 

If you prefer not to burn your wishes, keep them tucked away. Follow your instincts and do what feels right to you.

 

Why I Love This Ritual

The older I get, the more I trust cycles over resolutions.

The Solstice reminds me that nothing blooms all at once. Growth happens quietly, underground, like seeds taking root, long before we see proof of it.

The 12 Wishes ritual honors that truth.

This process lets the year unfold with curiosity instead of pressure. It gives each month its own intention and sets you on a path of growth. It also offers a kind of gentle companionship as the seasons turn.

If you try it, let it be imperfect. Let it surprise you. Let it be a ritual of growth.

Watch my short video telling you about my ritual.

 

 

And whatever you’re wishing for, I hope your year ahead is wonderful. 🌲✨