12 Candles Ritual (for your Word of the Year)

*This is inspired from the 12 Magical Nights/ Rauhnacht ritual. We wanted to create something more gentle and applicable for those who have left high demand religion.

After leaving behind the structure of a high control religion, you're learning how to reconnect with yourself and your own path. Choosing a Word of the Year can be a powerful tool to guide you, but sometimes it's easy to lose focus amidst life’s distractions. This 12 Candles Ritual is designed to help you stay deeply connected to your word, month after month. It’s a simple, thoughtful practice that lets you reflect, explore, and connect with your inner wisdom, helping you authentically grow more into who you are.

Materials needed:

12 candles
12 strips of paper
Your Word of the Year
tape
pen

Instructions:

On each strip of paper, write down a different journal prompt for each month. Make sure that it pertains to the word you’ve chosen. (see our prompts below if you need help with this). Fold each paper in half.

Tape a paper to the base of a different candle. Once you're done, put all 12 candles into a box and then place somewhere you will remember. Check out THIS video to show how it's done.

If you having a difficult time coming up with journal prompts for your 12 Candles Rituals, borrow some of ours! We created 12 thought-provoking and reflective prompts to help your Word of Year carry you throughout all 12 months.

12 Journal Prompts Examples:

How do I want to feel at the end of this year in relation to [my word]? What steps can I take each month to build that feeling over time?
What activities, habits, people, or things help me feel most aligned with [my word]? How can I create more room for them in my life?
What fears or doubts come up when I think about fully embracing [my word]? How can I meet these fears with compassion and courage?
What is the shadow side of [my word]? How can I navigate it with compassion when it shows up?
What are the images I can connect to that most convey [my word]?
How does [my word] align with my deeper values and purpose? How can I connect my actions more closely with these values throughout the year?
What beliefs or stories do I carry that may limit my ability to embody [my word]? How can I begin to shift or challenge these limiting beliefs to make more room for it?
How can I embody [my word] more fully in my interactions with others? What small shifts can I make in my relationships to bring more of it into my day-to-day life?
How do I want to handle resistance to [my word]? What tools or practices can I create to stay grounded when it feels hard to lean into it?
What new opportunities or experiences do I want to invite into my life to help me feel more connected to [my word]?
What past experiences have shaped my understanding of [my word]? How can I reframe or heal any past wounds related to it to make space for a new, empowering relationship with [my word]?
What would it look like to fully trust [my word] to guide me for the remainder of the year? What would I have to let go of in order to surrender more fully to its influence?

To begin the ritual:

At the start of every month, go into your sacred space or set up your table as special as you want. Get a fresh cup of coffee (or tea), a candle holder, a lighter, your journal, and then choose a new candle from the box.
Unwrap the paper from the base of the candle to reveal the journal prompt.
Whenever you’re ready, light your candle and spend the next 15-20 min writing down your thoughts. Try doing this once a week with the same prompt throughout the month (or until the candle finally burns out that month). **It helps to set this as a reoccuring event on your calendar as a reminder.
Repeat the next month until the year ends.

By creating this space for yourself, you’re allowing your Word of the Year to truly sink in each month. It also opens the door for your inner wisdom to step forward, offering you fresh guidance and clarity. You might be surprised by the insights you uncover! Looking for more easy ways to make your Word of the Year stick? Check out this post for more inspiration!