The 12 Magical Nights
The Power of the 13 Wishes Ritual
The holiday season is a time of reflection, connection, and, for many, the creation of new traditions. Last year, I stumbled upon a beautiful ritual called the *13 Wishes* while scrolling through TikTok (because where else do we uncover life-changing gems these days?). It became a fun/transformative part of my journey, and I’m excited to share it with you!
Discovering the 13 Wishes - Last year, during my second Christmas without John, I was still navigating a dark, grey period of my life. The newness of grief had faded, and I found myself facing the stark reality that this was my life now. As I grappled with acceptance, I longed for something—anything—to bring a spark of hope and direction. Enter the 13 Wishes ritual…
It felt like my own personal genie, granting me the chance to reflect on what I truly wanted for myself and my life. This ritual involves writing down 13 wishes for the upcoming year. Over 12 magical nights—often associated with Yule—you release one wish each night to the universe, leaving the 13th wish as your responsibility to make happen.
As I wrote out my wishes, I paired each one with a tarot card to guide and illuminate the months ahead. This added a layer of intention and fun, allowing me to reflect back each month and notice the uncanny connections between the cards and my life.
I’m sure at this point you’re wondering what my wishes were, right? Well, I won’t tell you all of them… but I’ll let you in on one special personal detail: my 13th wish was to find a partner and companion to enjoy life with. When I opened up that last little piece of paper, I thought to myself “Damnit! This was the ONE wish I was hoping the universe would just take care of for me…” but that’s the way the cookie crumbled for me. Moving into the new year and knowing this wish was mine to manifest, I committed to opening myself up to love. I downloaded the dreaded dating apps, forced myself to go on dates even when I was hesitant, and attended dating events. Each step was an act of bravery, an acknowledgment to the universe that I was trying.
The Magic of Manifestation - The universe, as it often does, responded in its own magical way. Hawks have always been a symbol of John for me since he passed; they appear in readings, intuitive sessions, and even my daily life. So, imagine my surprise when one of my closest friends started dating a man nicknamed Hawk, who introduced me to my now-boyfriend. How crazy is that?! The universe works in the most mysterious and beautiful ways sometimes!
Your Invitation to Experience the Magic - I encourage you to gift yourself this experience. The 12 magical nights of Yule are a powerful opportunity to bring your deepest hopes, dreams, and wishes to life. Sit down, reflect, and write your 13 wishes. Release one each night with faith, and take inspired action on your 13th wish. Believe in the magic of the universe, and trust in your ability to co-create your reality!
I promise, if you open yourself to the process, you’ll begin to see the magic unfold in ways you never expected. Here’s to embracing the season, connecting with your inner desires, and believing in the power of manifestation.
Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, and happy wishing!
12 Magical Nights
How to Perform the 13 Wishes Ritual**Preparation**
Ahead of December 24th, find a quiet and comfortable space to reflect on the past year. Light a candle, play calming music, and sip on a warm cup of tea. Think about your achievements, challenges, and priorities for the future. Take your time to identify 13 meaningful wishes.
**Writing Your Wishes**
When crafting your wishes, keep these guidelines in mind:
1. Your wishes should be about you, not others.
2. Use concise, concrete statements.
3. Write in the present tense, as though the wish has already come true. For example, instead of saying, “I want to have 20 new clients next year,” write, “I am working with 20 perfect new clients in my business.”
4. Dream big, but be realistic! We all want to hit the lotto, and spend the rest of our days lounging on the beaches of Aruba with an umbrella drink in hand… but the universe, as powerful as it may be is not going to just dump all of that right in your lap because you wished it. Be intentional and realistic with your wishes!
Write each wish on a small piece of paper. Fold the paper so the words are hidden, and place all 13 wishes in a bowl, jar, envelope or some other container of choice.
You will also want to write your list of wishes somewhere where you can reflect back on them, like your journal!
**The Ritual**
There are two different time periods you can start this ritual. Traditionally it would begin on December 20th, the first night of Yule, but you can also start it on December 24th, Christmas eve. Ideally you would start at midnight, but do whatever works for you. Take one piece of paper from the jar each night. Burn the paper in a fireproof vessel, releasing the wish to the universe. This process symbolizes transforming the wish and entrusting it to a higher power. I carefully burn mine in a small jar, and blow the ashes out into the back yard after they have cooled. (Be especially careful with this if you live somewhere dry! We don’t want to start any fires!)
On the 12th night, you will burn the 12th wish. You will then be left with the final remaining with, the 13th wish is the one you’ll open and read. This wish is your responsibility to bring to life through your own actions and determination. The universe will take care of the rest, but this wish requires your effort and commitment.
**Bonus Step**
If you want to add in an extra magical step, pull 12 corresponding cards. You can use Tarot cards like I did last year, or oracle cards which I will be doing this year instead. Even affirmation cards would work or whatever kind of deck you might have access to.
Turn to a new page where you have written your list of wishes and write out the 12 months of the year. Each card you pull in order will correspond with those months. (ie. Card pull 1, January. Card pull 2, February. Card pull 3, March and so on.)
Check back in each month to see if any of your wishes are closer to coming true, and if the card meanings relate to your current life situations.
Watch the magic unfold!
