A Funeral for the Old Year

A Funeral for the Old Year is the magical rite suggested this month. My daughter picked out a woodblock art calendar about witchcraft for “her room” (she doesn’t really live here anymore, and it’s been hard for me to accept) so I will be living with it myself for the most part and trying out some of the advice this year.  

There are three main parts to the ritual:

Part one is to list your accomplishments in the last year.  All the victories and times you persevered or gained some success! As for me, I don’t want to give out too much personal information, but here are a few examples-

I maintained many of my goals. I didn’t read exactly 50 books, but I got so close.

Pilates workouts were a dedicated part of every single day for me.

My daughter and I remain close, we have conversations pretty often. 

I went to the doctor, one time only. It was quite anxiety inducing but I kept the appointment and got it over with. 

Some great news for me came from the bank, it was a big 2024 moment that helps make my life easier.

I bought a few pieces of jewelry I plan to wear for all time.

My psychic predictions from January last year were somewhat accurate- TikTok was banned, even if it hasn’t “gone through” yet. And Donald Trump won the election again.

I went to see live ballet performances twice.

I only saw 4 movies in a theater this year but they were all good (the films were Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Civil War, Furiosa, and Joker: Folie a Deux). 

I completed about 10 knitting projects and spun wool into yarn too.

I solved a jigsaw puzzle. It might have been my first time, unless I’ve forgotten some from my childhood years. 

I kept up posting on my blog and Bluesky account! 

Part two is writing down the things that got in your way or disrupted your inner peace, and deciding to leave those behind. For example in my life-

I hated when my doctor said I gained 4lbs! I really didn’t need to know about that, and it’s still ruining my mood every time I recall that disgusting information.

The USA government has been oppressing me, pretty much every day! Between the election noise, laws I’m forced to follow, and taxes I pay that support hateful policies, it’s been a lot.

I didn’t make as much progress in some of my goals as I had hoped to achieve.

All the wars and violence around the world, that is not a good vibe. 

The final third part is to Celebrate. A toast to all the accomplishments! There doesn’t have to be a funeral exactly, though the calendar suggests writing or improvising a eulogy and “if you have a flare for drama, do this at a cemetery (being sure to go during visiting hours) and wear funeral clothes”. A solo magic circle is another suitable idea, simply popping a champagne bottle or some other sparkling drink to conclude. 

Here’s my eulogy for the year:

We gather here, in thought and reflection, to bid farewell to a year that has now passed. This year was not perfect, but it offered us moments that shaped who we are today.

It was a time of learning lessons and showing strength, reminding us of the impermanence of triumphs and trials alike. It asked us to endure, to celebrate, and to grieve. It showed us beauty in unexpected places and brought challenges that stretched our spirits.

As we lay this year to rest, we carry forward its lessons, its laughter, and even its wounds, for they have made us stronger. May we honor its memory by embracing the future with gratitude and hope, ready to welcome all that the new year will bring.

Goodbye, 2024. You are gone, but you will not be forgotten.