Last Updated: October 20, 2026
A simple guide for a soulful year-end tradition.
This resource on the 13 Wishes Ritual has been updated for 2026 and includes:
🔥 How to Do the 13 Wishes Ritual
🔥 New Tips for Writing Your Wishes (including new examples)
🔥 Frequently Asked Questions
🔥 Invitations to a Winter Solstice Gathering and New Year Retreat
💬 Join the conversation about the 13 Wishes on YouTube →
The Rauhnächte, or Twelve Sacred Nights, is a cherished midwinter tradition from German-speaking Europe that has inspired the 13 Wishes Ritual, one of my favorite year-end practices.
These sacred nights are considered a mystical threshold between the old year and the new, a time when the veil between worlds is said to be thin and the ordinary and spiritual gently overlap.
Traditionally, the Rauhnächte are observed between Christmas Eve (December 24) and Epiphany (January 6), although dates vary by region and custom. The Christian Twelve Days of Christmas generally run from December 25 through January 5, leading to Epiphany on January 6.
For my 13 Wishes Ritual, I begin on the Winter Solstice, honoring the return of the light and welcoming the new year with intention, reflection, and trust.
During these twelve nights, one wish is released to the fire each evening. The thirteenth wish remains, revealing the dream or intention you are invited to nurture yourself throughout the coming year.
You can begin writing your wishes at any time leading up to the Winter Solstice. This gives you weeks of quiet reflection to listen for what your heart is longing to welcome into the new year.
I begin my wish writing each year around Samhain on October 31st, honoring the ancient gateway between endings and beginnings.
Writing Your 13 Wishes
Add ritual, whimsy, and sweet detail to your wish-writing practice. Gather a few special items, a pen and slips of paper for recording your wishes, and a beautiful jar or box to hold them. Create a cozy atmosphere with your favorite cup of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee. This is a time for dreaming, visualizing, and opening yourself to possibility.
There is no perfect wish, only an honest one. Listen for what quietly wants your attention.
Ask yourself: What do I want to experience and invite into 2027? Close your eyes and feel each wish as though it has already come true.
I’ve gathered a tray with the things I’ll use as I return to my wish writing practice over the coming weeks: my favorite handmade teapot and cup, a violet glass apothecary jar filled with herbal tea, a room spray of cedar, amber, bergamot, myrrh, eucalyptus, and cedarwood, a copper lotus candle holder, and a raven statue—an animal ally who will carry my messages to the spirits guiding their fruition. I’ll also have my glass pen, tobacco-colored ink, slips of paper, and a small vase to collect my wishes.
My ritual begins slowly. I turn on soft music, brew tea, light a candle, and scent the air, each act honoring one of the four elements: air, water, fire, and earth. I settle into a cozy chair with a favorite blanket, sip my tea, gaze upon the flame, close my eyes to meditate, and then slip into a visualization of what will make 2027 magical, inspiring, and fulfilling.
Each time I sit down, I’ll choose one or two topics from the list below as my focus. When I feel ready, I’ll write one or two wishes, fold them gently, hold them to my heart, and as I place each one in the jar, I whisper: “May this or something better unfold in perfect timing and harmony.”
Tips for Writing Your 13 Wishes
The 13 Wishes Ritual begins with an invitation to listen to yourself.
As you prepare for the new year, consider what you love, what you value, and what you would like to welcome into your life.
Your wishes might reflect something new you’d love to experience, something you’re ready to change, or something wonderful that’s already growing in your life.
Not every wish begins with something missing. Some wishes begin with gratitude.
Begin with Reflection
Before writing your wishes, give yourself time to explore these questions:
- What do I love?
- What would I love to experience in the coming year?
- What am I celebrating or feeling grateful for?
- What progress would I like to build upon?
- What am I ready to welcome, strengthen, or nurture?
- What would creating a life I love look like?
You don’t have to discover all thirteen wishes in one sitting. Give yourself time to reflect. You may find that your wishes become clearer as you journal, meditate, create art, or move through your everyday life.
Listen to the Wisdom of Your Body
Sometimes we know what we think we want, but we haven’t taken time to explore how we feel about it.
Try saying a potential wish aloud. Pause and notice what happens in your body.
Do you notice excitement, warmth, ease, hesitation, or something else? You might not notice a physical response at all, and that’s okay.
These sensations aren’t a test of whether a wish is right or wrong. They’re simply another source of information to explore alongside your thoughts and feelings.
Your body may have something to add to the conversation.
Five Ways to Write Your Wishes
There is no single correct way to word a wish. Some people enjoy writing affirmations in the present tense, while others prefer language that expresses openness, gratitude, or an ongoing commitment.
Here are five approaches to explore.
1. AFFIRM: I am…
Express your wish as a positive affirmation.
I am strong, healthy, and full of vitality.
2. WELCOME: I am open to…
Invite a new possibility or experience into your life.
I am open to experiencing new ways to greater health, strength, and vitality.
3. APPRECIATE: I am grateful for…
Recognize something positive that’s already unfolding and that you’d love to see flourish.
I am grateful for my improving health and the strength I feel returning.
4. NURTURE: I am cultivating…
Express your commitment to something you want to develop or strengthen.
I am cultivating habits that support my health, strength, and well-being.
5. COMBINE: Blend approaches
You can also combine these approaches.
I am grateful for my improving health and how I grow stronger and healthier each day.
Your wishes should sound like you.
You don’t have to pretend something is already true to welcome the possibility of it becoming true.
Keep Your Wishes Personal and Meaningful
As you write your wishes:
- Focus on your own experiences, choices, relationships, and aspirations rather than trying to control someone else’s actions.
- Use words that feel authentic and meaningful to you.
- Keep each wish relatively short so it’s easy to write on a small piece of paper.
- Be specific when it helps, but leave room for unexpected possibilities.
- Remember that your wishes can reflect what you want to grow, not just what you want to change.
A ritual is an invitation, not a prescription.
Need Inspiration?
Explore the eight areas of life below. Notice which topics spark ideas for your wishes.
You don’t need to write a wish for every category. Follow what feels meaningful to you.
| Topics | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1. Personal Growth & Well-being Physical health, vitality, and self-care Emotional balance and peace of mind Building confidence and self-worth Releasing old habits or fears Deepening your connection to intuition | “I’m grateful for my improving health and how my body grows stronger each day, keeping up with all of my dreams.” |
| 2. Creative Expression Artistic projects, writing, or new mediums Inspiration and courage to share your work Building a daily creative ritual Finding joy in the creative process | “I welcome more time for creativity in my life, enjoying the freedom to experiment, express myself, and create with confidence.” |
| 3. Relationships & Community Nurturing healthy, loving relationships Deepening intimacy and trust Attracting supportive friendships or partnerships Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries Contributing to community or collective healing | “I welcome meaningful friendships and a sense of belonging, connecting with kindred spirits who share my interests and love of soulful and creative living.“ |
| 4. Professional Life & Purpose Fulfilling work or business success Financial abundance and stability New collaborations or opportunities Work-life balance Recognition and meaningful contribution | “I am open to new and unexpected ways to share my gifts and talents with an ever-growing community.“ |
| 5. Home & Environment Creating a peaceful and inspiring home Simplifying and decluttering Connecting more with nature Building a sense of sanctuary and belonging | “My home feels like a sacred space that nourishes creativity, rest, and connection.” |
| 6. Spiritual Growth & Inner Wisdom Strengthening your spiritual practice Feeling guided and supported by the Universe Living in alignment with your higher self Cultivating gratitude and presence | “I trust the unfolding of my life, feeling guided, supported, and connected to the wisdom within me.” |
| 7. Adventure & Exploration Travel and new experiences Learning something new Stepping out of your comfort zone Saying yes to opportunities that expand your horizons | “I follow my curiosity, finding joy and excitement in learning new things, exploring new places, and discovering unexpected possibilities.“ |
| 8. Service & Legacy Sharing your wisdom or mentoring others Supporting a cause or community Living your values through daily choices Leaving a positive impact | “I find joy and fulfillment in sharing my creativity, wisdom, and compassion in ways that make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.“ |
Once written, fold each wish so it cannot be seen and place them together in a jar or box.
Wishcasting: The Ritual of Burning
Beginning on the Winter Solstice, burn one wish each day for twelve days.
Do not unfold or read it.
As each wish turns to ash, practice releasing your grip on the outcome.
This isn’t about giving up your dreams.
It’s about letting go of attachment, fear, and the need to control how they unfold.
You can continue taking meaningful steps toward what matters to you while trusting that life may offer possibilities you haven’t yet imagined.
Each wish becomes an act of trust, an invitation to loosen your grip and remain open to the unfolding. You might offer your wish to Spirit, the Universe, God, or simply the mystery of life, according to your own beliefs.
The ritual invites us to hold two things at once:
Intention: I honor what I desire and remain open to opportunities that support it.
Surrender: I release my expectations about exactly how, when, or whether that desire will unfold.
On the thirteenth day, one wish remains.
Read it.
This is the wish you are invited to nurture throughout the coming year. I call it your One Wish.
While the first twelve are entrusted to mystery, the thirteenth becomes your conscious commitment.
To help keep it close, choose a Word for the Year that reflects the heart of that final wish.
Together, your wish and your word become faithful companions throughout the year ahead. One Wish. One Word.
A Note About Fire Safety
If you choose to burn your wishes, use a fire-safe container in a well-ventilated, appropriate setting and never leave a flame unattended.
Burning isn’t required. You can also tear or shred each unopened wish as a symbolic act of release.
The intention behind the practice matters more than the method you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes.
While many people begin the burning ritual on the Winter Solstice or on Christmas, what matters most is your intention and the attention you bring to the practice.
If you’ve just discovered the ritual, you’re not too late. Begin when it feels meaningful to you and allow the twelve days to become your own sacred threshold into the new year.
No.
Some people begin listening for their wishes around Samhain, allowing several weeks for reflection. Others write all thirteen wishes the evening before they begin burning them.
Trust your own rhythm.
The ritual begins the moment you begin listening.
I strongly recommend that you don’t.
The heart of this practice is learning to release your attachment to the outcome. If you write a second copy or photograph your wishes before burning them, part of you may continue holding tightly to them.
Instead, trust that once you’ve written a wish with sincerity, it has already become part of you.
When you burn each wish without rereading it, you’re practicing surrender rather than control.
The only wish you keep is the thirteenth, the one you are invited to nurture throughout the coming year.
Simply smile and continue.
This ritual isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
Fire is a beautiful symbol of release, but it isn’t the only one.
If burning isn’t possible, you might tear the wishes into tiny pieces and dissolve them in water, bury them in the earth, or hold them in your palms, offer a quiet blessing, and gently blow them into the trash, releasing them on your breath.
Each of these honors one of the four elements: fire, water, earth, or air. Choose the ritual that feels most meaningful to you.
The intention matters more than the method.
Begin with curiosity.
Ask yourself:
What is quietly asking for my attention?
or
What would I love to welcome into my life?
You don’t have to know all thirteen wishes at once.
Sometimes the wishes reveal themselves one by one.
They probably will.
That’s part of living.
Write the wishes that feel true today.
Then trust them enough to let them go.
Simply continue.
The ritual isn’t asking you to perform perfectly.
It’s inviting you to practice faithfully.
Begin again where you are.
No.
Some people begin listening for their wishes around Samhain, allowing several weeks for reflection. Others write all thirteen wishes the evening before they begin burning them.
Trust your own rhythm.
The ritual begins the moment you begin listening.
I strongly recommend that you don’t.
The heart of this practice is learning to release your attachment to the outcome. If you write a second copy or photograph your wishes before burning them, part of you may continue holding tightly to them.
Instead, trust that once you’ve written a wish with sincerity, it has already become part of you.
When you burn each wish without rereading it, you’re practicing surrender rather than control.
The only wish you keep is the thirteenth, the one you are invited to nurture throughout the coming year.
Simply smile and continue.
This ritual isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
Fire is a beautiful symbol of release, but it isn’t the only one.
If burning isn’t possible, you might tear the wishes into tiny pieces and dissolve them in water, bury them in the earth, or hold them in your palms, offer a quiet blessing, and gently blow them into the trash, releasing them on your breath.
Each of these honors one of the four elements: fire, water, earth, or air. Choose the ritual that feels most meaningful to you.
The intention matters more than the method.
Begin with curiosity.
Ask yourself:
What is quietly asking for my attention?
or
What would I love to welcome into my life?
You don’t have to know all thirteen wishes at once.
Sometimes the wishes reveal themselves one by one.
They probably will.
That’s part of living.
Write the wishes that feel true today.
Then trust them enough to let them go.
Simply continue.
The ritual isn’t asking you to perform perfectly.
It’s inviting you to practice faithfully.
Begin again where you are.
Continue the Journey
Winter Solstice Gathering
Online • December 20, 2026
You’re invited to join us for a special Winter Solstice Gathering as we move into the next part of the 13 Wishes tradition.
We’ll gather on the longest night of the year to honor the journey we’ve made through 2026 and prepare for what comes next. Through guided meditation and creative practice, we’ll celebrate the seeds we’ve planted and create a Seed of Life mandala as a symbol of what may continue to grow and blossom in the year ahead.
Our gathering will prepare you to begin the burning ritual that evening, when you’ll burn your first wish on your own and continue with one wish each night for the twelve nights that follow.
New Year Retreat
Kripalu • January 1 to 3, 2027
You’re invited to join me at Kripalu for a special New Year Retreat that carries the 13 Wishes tradition into the year ahead.
We’ll spend the weekend immersed in mandala making, guided meditation, and creative community as we welcome 2027 with intention. With plenty of spaciousness for creating and reflecting, you’ll have time to listen deeply to what is calling you forward.
Together, we’ll explore the one wish you’ve chosen to carry into the new year, giving it your attention and creative energy as you consider how you want to nurture it in the months ahead.
Continue Your Journey with the Creative Pilgrimage
If the 13 Wishes tradition has inspired you to bring more intention, creativity, and meaning into your life, I invite you to join me for The Creative Pilgrimage, a free online journey celebrating ten years of The Mandala Guidebook.
Explore mandala stories, follow creative tutorials, keep a Field Journal, and discover soulful practices designed to help you slow down, listen within, and reconnect with your creative spirit.
Start where you are. Follow your curiosity. Chart your own course.
A Closing Reflection
The 13 Wishes Ritual is a meaningful way to move from Samhain’s introspection through Solstice renewal and into the new year with clarity and purpose. It reminds us that while we can offer our intentions to the universe with trust, we are also powerful co-creators of our own path.
As you tend to your wishes, may each one become a seed of light, guiding you toward a soulful and creative 2027.
(((soul hugs)))
Kathryn Costa
Instigator of Soulful & Creative Living
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