You start the year as soon as you do your first ceremony.
Once you have received the Rite of the Womb you nurture its power for thirteen moons of an entire year with the following practices.
1
If you still have your menses then on your next cycle you find an intimate space and time to give some of your menstrual blood to the Earth. You can bleed directly on the Earth or you can collect some of your blood on a small container and pour it on the Earth while repeating the following words:
i release my fear, so i may embrace freedom.
i release my pain, so i may embrace joy.
i release my anger, so i may embrace compassion.
i release my sadness, so i may embrace peace.
And you can add any other words that ring true for you.
2
If you are in your years of plenitude - after menopause - then you’ll do a ritual on the next dark moon. You create an intimate space to offer red wine to the earth while repeating the words:
i release my fear, so i may embrace freedom.
i release my pain, so i may embrace joy.
i release my anger, so i may embrace compassion.
i release my sadness, so i may embrace peace.
And you can add any other words that ring true for you.
You do this at least once and up to thirteen moons to fully empower your womb.
3
If a girl before menarche - first menstrual blood - receives the rite and she wants to do a ritual, then she offers flowers to the full moon. This is because her womb is still blossoming and has not yet release her first flower. She can also repeat the words:
i release my fear, so i may embrace freedom.
i release my pain, so i may embrace joy.
She is guided to say only the first two sentences so she does not become overwhelmed and then she is guided to say anything else that rings true for her.
4
If you are pregnant you also offer flowers during the full moon -- celebrating the life you carry on your womb just as a fertility goddess. You can repeat these words:
i release my fear,
so i may embrace freedom.
i release my pain,
so i may embrace joy.
i release doubt
so i may embrace truth.
And you can add any other words that ring true for you. Once you have your baby you can offer the placenta to the earth and speak your heart’s longing. Intuitively cultivate a year of ceremony considering the steps above.