December 2025
The Altar Shoppe
Year End Magic
Year’s End: Magic, Reflection & New Beginnings
As the year draws to a close and the nights deepen, December invites us to pause — to reflect, release, and ready ourselves for new blooms. This month brings rituals to honor endings, seeds to plant for new beginnings, and the herbs, moons, and spells to guide the way.
Herb of the Month: Cedar
Cedar has long been treasured for its protective and purifying qualities. As the year winds down and winter deepens, cedar can help shield your space, ground your energy, and support rituals of reflection and manifestation. Burn its wood, hang its branches, or carry a small bundle to invite clarity, warmth, and spiritual protection.
Rituals:
Burn cedar wood in a fire-safe dish or incense holder to purify your home.
Place a small cedar bundle on your altar or hang above doorways to protect and ground energy.
Combine with white candles for meditation, reflection, or manifestation rituals.
Winter Spells: December’s Rituals & Magic to Try
From solstice candles to hearth-warming intention jars — rituals to honor the shifting season.
Spell Ideas:
Solstice Candle & Intention Jar
Light a white or silver candle at the Winter Solstice. Write hopes for the coming year on slips of paper, place them under the candle, and let the wax seal in your intentions until the candle burns out.Holly & Mistletoe Protection Bundle
Create a small bundle of holly and mistletoe tied with red ribbon. Hang above your door or keep on your altar to protect your home and invite warmth, love, and abundance.Moon-Charged Winter Tea Infusion
Brew tea with winter herbs (like cinnamon, clove, rosemary) under the waxing moon. Sip while meditating on gratitude and release — letting the warm herbs ground you and your intentions settle deep.Gratitude & Release Ritual
Write down what you wish to release from this year (fears, doubts, old patterns). Under the waning moon, burn or bury the paper. Then write a fresh note of gratitude and hope for what you wish to welcome in the new year.
All In the Stars: December Horoscopes:
Sagittarius (Nov 22–Dec 21): “Your flame burns bright this month — weave curiosity into your winter creations. A small adventure in self-magic could steer you toward unexpected gifts.”
Capricorn (Dec 22–Jan 19): “A time for honoring the work you’ve done. Channel ambition into grounding rituals — let the earth beneath your feet anchor your next ascent.”
Moon Phases
Full Moon (“Cold Moon”)
December 4, 2025 (peaks at 6:14 PM EST) 🌕 Heightened clarity & illumination — ideal for gratitude rituals, releasing what no longer serves, and celebrating internal growth.
Last (Third) Quarter
December 11, 2025 🌗 A time for reflection — let go of stagnant energy, clear emotional clutter, and prepare for new seeds.
New Moon
December 19, 2025 (8:43 PM EST) 🌑 Perfect for setting new intentions, planting seeds of desire, and beginning fresh spiritual or manifestation work.
First Quarter
December 27, 2025 🌓 A moment for action — take the small steps needed to manifest what you set under the New Moon.
Cosmic Forecast:
Moon-Jupiter conjunction around December 7 (night sky event)
Moon-Saturn alignment near December 26–27 (watch the skies)
Tips for Herbal Spellcasting:
Choose herbs intuitively: Feel their energy; let them speak to your intention.
Layer intentions: Combine complementary herbs to amplify focus (e.g., rose + honey for love; cedar + sage for protection).
Use sacred spaces: Cast herbs over an altar, a sacred cloth, or in natural settings to honor their spirit.
Visualize energy: As you scatter or sprinkle herbs, see your desire or intention unfolding in vivid detail.
Close with gratitude: Thank the herbs for their guidance and the energies they’ve carried into your spell.