New Moon Magic ✨
Wildest Dreams Candle
Today, January 18th, marks the first new moon of 2026. I realize not everyone is familiar with the new moon as it doesn’t offer a stunning visual reminder like that of the full moon. The new moon is stuck in shadow between the Earth and the Sun but its quiet message is profound. While the full moon represents surrender - an important, challenging part of life - the new moon signifies new beginnings, possibility, and planting seeds for the future. Its energy feels optimistic and hopeful as if anything is possible. And it is! So the first new moon of a new year feels especially significant to me. As one who loves a good reset be it a new year, a birthday, or even just a Monday, I look forward to every new moon as a chance to realign and expand what I believe is possible. I keep the energy front of mind all day and make an effort to practice more gratitude, goodwill, and presence.
When I meet people at markets and events, I’m often asked about my rituals and mindfulness practices. My answer is always the same - my most consistent and profound practice is daily journaling. And I do mean daily, sometimes multiple times a day if I’m working something out. My morning pages are a sacred ritual that I literally set my alarm for. I look forward to it and rely on it to set me up for every new day. Here’s what that looks like for me: I start by making my coffee often while listening to some guided affirmations to calm my mind. Then I bring my coffee upstairs, grab my journal (Decomposition notebooks for me), and settle into my comfy writing chair. I light my Wildest Dreams candle, take a look at my vision board (more about that later), and begin to write.
The second question I’m asked is how I start each session. Do I ever open my notebook and have nothing to say? Fortunately writing comes very naturally to me so that’s never been an issue. If anything, my hand can’t keep up with my brain most mornings. But I do usually start each entry with a reflection of the previous day’s events and emotions. If it was a great day, that morphs into gratitude pretty quickly. If it was a challenging day, I take inventory of my successes as well as my struggles. Those tend to be the most profound sessions because all sorts of emotions make their way onto the page, sometimes ones that I didn’t even know were in me. It’s like a conversation with myself but I’m able to be an observer as well. Writing is kind of magical in that way - it pulls things out of your subconscious and puts them on the page right in front of you. So if you don’t know how to start, try just going over the previous day’s events and see where it leads you. You can also try journal prompts which can lead to some juicy self-discovery.
On new moon days like today, I make a more intentional effort to write about the future - the things I want to bring into my life and the seeds I want to sow. It’s almost like a verbal vision board of where I want my path to lead me and, as I mentioned before, I love a good vision board. I look forward to new moon journal sessions because they are hopeful and creative. I always emerge feeling stronger, more powerful, and full of inspiration.
So why do I light a candle - specifically a Wildest Dreams candle - every time? Morning journaling is a ritual for me, a sacred practice that opens every new day. Candles have been used in rituals since the beginning of time and having one lit while I write helps me feel connected to generations of people, spirits, and energy. I have one lit right now as I’m writing this blog. While I could use any candle for my ritual, the Wildest Dreams candle is special in that it is made more slowly and therefore with more intention than my other candles. Because I have to let the wax harden in stages in order to hand place the crystals on top, the process requires a different level of patience and mindfulness. It’s kind of a meditation on its own and leaves me feeling calm and present, an energy I believe gets infused with the wax. But any candle will help you set the ambiance and create a sacred space to go within, but do make sure it’s a clean candle.
I am wishing you all so much new moon magic today and throughout 2026! May this year invite more ritual into your days, more intention into your moments, and the courage to dream just a little bigger—maybe even your wildest dreams. 🖤
