Celebrate the Rauhnächte with Candles – Time for You and Your Inner Light
When the old year says goodbye and the new one still lies ahead, a special space opens up for me. A time to listen, look back, and realign.
The Rauhnächte around Christmas and the turn of the year invite you to let the everyday world grow quiet for a moment. Perhaps you too feel the longing to search less in the outside world and come home to yourself once again.
For me, it often begins quite simply: I light a candle.
Its warm glow reminds me to pause. I don't have to solve anything right now or have a special insight. For now, I am allowed simply to be – with everything that is on my mind.
What would you like to contemplate in the light?
Sometimes I bring a question into this quiet time:
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What from the past year would I like to honor?
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What would I like to let go of – and what still needs time?
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What do I wish for the coming year?
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What small step is in my hands?
Not every question needs an answer right away. Sometimes a thought reveals itself, sometimes a feeling. And sometimes it simply feels good to sit quietly for a while.
That, too, can be enough.
My preparation begins in autumn
For me, the Rauhnächte do not stand alone. As early as autumn, around the equinox, my personal turning toward the darker season begins.
Which color speaks to me right now? Which word would like to accompany me? Is there a motif, an animal, or a symbol that reminds me of something important?
Such questions also flow into my candle making. For me, a candle can be a visible reminder of something close to my heart – of courage, trust, or of giving myself more attention once again.
This inner winter time accompanies me beyond the winter solstice and the Rauhnächte until Candlemas in early February. This is how I experience my own path through the dark months and back into the brightening year.
The Sperrnächte: giving space to the past year
Before I turn to the new, I want to look at what has passed. For this, I use the time before the winter solstice, which today is often designated as the Sperrnächte.
What carried me? What was difficult? What would I like to preserve, change, or bid farewell to?
For me, letting go does not mean having to leave everything difficult behind quickly. Some things need attention, support, and patience. A ritual can mark a beginning.
My Sperrnacht candle is light at the top and dark at the bottom. For me, it represents the path into the dark season and one's own inner world. The reversed color sequence of my Rauhnacht candle then symbolically accompanies the path out of the darkness and back into the light.
Both light and shadow may have their place.
My personal candle ritual
For many years, I have lit a small, thin Candlemas candle in the morning or evening. Its light creates a mindful framework for my time out.
How I spend this time varies. Sometimes I write down thoughts, move mindfully, or chant a mantra. Sometimes I draw a card for inspiration, make music, or simply sit quietly.
Baking, creating, and mindful tidying can also be part of it for me. And I especially like to go out into nature afterward. There, much can resonate.
My question is:
What would like to have my attention today?
You can start with just a few minutes: Place a candle securely, put your phone aside, and notice how you are feeling right now. If you like, write down a sentence afterward that you would like to take with you from this time.
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish it before you leave the room or turn to an activity where you cannot keep an eye on it.
A to-be list for your winter time
Alongside all the things that need to be done, I like to ask myself: How would I like to be?
Perhaps your answer is:
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more loving toward myself,
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brave enough for one small next step,
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open to support,
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more patient with what still needs to grow.
Write a word to yourself and place it at your ritual space. It may accompany you without becoming another task.
Your companion through the Sperrnächte and Rauhnächte
If you would like more guidance and cohesive instructions, you will find them in my Booklet for the Sperrnächte and Rauhnächte.
In it, I accompany you through the reflection on the past year, the winter solstice, and the mindful orientation toward the new year. You will find the complete 13-wish ritual, in-depth reflection questions, and inspiration for your time with candlelight.
You can get the bundled PDF for €10 in my shop.
→ To the Rauhnächte Booklet for your personal ritual time
And if you would like to start today, a quiet moment is enough. You do not have to wait for a specific date.
I wish you a good, contemplative time and a beautiful glow,
Dinah Henke, your candle maker