Are you already familiar with the fascinating tradition of the Raunächte? These mystical nights, which take place between Christmas and Epiphany, are a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the old year and start the new year with fresh energy.
We would like to introduce you to the fascinating history of incense burning during the Raunächte and show you how you can use this time as a modern mindfulness tool for the transition to the new year.
The history of incense burning during the Raunächte
The Raunächte have their origins in ancient Germanic and Celtic traditions. At that time, it was believed that the gates to the other world were open and that spirits, gods and ancestors could enter our world. In order to protect themselves from negative influences and attract positive energies, people began to burn various herbs and resins - incense was born.
The meaning of the individual Raunächte
The twelve nights of the Raunächte symbolize the twelve months of the coming year. Each night represents a month and influences its energies.
They begin with the first Raunacht on December 25, which stands for January of the coming year, and end with the night of January 6, which stands for December.
Incense burning as a modern mindfulness tool for the transition to the new year
The Raunächte offer you the perfect opportunity to consciously pause and bring mindfulness into your life. Here are some ideas on how you can integrate incense burning into your modern family ritual that even the little ones can join in with. Use the Raunächte to calm down together as a family. Turn off the screens, sit in a circle, light a candle and reflect on the day before burning incense together and getting into a theme that suits you.
Gratitude: Every Raunacht you can become aware of what you are grateful for. Light a candle, light the incense and say one after the other what you were grateful for last year. Or write it down for yourself.
Say goodbye: As with gratitude, you can also consciously say goodbye to things that you don't want to take with you into the new year. In this case, it is a good idea to burn a lot of smoke, for example with a bundle of sage. This way you can give all these things to the smoke. Then open the window to air out and these thoughts will leave your home.
Wishes and goals: Write down your wishes and goals for the coming year and collect them in an envelope. On the last Raunacht you can then burn this envelope and release the energy of your wishes and goals.
Dream journal: Many people dream very intensely during this time. If you like, you can write down your dreams in a notebook. Then you can take it out every now and then in the coming year and read the dream you had that night for that month. There may be a few surprises.
Scent experience: It has been scientifically proven that incense has a profound effect on how we feel, as with aromatherapy we can't get our minds involved here. It is best to simply close your eyes and just feel what is there or what is happening and absorb this theme.
Of course, you can also give yourself different food for thought each evening.
Here are a few examples:
December 25 (January): Take time for self-reflection and think about what really makes you happy. What activities and passions inspire you and make you shine?
December 26 (February): Discover your creative side and let your imagination run wild. What forms of creative expression interest you? Paint, write or design something that moves you.
December 27 (March): Practice mindfulness in everyday life and become aware of your emotions. What triggers joy, anger or calmness in you? Accept these feelings without judgment.
December 28 (April): Pay attention to your dreams and inner desires. What goals and longings lie dormant within you? Write them down and let them shine in your heart.
December 29 (May): Do you connect with nature often enough? This connection often helps us to find peace. Write down ways in which you can integrate more of these little time-outs into your life. For example, walking barefoot in a meadow for 5 minutes. Or making a snow angel on the way home?
December 30 (June): Take time for creative meditation. Close your eyes and imagine that you could achieve anything you want. What would you do?
December 31 (July): Write a letter of gratitude to yourself and acknowledge your strengths and achievements. Recognize how wonderful you are and give yourself credit.
January 1 (August): Examine your life goals and values. What is really important to you? Are you living in line with your beliefs?
January 2 (September): Consciously set boundaries and say "no" more often when it's good for you. Allow yourself to stand up for yourself and respect your needs.
January 3 (October): Discover new interests and areas of education. What topics fascinate you and arouse your curiosity? Explore them further.
January 4 (November): Practice self-compassion and allow yourself to make mistakes. Accept your humanity and see it as an opportunity to grow and learn.
January 5 (December): Surround yourself with loving people who support and inspire you. Nurture your social relationships and share positive energy.
And then, of course, there is the incense ritual. You have various options here. On the one hand, there is traditional incense burning on charcoal in an incense bowl. But there are also incense bundles and incense burners. There is no right or wrong here, but simply personal preferences or occasions/incense nights where one is more suitable than the other.
With this in mind, we wish you a magical time of the Raunächte and a fantastic start to the coming year!
