New Year has always been a powerful portal for manifesting magic. We can even see evidence of this in the remaining traditions of ‘resolution’ setting that run through our mainstream culture – but many ancient wisdom bodies have also revered this time of year as a symbol of a ‘fresh start’, in which people feel were into magical things. ritual. While I’m not actually a fan of the kind of mundane-feeling ‘resolutions’ that usually send us into a ‘yang’ mode of ‘pushing’ and ‘forcing’ – oh how exhausting after a busy holiday season – I am a fan of magical creation – also called ‘manifestation’.
‘Magic’ is actually defined as the ability to ‘transform’ – offering us a way to create change in a more ‘yin’ (feminine) way. What I mean by that is that ‘magic’ is a co-creation between our human selves and the natural wisdom of life (which we might say as a reference to essential oils, which come from the natural wisdom of plants). In simpler terms, we have the ability to set heart-guided intentions – and then allow that intention to unfold, following aligned actions that open up by directing our focus in this way.
Not only that, but essential oils can help us boost this magical creation as we enter the new year. That’s why I’m going to share a ritual for you to boost your January so you can enter 2025 strong.
Manifestation and its ‘myth’
What is ‘manifestation’? First, it’s helpful to know that manifestation really just means making something real. It is the process of bringing the big dreams of our hearts to life in a tangible form. So when we talk about what we want to manifest this year, it’s really about what we want to ‘create’.
What is important to know is that there is a common ‘myth’ of manifestation. Often manifestation teachers share the misunderstanding that we have to “do something” to create magic – based on the ideas of more pressure, force, and busyness. And while there are “soul-centered actions” to be taken, it is important to know that we have been manifesting all along. Magic isn’t about needing to create a fancy vision board or a list of wishes – although those things can be fun and useful as a way to determine our focus – it’s about seeing that we already have the powerful creators of our lives, all time. We even (innocently) create the things we consider “bad” – largely unconsciously due to childhood wounds – for which we have to feel sorry for ourselves. I’m not going to go into that here, other than to say that this is why I will offer a ‘release’ of what we ‘don’t want’ as part of this ritual – but it’s worth knowing, because even when we think We don’t create magic, we do.
How to start 2025 strong
In our culture we are not used to a more ‘magical’ way of creating. So what’s helpful to know is that magic is created by tuning into our hearts and what our deeper, true desires are – beyond all our logical ‘shoulds’. It’s so tempting to make New Year’s resolutions based on what we ‘think’ we should be doing, but this often leaves us demotivated, depressed and beating ourselves up for ‘failing’.
Instead, to enter the new year with strength, the following ritual will help you tune into your heart and soul and see what magic you would like to manifest this year – and act as a focal point to guide you to maintain that vision. This vision will be an anchor for your heart that you will keep coming back to when you doubt yourself or fear the impossibility of what you want to create (which is all part of the path!).
I recommend that you enter into this sacred vision ritual with the intention of tuning into what is deeper than your mind – to enter your heart and see what is really there, beyond what you think you ‘should’ creating, and with the intention of not beating yourself up about your “progress” (which is what we are conditioned to prioritize in our culture). For example, you might be tempted to say, “I’m going to make more money this year” – but I invite you to go deeper and ask, “What’s in my heart?” What does money represent to you, or what do you think it has to offer you? For example, is it more connection?
Top 10 Essential Oils to Help Us Harness Our Magic
Here are my Top 10 ‘Manifestation’ Oils to use during our magical vision ritual:
- Clary Sage – a musky, bittersweet floral oil, this oil helps you ‘see’ more deeply and gain clarity about what you really want
- Rose – a feminine, sweet floral oil, this helps you access your heart and emotions
- Jasmine – a sweet, exotic oil, helps you soften and tune your femininity
- Myrrh – a woody, spicy aroma. Myrrh helps you connect with your inner wisdom
- Frankincense – a woody, spicy aroma, this oil helps ground you in your body and connect with wisdom
- Sandalwood – a soft, woody aroma, this peaceful oil helps you feel stable and grounded
- Patchouli – a musky-sweet, spicy aroma, this helps you release negative thoughts, emotions and wounds
- Peppermint – a fresh, minty, stimulating oil. Peppermint helps us to be inspired to take targeted actions
- Lemon – a fresh, citrusy oil, which helps us stay energized around the dreams of our heart
- Rosemary – helps us stay focused when we doubt our heart’s vision
2025 ‘Magical Manifestation’ Ritual
Here’s a ritual to work with in January:
Create your space:
Before you begin this process, make sure you have the oils you need, set aside time and space for this journey, and create a comfortable environment for yourself that is undisturbed (perhaps with blankets, candles, music). You will probably need an hour and a half to fully engage in this process.
Open your heart:
The next step is to gain an embodied sense of heart opening. To do this, spend 15 minutes working with a mixture that can help you soften your body, connect with the mind, and open your heart to see more of your dreams and heart’s desires for 2025.
Heart-opening mix: Mix 3 drops of rose, 2 drops of clary sage and 1 drop of myrrh in 15 ml of sweet almond oil. Apply this heart-opening blend to your chest, over your heart space, as you intend to enter the ritual and see all that wants to be seen about your soul’s greater dreams. This is an invitation to let down your walls, forget what feels ‘logical’ or ‘impossible’ and open your heart to feeling your true, deeper soul desires and dreams for 2025.
Wild wander:
Once you’ve done this, go outside into nature for a ‘wild walk’ of at least 30 minutes. Ask yourself the following question and let it reveal what wants to be revealed (you may even be surprised by what comes up, let that be okay):
Ask: What does my heart long for? What do I want to create in 2025 and beyond?
Sniffy Stick Mix: You may want to bring a snuff stick, with 2 drops of rose oil on a cotton pad, rolled into an aromatherapy inhaler.
Journalizing:
When you get home, spend 15 minutes writing down the key things that were revealed around your heart’s vision and anchor it in your body. Notice how you feel about them – maybe they feel scary, impossible or grand. Let those emotions be there and allow yourself to simply feel the desires of your heart.
Journaling diffusion mixture: While you’re tracking, you can boost this part of the practice by mixing 3 drops of frankincense, 2 drops of sandalwood, and 1 drop of jasmine with some water in an electric diffuser or candle burner, allowing them to release their gentle, grounding energy into the allow the room to flow. connecting your vision to your body.
Distill aligned actions:
When your vision is fully distilled, notice if there are small, aligned next steps that immediately come to mind. Don’t force this, nothing may come to mind right away, but something may be revealed if you hold the intention. Lemon is a great oil to help you refocus, so this may be a step you come back to from time to time. once a week or once a month, to check in.
Rollerball mix: you may want to give yourself a little ‘Lemon’ boost for this and make a rollerball for your heart rate points. Mix 2 drops of Lemon in 10 ml of Grape Seed Oil in a small roller bottle and roll it onto your temples and wrists as desired.
This may be the end of your ritual for now, but there is an additional step that can help you if you doubt the possibility of manifesting a more magical life. It is normal for us to feel fear arise as we come into contact with the deeper visions of our heart. So when we start to doubt our vision, it’s time to notice what wants to be released.
Reorient:
Each month, at the full moon, you may want to reflect on how aligned your vision feels, and what fear is standing in the way of creating it, declaring that you are letting go of this fear and re-choosing your vision. This is a place to love, so that you can consciously create what is in your heart.
Refocus Spritz: To support your reorientation in times of fear or doubt, make a spritz with 20 drops of Patchouli, 5 drops of Rosemary and 5 drops of Peppermint in 100 ml of Orange Flower Hydrosol or water, in a spray bottle, and store in the refrigerator. Use this if necessary when you doubt your big dreams.
Overall, the magical lens – working in harmony with nature’s essential oils – offers us the opportunity to create our lives more from the heart. I wish you a year where you can manifest all your dreams. Happy mixing!
Nicole Barton
Advisor Aromatherapist
Disclaimer and safety advice
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