With 13 wishes through the rough nights

With 13 wishes through the rough nights

The Rauhnächte are a time of cleansing, change and new beginnings for us humans between Christmas and the Three Kings. The rough nights were holy nights for our ancestors. These nights were not spent working, but rather celebrating, being noticed and spending a lot of intensive time with oneself and with the family. And we still notice this today – we are calmer during this time. Reflect on the past year, look forward to the one to come and see where we are headed on the wild journey of life. We may set ourselves new goals and move on from the old. An intensive time for each of us.

The term Rauhnächte comes from rough, smoke and incense. Another name is Losnächte - “los” comes from “lose” or “predict”. Everything that happens on these days has a special meaning: whether there were problems, special surprises, what encounters arose, whether the days were peaceful and harmonious, what the weather was like. At home, demons used to be smoked out with incense, magical acts or small fires in the garden.

The rough nights begin on the night of December 25th and end on the morning of January 6th. There are 12 nights in this period, each representing a month in the following year. So the 1st Rauhnacht from December 24th to December 25th stands for the 1st month of the year, January. The 2nd rough night for February and so on. Every rough night lasts from midnight until midnight the next night.

The individual days and nights are often used as oracles for the coming year. Therefore, write down what happened on each day and how you felt. And also what you dreamed on each night. On January 6th you can see what inspiration has been given to you for the new year.

Every Rauhnacht has its own theme

1st Rauhnacht (The night from December 24th to December 25th) January, topic: basis, basis, roots

2nd Rauhnacht (December 25th - December 26th) February, topic: own strength, higher self, inner voice

3rd Rauhnacht (December 26th – December 27th) March, theme: heart opening, miracles

4th Rauhnacht (December 27th - December 28th) April, theme: Day of the dissolution of blockades

5th Rauhnacht (December 28th – December 29th) May, topic: Friendship

6th Rauhnacht (December 29th – December 30th) June, topic: Cleanup

7th Rauhnacht (December 30th - December 31st) July, topic: Preparation for the new

8th Rauhnacht (December 31st – January 1st) August, theme: Birth of the New Year, fun, joy of life

9th Rauhnacht (01.01. - 02.01.) September, theme: blessing, wisdom

10th Rauhnacht (02.01. – 03.01.) October, topic: visions, inspirations

11th Rauhnacht (03.01. - 04.01.) November, topic: Letting go, saying goodbye

12th Rauhnacht (04.01. - 05.01.) December, topic: miracles, cleanup

Epiphany (January 6th) final day, is suitable for a final ritual to reflect on the 12 days.

Smoking – to dissolve negative energies

Smoking is an ancient tradition for dissolving heavy energies and connecting with light energy. Sage (strong cleansing power), frankincense (brings blessings, increases energy), juniper (dispels negative energy), myrrh (cleanses and gives calm), myrtle (provides clarity, purity and peace), thyme (cleanses and... strengthens energy) and other herbs.

Smoke out the apartment by going through all the rooms every night and blowing the smoke into every corner. Imagine that everything negative from the past dissolves in smoke and something positive emerges from it. Set an intention and be grateful for everything that was, is and is to come. Dedicate yourself to the old year in 6 nights and the new year in 6 nights. Or use the respective theme of the Rauhnacht as the focus of the smoking.

You can also place small pieces of paper with messages on the coals of the incense with everything that is bothering you and that you want to free yourself from: sad events, negative thoughts, bad qualities that you want to get rid of... When the pieces of paper burn, you detach yourself from the negative and give new space for forgiveness and a new beginning.

13 wishes for the rough nights - preparation

Write to you on December 21st. (Winter Solstice) Write 13 wishes for the new year on individual pieces of paper and fold them together. You should actively formulate your wishes - for example: I look forward to every new day. Every rough night, take one of the folded pieces of paper and burn it (without reading it again). Your wish is given to the universe and should come true in the respective month of Rauhnacht. There will be a piece of paper left over at the end of the rough nights - you can open this on January 6th, because you alone are responsible for fulfilling this wish.

If December 21st is already over, then use every day of the rough nights (i.e. from December 25th) and also January 6th to write down a wish for the new year. In the end you will also have 13 wishes together and can carry out the ritual of 12 wishes to the universe on January 6th.

Questions for each night

The first rough night is about the basis of your life, your foundation and roots. Questions can be:

🔥 What forms my foundation in my life?

🔥 What can I rely on?

🔥 What strengthens me and my foundation and what unbalances me?

Themes for this night include connecting with one's inner voice, inner guidance and higher self. Questions today can be:

🔥 What does my inner voice want to tell me?

🔥 What can I do to better perceive my inner voice?

This night is dedicated to heart opening and heart energy. Questions for today can be:

🔥   What are my heart's desires?

🔥   What gives me deep joy and fulfillment and makes my heart jump?

🔥   Who do I give love and friendship to? Who is giving it to me?

Themes for this night are dissolving blockages, new beginnings and departure. Questions today can be:

🔥   What else can I let go of?

🔥   Which habits do I want to change?

🔥   What else is blocking me?

Themes for this night are friendship and self-love. Because having a deep and loving relationship with yourself is at least as important as being friends with others. Questions for today:

🔥   Who are my friends?

🔥   Am I a good friend to myself?

🔥   What is important to me in a friendship?

The topic today is preparing for what is to come and letting go of the old. It's about the transition from the old to the new and what you want to take with you. ⁠ Questions today can be: ⁠

🔥   What can I let go of?⁠ What can I free myself from?⁠

🔥   What is not yet taken?⁠ What still needs a degree?⁠

The topic today is preparing for the new year and cleaning things up. It will do you good to take a bath and wash away the old year. Questions for tonight could be:

🔥   What is my vision for the new year?

🔥   What do I wish for?

🔥   Where do I want to send strength and energy?

Today is New Year's Eve and the night of the New Year. It represents birth, new beginnings, abundance, self-expression and realization. Meet up with friends today and spend time in nature. Questions can be:

🔥   What are my good wishes?

The new year has begun. Find Your Yoga wishes you all the best!

This day stands for gold and light as well as blessing and the inner center. Today reflect on your inner center from which peace and strength comes. Questions for today are:

🔥   Who do I want to send light and blessings to?

Today it's about visions and the connection with the divine. Questions can be: ⁠

🔥 What do I want to spend time doing in my life?   

🔥   How do I use my life energy?⁠

🔥 How do I want to implement my vision?⁠

A day for dealing with death and the big questions of life. D Questions can be: ⁠

🔥 What is the meaning of my life?⁠

🔥 Why am I here?⁠

🔥 What do I want to bring to earth?⁠

🔥 What is finally over and now wants to be let go?⁠

The last Rauhnacht is dedicated to the theme of miracles and stands for cleansing and transformation. Questions can be:

🔥 What else needs to be cleaned up?

🔥 What miracle is supposed to happen?

Graduation day January 6th

January 6th (Epiphany) is suitable for a final ritual to reflect on the previous 12 days. You can now take your notes from the last few days and see what inspiration has been given to you for the new year. What messages have emerged for them? What new insights are you taking with you into the new year?

Tonight one of the 13 wish lists remains. You don't burn this piece of paper, you can read it. You are now entirely responsible for fulfilling this last wish this year.

Have fun and nice insights for your rough nights. And a good start into the new year!

Stephanie, a reader of the article, would like to celebrate the Rauhnächte 2022 properly and has designed a small workbook that she would like to share and which you can download here .

Text by: Maria, former operator of Find Your Yoga