Wish Jars and The Winter Solstice
Wish jar filled with spices, herbs and handwritten hopes and dreams for the coming year
I recently listened to a podcast on the power of rituals. I loved what they had to say. And while I don’t think of myself as one who abides by many, there is one in particular that I will take part in on a yearly basis.
The wish jar.
I love a good wish jar. I’ve been making one for myself for the past 3 years and over time have noticed a few things.
Firstly, “What is a wish jar?” you might be thinking 🤔
Great question.
While there may be other variations out there, for me, creating a wish jar is a ritual where you store your handwritten wishes, hopes and dreams for the year ahead in a small glass jar and keep it in a special place in your home. I will also put a variety of spices and herbs that hold special symbolism/meaning for what I am inviting in or releasing.
This ritual is done around the time of the Winter Solstice, on December 21st. While this would be my ideal time to create my wish jar, I’ve waited up until January 6th to get it together. This has just been due to sheer holiday busyness, and if there's one thing I do not enjoy, it is being rushed. A wish jar ritual is full of intentionality and I like to gather all of my items and turn it into a mini- celebration for my partner and me. This year, I might invite a handful of friends to make their own. We shall see 😉
What are the elements of a wish jar and what do I need to make my own?
Materials:
A small jar
A sheet of paper ripped to create long strips to write on
Pen/ Pencils (Choose fun colors if you like!)
Herbs
Spices
Small bowls/containers to place herbs/ spices
Nature walk findings
Any meaningful item to strengthen your intention (e.g. a picture, a keepsake, a special stone)
Incense/smoke (for cleansing your jar)
Your intentions for the coming year
The wish jar nook in my home
Step 1: Gather your materials
The very first thing to do is to choose the right jar for you. I like to choose a smallish glass jar, so that when I give it a permanent place in my home later, it doesn’t feel out of place. Of course, you should choose what feels right for you. I don’t buy a special jar for this occasion. I prefer to use a jar I already have on hand that was originally intended for another purpose and reuse it. No need to get fancy or spend extra. You most likely have everything you need for making your own wish jar right in your home ✨ 🫙 💖
After I have selected my jar, I’ll start to gather my herbs, spices and enough small bowls and containers to hold them.
I also like to put things I have found on my nature walks in these bowls. Based on my environment, this is usually Juniper foliage and berries as well as pine needles from Ponderosas. I will only pick these up if they have already fallen from the tree and are laying across my path. I won’t break them off for my wish jar.
And if you’re thinking, “I live in an urban area, I’m not stumbling across Ponderosa Pines.” I understand. Growing up in New York City, I know this very well. And yet, if you do go out for a walk in your local park, you may be surprised by what you find! But because of this reality, I will go all out on the herbs and spices in my kitchen. They can be just as magical. It has everything to do with their properties and most importantly, our intentions.
Step 2: Create an herb, spice and plant station
Place your chosen herbs, spices and nature walk findings in bowls. Take a strip of paper and write down the following:
Name of the herb/spice/plant
And the properties/meaning/symbolism of that specific herb/spice/plant
Place the paper in front of the corresponding bowl
This will allow for your ritual to feel smooth and effortless once you get going, rather than stopping to look up meanings and breaking the flow state (at least this is true for me).
Below is an alphabetized list (Hello Virgo Rising ♍ 😄) that you are welcome to use and of course, add your own favorites to:
Basil: Love, protection, courage
Bay Leaves: Protection, intuition
Cardamom: Growth & transformation, positive change
Chamomile: Peace & calm, soothing, self-love, good sleep
Cinnamon: Success, energizing, confidence, intuition
Cloves: Balance, sharpness of mind & memory, strength & courage
Ginger: Prosperity, success, passion & vitality
Juniper: Spiritual renewal & rebirth, strength & endurance
Lemon Peel: Energy, purification & cleansing
Nutmeg: Adventure, lucid dreaming, dreamwork
Oregano: Good luck, banish negativity, promoting feelings of calm & happiness
Pine: Enlightenment & inner wisdom, purification, healing
Rosemary: Mental clarity, protection, confidence
Sage: Wisdom & long life
Salt: Cleansing, purification, protection from negativity
Thyme: Healing, intuition, good sleep & powerful against nightmares
Step 3: Reflect on last year
If you have made a wish jar in the past, read on, if not, skip to Step 4. Now is a good time to open your previous year’s jar and read through what you have written. Take a moment to reflect on what is there, what you wish to continue, what is asking for a revision, what you have accomplished and what is no longer needed. Once you have gone through them all, place the paper (and herbs) in a fire proof bowl/pot. I like to step outside to let them burn and release them in order to make space for my new wishes.
Once my jar is empty, I’ll cleanse it with incense smoke or any other kind of smoke. If you’re not a fan of smoke, a gentle wash with soap will do just fine.
Step 4: Write out your wishes
After I have all of my bowls labeled and sorted, and my jar from the previous year is empty and cleansed, I make myself a cozy beverage and take a seat. It is time to write down what I am “wishing” for in the coming year : my goals, my dreams, my aspirations. If there is something I no longer wish to carry into the new year with me, I may write it down in a way to call in the opposite. For example, if I wish to release a scarcity mindset, I may write “I trust that the universe will always provide me with enough material and financial support as I do my best in my work.” or “I welcome financial abundance and success in my business. I feel safe and secure in my material world and I have enough.”
You could also get very specific “I welcome financial abundance and success in my business, where I make $7000/month” or whatever the number is for you that you think is within your reach for the coming year.
I have learned that wish jars are a great place for dreaming, yet if we don’t actually do anything to move that dream along, it will remain forever within the jar with little progress in the real world. This is why I like to write something that is a stretch but that I think I can achieve. Maybe it takes 2-3 wish jar cycles, but I keep working at it.
For the last 3 years, I have had variations of the following in my wish jar: “I am a courageous snowboarder.” This is coming from a person who would literally drive to the mountain, step out into the parking lot, burst into tears, and then drive home. I was terrified, yet I wanted to learn how to snowboard so deeply. It was all about facing fear for me. And now this year, my paper will read “I can complete a blue run (intermediate) with confidence”. I have come far in this area and this wish has evolved over time. Just as we do.
Take your time in examining the various aspects of your life, and think about what you would like more or less of in the year ahead. Write down your wishes on the long scraps of paper and keep going until it feels complete.
***Optional: In addition to writing wishes for your jar, write your wishes in a separate journal/notebook. I have learned that as the year goes on, if I add lots to my wish jar, I tend to forget what is inside. The first year I made a wish jar, I was so excited to open it at the end of the year to reflect on what I had written. When I opened it, I experienced a pang of disappointment that I hadn’t “accomplished” everything in the jar. But the truth is, I was so overzealous with all I was wishing for, that I just forgot. This year I plan to place them in my planner as well and go back to them as often as needed.
Step 5: Fill your jar
Now for the fun part. Read each wish to yourself (aloud or in your head) , fold up the paper and place it in the jar. As you read the paper see if you can feel the power of these words within your own body.
Next, start filling your jar with the spices/herbs/plants that complement and call in what you are cultivating. As you place each item in your jar, think of what it symbolizes and see if you can feel the intention within your own body, as you did with your wishes.
You can also place personal items that hold significance for you, or crystals with varying properties.
One year I placed a rock from my snowboarding mountain in the jar for grounding, especially for that specific activity.
Once the contents of the jar feel complete (or there is no more room as is often the case with my jar, not so much for my partner’s) I place the lid on top, seal it up and say a little gratitude prayer and blessing as I hold the jar in my hand.
Remember, it is your jar and there are no rules. Be creative ♥️
Step 6: Find a special place
Where would your wish jar like to live? Do you have a dedicated altar space? Is there a place in your home where you spend time reflecting? A nook that provides a quiet sanctuary? A favorite window?
I have placed mine close to the entrance of my home on a circular shelf. I pass by this spot in my home several times a day, so my wish jar gets a lot of “face time”. Every so often, I will give it a shake for good measure 🙂
Step 7: Clean up
I find it helpful to save the slips of paper with the names of each herb/spice/plant and their properties in an envelope for next year. I’ll place it alongside my other magical books and Tarot cards.
Do you have any personal end of the year rituals or any practices you enjoy during the Winter Solstice?
Happy Wishing!