My Personal Legend
13 Wishes
It was like any other night, doom scrolling when I stumbled upon someone explaining a European tradition called Rauhnächte or the 13 Wishes Ritual. The idea is that you write 13 âwishesâ, each on their own scrap of paper. These wishes are written as if they already exist or are happening, and the wishes must be about you. You are to imagine yourself already having attained this wish. For example, you might write something like âI travel the world and experience new things with curiosityâ or âI trust my inner wisdom and use it to guide my decisionsâ.
Starting on the Winter Solstice (December 21st) you burn a piece of paper each night without reading it. The wish is emotionally released and not dwelled upon. By the end of the 13th night (New Yearâs Day), one piece of paper will remain, becoming your personal focus for the year.
I vaguely remember the other wishes I wrote, but this one in particular stuck with me. It stuck with me because I almost didnât write it, not because it wasnât worthy of being a wish, but because I was afraid of the challenge of embodying this wish.
The wish reads: âI speak my truth with clarity and confidenceâ. This truly is one of my deepest wishes and simultaneously one of my greatest fears. But when I read it, I knew that it was important to pursue.
Recently, my brother encouraged me to read The Alchemist a book about a humble man who strives and struggles to understand what is called his âpersonal legendâ. The best way to describe it is oneâs unique destiny or purpose. Pursuing your personal legend involves listening to your heart, paying attention to omens, and believing the universe will conspire to help you, even in your darkest times.
With all that said, today is day one. Iâm looking forward to the year ahead and seeing where it takes me.
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