When I was a kid, when the clock struck 12 on New Year's Eve, my sister, mom, and I would yell "Happy New Year!" with Dick Clark, bang pots with wooden spoons, and, as we got older, sip champagne and kiss our loved ones.  

Most of us do some sort of New Year ritual, whether singularly or with a group.  But how many of your rituals are intentional as the year comes to an end?  Last year I got the idea to do something a bit different in the lead-up to the big night.  I decided to usher in the new year energetically as well.

On New Year's Eve day, I cleaned my house.  Not scrubbing-on-hands-and-knees cleaning or anything (though you could, if that's your jam); but I cleaned.

I dusted all the places, including the ceilings and ceiling fans, swept and mopped the floors, cleaned the toilets, showers, and sinks – you get the idea.  I did this methodically and took my time – I technically had until midnight to get it all done.

I washed all of the dishes, clothes, towels, and sheets.  As we got closer to the countdown, I emptied all of the trashcans and recycling from inside.  This sounds like a big job, but it wasn't.  I didn't worry about doing a deep cleaning of the house.  While I was doing a lot of things, I wasn't trying to get my floors so clean we could eat off them.  This was more about getting rid of any old, stagnant energy inside my house (and my body), and inviting in newness.

The windows and doors were open to allow fresh air to flow.  I had cheerful music playing, which always helps improve even the dirtiest of jobs.  

I swept the front porch, watered the plants, and burned dried rosemary to help sweep away any leftover energetic cooties.  (I chose rosemary from my garden rather than, say, white sage, as I'm not Native American and don't want to appropriate another culture's sacred practices.)

When I was all finished, I took a shower to clean myself.  I envisioned any lingering negative emotions leaving my body with the water and flowing down the drain and to the sea.

By the time 11:30p came around, I felt excited and ready to greet the fresh new year.  I turned on my favorite NYE countdown show (love me some Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen).  When the clock struck midnight, I kissed my Prince Charming.  And by 12:30a, I was in bed, feeling floaty from all of the energetic and physical cleaning of the day (and maybe a bit of bubbly).  

May 2024 bring the world and abundance of peace, love, good health, and happiness.