Tuesday, 31 December 2024

Rounding the Year: Reflections on New Year's Eve

Inspired by ideas in my book Rounding the Wheel of the Year, I've been sharing seasonal pictures, words and crafts over the past 12 months. However, what I've mostly done is go for walks and photograph things in nature. The photo above shows bare trees reflected in water. 

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are good times for us to reflect on what has happened over the past year and to think about what we want to do going forwards. One of my intentions is to take more walks in nature, take more photos, and share them. 

Below is an extract from the final chapter in Rounding the Wheel of the Year, offering a contemplation for New Year's Day:

A Contemplation for New Year's Day

The wheel has turned... This is a new year, a new beginning, a chance to start again – although there will be some overlaps, some repetitions. We are continuing on our path and it looks similar, but there has been a shift and we aren’t walking on exactly the same ground. The wise witch who taught me said this: 
The Wheel of the Year isn’t actually a circle, it’s a spiral. Each year we follow a similar path, but never quite the same. It shouldn’t be identical. We shouldn’t repeat the same things over and over again in an identical way. We should learn from what we did in the past and use that knowledge moving forwards.
 Look back at all you did in the year that has gone. Reread your journal, your poetry, the words of your favourite rituals. Browse again through any scrapbook, art, photographs you created. Go for a walk or look out of your window and think about what you have observed – or grown – as the seasons changed. Think about the intangible things too – memories, wishes, hopes and dreams. Congratulate yourself for all you have achieved, and give yourself a hug for any sadnesses too. Offer thanks to the deities, spirits or ancestors you worked with. 

Now, look to the future, moving both onwards and upwards in that spiral. Think about what you want to continue from last year, what changes you want to make, and what ambitions you have for the year to come. Close your eyes, picture in your mind or think of words to describe how you see the way forward. 

Open your journal again and write that down. Light a candle and make a wish for the best that can happen in the months and seasons ahead. Remember that change is inevitable. Embrace each day and what it brings in the magic of each moment in the spiral of the years.

Where to Find my Books


If you want to buy Rounding the Wheel of the Year or any of my Pagan Portals witchcraft books, or my Gothic novel Erosion cheaply, now's your chance. My publisher Moon Books, which is part of Collective Ink, is offering 50 per cent off all e-books until the end of today, December 31st. 

All you need to do is:

  • Click here > https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com
  • Choose your e-book(s)
  • Click 'Add to basket for direct download.'
  • Click on your shopping basket
  • Click on 'Do you have a coupon?'
  • Apply promo code WINTER50  and Validate.
  • Proceed to Checkout.

You can order any e-books from any of Collective Ink's imprints. Moon Books publishes well respected titles on magickal topics, particularly the Pagan Portals series. Other imprints cover mind, body, spirit subjects, culture and politics, history and fiction.

If you want to search for my books, you can go straight to my Lucya Starza author page. I've written on candle magic, poppets, guided visualisations, scrying and the wheel of the year as well as my novel Erosion. You can read an excerpt from Erosion here: http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/10/seance-with-skull-from-my-gothic-novel.html

You can also view Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon. 

(Note: I earn commission from advertisers for some links.)
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