A Solitary Pagan's Guide to Being Prepared for the Next Year

If you are new to Paganism or have been practicing for a long time, it never hurts to be prepared. Below I have made a few suggestions that might make going into another year a little less stressful. Plan ahead now so you can always know what's just around the corner.

1. You can buy Pagan Calendars but they can cost $20 or more. I always make my own from any reasonably priced planner. I look for ones that give me a lot of space to write in and have a weekly and monthly calendar. Go online and look for a list of moon phases for the current and next year. Go through your planner and either draw symbols on those dates or simply write something like Full Moon so you always know what moon phase you're in. Do the same thing with Sabbats, equinoxes, Solstices, days attached to your favorite gods and goddesses, eclipses and any other dates important to you.

2. If you use herbs or use a lot materials in your spells the beginning of the year is a great time to make a list of all the things you've run out of. Which herbs do you need more of? Do you have enough candles? Do you need more gemstones or crystals? Make a list and then start making or buying the supplies you need.

3. Do a thorough house blessing and get rid of any negative energy that you have accumulated around your home. Its best to cleanse your house this way multiple times a year. Set out small bowls of vinegar in each room. Open all the windows and doors in the house. Buy a stick of sweet grass and a small dish to catch the ashes in. Walk around your house letting the smoke cover anything. Don't forget to do your closets, basement, attic, corners, unused rooms, behind furniture, under the bed, kitchen and basically any place you can get to. When you're done leave the windows open for a couple of hours to release any smoke and let the negative energies go out with it.

4. In early January, when its too cold to actually starting planting in your garden, make a layout of the way you want it too look. Draw spaces for each plant and then look up how much space each one needs to grow. Remember to write down the dates each plant needs to be planted. Group together your herbs in one garden and your veggies in another. I also try to grow at least one additional plant each year. That way I'm always learning and building my knowledge of growing and maintaining different plants. Choose a few herbs and plants to grow inside. Chives, dill, aloe, rosemary and basil make great plants to have in your kitchen. If you have room in your yard make gardens that draw in certain animals. You can make butterfly, bird and even bunny gardens.