A simple guide for a soulful year-end tradition.

The Rauhnächte, also known as the 13 Wishes Ritual, mark the sacred time between the years, a mystical pause when the veil between worlds is thin, and the ordinary and spiritual realms overlap. Each of the twelve nights is said to correspond with one of the twelve months of the coming year. A wish is released in a burning ritual on each of these twelve nights. The thirteenth wish is kept and represents the dream or intention that we are meant to nurture ourselves.

You can begin writing your 13 wishes at any time leading up to the Winter Solstice. This gives you several weeks for quiet reflection and visioning for 2026. This year, I’m beginning my ritual on Samhain, October 31, 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. Ask yourself: What do I want to experience and invite into 2026? 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 by turning on soft music, brewing tea, lighting the candle, and scenting the air, each act invoking 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 2026 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 them in the jar, I whisper: “May this or something better unfold in perfect timing and harmony.”

Tips for Writing Your Wishes

• Each wish is written as if it is already reality, short, clear, and personal.
• They should be about you, not anyone else.
• Stick to a concise statement and make it concrete. Use present tense language.

For example:

• Instead of “I want to be more confident,” write “I speak my truth with clarity and confidence.”
• Instead of “I hope to travel more,” write “I am joyfully exploring new places that expand my spirit.”
• Instead of “I want to have 10 new clients next year,” write “I’m working with 10 perfect new clients in my business.”

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 feeling strong, healthy, and energized each morning as I care for my body with love and consistency.”
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’m creating and sharing artwork that deeply nourishes my soul and inspires others.”
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’m surrounded by authentic relationships that uplift, inspire, and bring joy into my life.”
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’m thriving in my creative business, working with clients who value and support my gifts.”
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 flow of life and feel guided by my inner wisdom every day.”
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’m exploring new places and experiences that awaken my sense of wonder and joy.”
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’m using my creativity and compassion to make a meaningful difference in the world.”

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, you will burn one wish each day (or night) for twelve days. Do not read them.

This symbolic act of releasing your wishes to the fire represents trust. Trust in life, trust in the universe, and trust in your own inner strength for you are offering your intentions to a higher power or the supportive forces of the universe.

The thirteenth wish, however, remains. It is not given to the fire but read consciously. This final wish shows the one dream or intention that you are meant to take care of yourself.

While the first twelve wishes are entrusted to the universe, the thirteenth reminds us that we are active designers of our lives.

The Solstice Gathering

You are invited!

On Sunday, December 21 from 3 to 5 PM (ET), I’ll host a free live online Solstice Celebration to mark this sacred turning point of the year. Some of you may remember the annual gatherings I hosted in years past. I’m delighted to offer this again, only with a new twist!

Together, we’ll:

• Participate in a guided meditation and soul journey to release any heavy or stagnant energy from 2025 — the emotions, challenges, or patterns we do not wish to carry into 2026.
• Create a Seed of Life mandala or print one that is provided as a personal symbol that celebrates the year that has passed. Through this creative process, we’ll reflect on our accomplishments, highlights, and meaningful experiences from 2025.
• Recognize that the Seed of Life represents the seeds already planted throughout the year, seeds that will continue to germinate and blossom in the months and years to come. This is a moment to honor how far we’ve come and to build upon the successes and lessons that will support our growth ahead.

This is that new twist: Participants will be encouraged to begin burning their wishes that evening and continue through the twelve nights that follow.

Registration is required to attend this free event. Say Yes! Here.

Continuing the Journey

You are invited to join me and other soulful seekers for the Full Moon in Leo event on Sunday, February 1 — a special gathering to share experiences from the 13 Wishes ritual and explore the next steps for manifesting these dreams.

Get the details and register, here.

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 2026.

(((soul hugs)))
Kathryn Costa
Instigator of Soulful & Creative Living

Keep Exploring

Dive deep into the Journey of the Four Gates – Download your FREE copy and discover a soulful framework for creative self-reflection.

Love following lunar cycles? – Learn more about the Traveling by Moonlight series and how each moon phase inspires creative ritual and mandala art.

Mark your calendar – Find upcoming New and Full Moon dates here to stay aligned with the rhythm of the moon throughout the year.

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