12 Magic Nights

a unique and powerful journey into the new year

What are the 12 Magic Nights?

The 12 Magic Nights originated thousands of years ago with the Celtic and Germanic tribes of Europe. At that time, they followed the lunar and solar calendar; the lunar year containing 12 full moons within 354 days, and the solar calendar with 365 days.  This left a difference of 12 days each year, the darkest days, which is considered to be the “time between years” or the “time within time”.   You may hear different names for this period, depending on the tradition (12 Sacred Nights, 12 Holy Nights, Yuletide or Rauhnacht), but here we’ll call them 12 Magic Nights.

These 12 Magical Nights between Christmas (December 25) and the Epiphany (January 6) are believed to be a time of retreat, reflection, and a connection to other levels of reality. It is said that the “veil” between the physical world and the spiritual world is almost transparent at this time, making it easier to tap into the deeper level of the soul. We become more sensitive, our dreams may be more active, and our intuition is heightened.

This is a beautiful and natural time of the year to reflect on what is coming to an end, finding clarity in the present, and co-creating your upcoming year. It feels really powerful to do this- instead of skimming the surface.

I love this tradition because it helps me to slow down and be intentional. It is so easy to be overly busy, distracted, and stressed around the holidays. Adding to the tension instead of releasing it.

I have found over the past two years that going through this tradition adds a lot of meaning and magic to my life. I especially love doing it with other people, because it feels like you’re creating something really special together.

This year, I wanted to center themes around the heart- to help us all get into this space as we transition from one year to the next. Connecting with feelings of peace, strength, love, aliveness, faith, understanding, acceptance, calm.

The goodness you bring to yourself is for everyone else around you as well.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

I invite you to join me.

12 Holy Nights

So, how does it work?

From December 25th to January 6th you will receive an email with guidance and information for that specific day. Each of the days/nights will have a specific theme to help you:

  • reflect on your previous year in an honest way

  • mindfully bring that theme into your awareness that day

  • and also look into the upcoming year

You will also be paying attention to your days and your dreams- which I will guide you through. In this tradition, every magic night is connected to the energy of a corresponding month for the upcoming year. For example, what happens on December 25th may offer predictions of what is to come in January 2025. And what you notice in your dreams on December 29th could offer insight into your May 2025.

You choose when to carve out time throughout your day to sit, reflect and journal (day or night). I find that even 10 minutes every day is a wonderful way to participate, but take as much time as you can and make it your own! 

There will be an optional Zoom call for a closing ceremony on January 6th to share the experience.

How could this benefit me?

The 12 Magic nights are an opportunity to close a chapter with awareness and wisdom and start a new chapter with mindfulness and intention.  This time and this program is an invitation to: 

  • digest the past year before moving forward

  • more intentionally enter the upcoming year

  • spend quality time in contemplation with yourself

  • learn about a new ritual and form a new tradition

  • experience the benefits of journaling

  • receive support and guidance along the way

  • develop more awareness and clarity

  • practice mindfulness in creative and fun ways

  • experiment with tapping into your intuition

  • practice self-care, heart opening, and showing up for yourself

  • connect with a partner or friend through the
    process

Also, be sure to keep your special journal because in 2025 you’ll be fascinated to look back at what you wrote!

“"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."
— W.B. Yeats

When

Dec 25- Jan 6th

What You Need

Notebook or Journal and pen (I HIGHLY recommend having a hard copy journal instead of typing in a document)

10-20 minutes a day for the practices

13 small pieces of paper and a container to put them in (More details to follow)

a commitment to the process

Optional

Sage, palo santo, or incense 

Candle

I-ching, Oracle cards, or tarot cards (If this is something you already use)

Virtual ceremony to close the 12 Magic Nights

Cost

$24.25

Get it? :-) A play with the numbers of the years as we move from 2024 to 2025.

“12 Magic Nights was an offering of the highest quality and came through for me at exactly the right time! Kelly clearly put her heart and soul into the entire offering. The amount of detail, the options, and the quality of the experience were beyond what I was expecting. Do yourself a favor and register for a course with Kelly if you want to feel nurtured, cared for, and gently guided all from afar. I am only hoping she offers this course again in the future!"

Megan Tolhurst

“I have followed a journaling program for the 1st time in my life with Kelly's 12 Magic Nights. Through this program she shared so much inspiration, challenging questions and resources... her words hold your personal space in such a supporting way that you feel comfortable even if you had never written a word in a journal before. Her experience in mindfulness and psychology make her a wonderful guide and space holder even for a more mental introspection. Both if you are new at journaling or if journaling is a habit for you, Kelly is certainly an incredible guide, mirror and friend to share the process with!"

Giulia Sgarbi

What’s Included?

  • Your daily email will include the “theme” of the day, 4-5 journal prompts, and additional resources to such as guided meditations, videos, quotes and rituals to enhance your experience.

  • There will be an optional virtual closing ceremony on January 6th at 11:30 am EST.

  • For ease and clarity, I will put all of the information about this ritual and the instructions together in a PDF. I want you to know exactly what to do and expect each day.

12 Magic Nights

My own personal

experience with…

12 Magic Nights

I love traditions. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. They feel like comfort and certainty and excitement and anticipation and nostalgia all wrapped up into one. But when traditions end for one reason or another….I definitely struggle a bit to let go. I’ve been telling myself for years that I want to create a tradition that is mine and mine alone. Something that feels special and sacred; something that I look forward to doing for myself each year.

Along came the tradition of 12 Magic Nights. And MAGICAL it was.

Read more about my experience here.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • It’s not a problem. If you think you will miss more than half of the days- then I might recommend to pass on this for now. Also, you can do the rituals whenever the time suits you. Ideally, you use the magic and energy of darkness and perform the rituals in the morning or evening- but what really counts is simply carving out that little time for you.

  • Yes! Any friends or family that you have that love to journal would love this program. You can also easily select Magic Start as a gift using the ordering system and enter the details of the person to be gifted. They will receive the first email about Magic Start on December 24th. You could give them this gift along with a journal or sage.

  • 100% What you write is only for you and does not need to be written in any particular way. There are 3 different opportunities to write: about your dreams, the things you notice that happen through your day, and the journal prompts. You’ll get something from each one as they all invite mindfulness, introspection, and slowing down.

  • In the daily emails you will receive writing prompts and optional rituals; as well as other inspirational resources that guide you through the 12 nights. How deeply you immerse yourself and how many of the practices you implement is entirely up to you. I recommend that you set aside at least 20 minutes every day so that you can calmly answer the journaling questions or jot down your dreams and observations of the day.

    Basically, there is no right or wrong and you can take as much or as little time as you want. Maybe one day you have 10 minutes and the next you have 30.

  • Using sage or “smoking” can be a great tool to release and cleanse yourself, your home and the old energies of the year. While I recommend it as part of the Magic Nights rituals, it is certainly not mandatory.

  • Please first check whether you have given me your correct email address. If so, be sure to check your spam folder. Even if you received emails in the first few days, for example, it can sometimes happen that they end up in spam on a later day.

    If you still are not receiving them, please send an email directly to kellyyonston@gmail.com.

  • ABSOLUTELY YES! The themes of the individual nights will be similar to last year, but there will be different prompts (and less: 4-5). I find that with rituals like these I tend to go deeper and get more from it each year. And, it’s beautiful to see your own evolution through the process each year.