As we mark another solar return (more commonly known as your birthday), we can reflect on our experiences, celebrate our growth and accomplishments, and set new intentions and goals for the upcoming year.
There are many spiritual traditions around birthdays. Did you know that birthday cake originates from ancient Greece, where moon-shaped honey cakes were baked to honor Artemis, and decorated with candles to make them glow? In 18th century Germany, they would transformation into the modern sweet cakes we’re more familiar with today.
Wishes made on blown out birthday candles are often the first comparison to candle spells in witchcraft that we encounter beginning our paths. Spells performed on this day can pull our personal energy into alignment, release energetic attachments of the previous year, and set a positive tone to call in desires to manifest over the next 365 days.
I have included a Solar Return spread that I like to do on my birthday each year to gain insight on what’s in store for me and wanted to share it with you in case you were curious too.
SOLAR RETURN SPREAD
WITCH TIP: for this spread, you can use your personal year card as the key theme or you can draw a card at random. To calculate your year card, you need to add the individual digits of your birthday month, day, and the current year and reduce the digits to under 21. Then find the number of the major arcana card that it corresponds to. You can omit The Fool card which is zero, or count it as one.
THE KNIFE represents what to release and leave behind from the previous year.
THE CAKE represents the key theme of your upcoming year. This can be your personal year card or one you draw.
THE CANDLES represents a challenge that may appear in the next year.
THE ICING represents what to embrace to manifest the best version of you.
THE SPRINKLES represents a gift or a small blessing that will sweeten the year.
THE FILLING a message from your inner self or your guides.
BIRTHDAY WISH JAR SPELL
After the party is over, I love bottling that joyful energy to help make sure that wish I made on my birthday candles manifests throughout the year.
BIRTHDAY WISH SPELL JAR
Ingredients
- 1 jar with lid
- 1 blown out birthday candle (which already holds your intention)
- 1 piece of wrapping paper or birthday card + pen
- birthday decorations (like glitter, confetti, etc.)
- clear quartz crystal (for amplification)
- dried orange peels (for joy)
- rice (for celebrations, abundance)
- sugar (for sweetening your intention to you)
- candle and lighter for sealing the jar
Instructions
- Cleanse and clear your space and items.
- Ground and center. Bringing your intention to mind.
- Add items to star starting with rice, sugar, dried orange peels, etc.
- Write wish or intention on wrapping paper or card. Fold it toward you. Infuse your intention into the paper and add it to the jar.
- Add any additional decorations, the clear quartz, and the blown out birthday candle at this time.
- Close the lid and drip wax on the jar lid to seal it.
- Open the jar and clear it out when the wish comes true, or keep it until next year to open on your birthday.
Other types of magick for your special day might include – birthday journaling and vision boards for the year ahead, gratitude page or cording cutting for the year you’re leaving behind, intentional decorations, kitchen magick for your birthday cakes, a folder for memorabilia (birthday cards, photos, wrapping paper, candles, blessings and affirmations from family and friends (screenshot your birthday wishes)) to open and reflect on next year. Birthday cards and wrapping paper make great additions to future spells involving loved ones.
However you choose to celebrate, I hope your day is as magickal as you are. Happy birthday!
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