Cold Moon Reflection: December Full Moon Review and Release

By Nicole, Founder of Mystic Ryst

The Cold Moon—December's full moon—rises during the coldest, darkest time of the year. Named for the deep cold of winter, this moon represents reflection, introspection, completion, release, and the wisdom that comes from looking back. This is the moon of year-end review, when you reflect on the entire year's journey, extract the lessons, release what's complete, and prepare for the rebirth that comes with the new year.

December marks the winter solstice (around December 21-22), the longest night of the year when darkness is at its peak before light begins to return. The Cold Moon energy is about deep reflection, honest assessment, releasing the old year, and resting in the stillness before the new cycle begins. After preparation (Beaver Moon), December is when you reflect and release.

Let's explore how to harness the Cold Moon energy for year-end reflection and conscious completion.

Understanding the Cold Moon

The Symbolism

Why "Cold Moon":

• Named for December's deep cold
• Also called Long Night Moon, Moon Before Yule
• Darkest, coldest time of year
• Winter's depth

Cold/Winter medicine:

• Stillness: Nature is quiet and resting
• Reflection: Like ice reflecting light
• Clarity: Cold air brings clear vision
• Introspection: Turning inward
• Death and rebirth: Old year dying, new year coming
• Wisdom: Learning from the year
• Release: Letting go of what's complete

December energy:

• Winter solstice—darkest night, then light returns
• Yule—rebirth of the sun
• Year-end completion
• Reflection and review
• Rest and restoration

Cold Moon Themes for Business

1. Reflection: Review the entire year
2. Assessment: Honest evaluation of what worked and what didn't
3. Wisdom: Extract lessons learned
4. Release: Let go of the old year
5. Completion: Close the year consciously
6. Rest: Restore before new cycle

Cold Moon Reflection Ritual

Preparation (Before the Full Moon)

Gather your materials:

• White and silver candles
• Mirror (for reflection)
• Clear quartz (clarity)
• Selenite (release and cleansing)
• Black tourmaline (grounding)
• Year's journal or records
• Pen and paper
• Something to burn releases in

Create sacred space:

• Quiet, contemplative altar
• White, silver, ice blue colors
• Mirror as centerpiece
• Stillness and silence

The Reflection Ritual (On the Full Moon)

Part 1: The Year in Review (Looking Back)

1. Month-by-month review:
   • Go through each month of the year
   • What happened?
   • What did you create?
   • What did you learn?
   • Write it all down
2. Quantitative review:
   • Total revenue for the year
   • Total clients served
   • Total content created
   • Total growth metrics
   • See the numbers
3. Qualitative review:
   • How did you grow as a person?
   • What transformed in you?
   • Who did you become?
   • What shifted internally?

Part 2: The Wins and Celebrations (What Worked)

1. List all wins:
   • Big and small
   • Everything you accomplished
   • Everything you're proud of
   • Don't hold back
2. Celebrate each one:
   • Read them aloud
   • Feel the pride
   • Acknowledge yourself
   • "I did this"
3. What worked well:
   • What strategies succeeded?
   • What should you continue?
   • What's your secret sauce?
   • Note for next year

Part 3: The Challenges and Lessons (What Didn't Work)

1. List all challenges:
   • What was hard?
   • What failed?
   • What disappointed you?
   • Be honest
2. Extract the lessons:
   • What did each challenge teach you?
   • How did you grow from it?
   • What would you do differently?
   • Turn pain into wisdom
3. What didn't work:
   • What strategies failed?
   • What should you stop doing?
   • What drained you?
   • Note for next year

Part 4: The Mirror Reflection (Seeing Yourself Clearly)

1. Mirror gazing:
   • Sit before mirror
   • Light candles on either side
   • Gaze into your own eyes
   • See yourself clearly
2. Ask yourself:
   • "Who am I now?"
   • "How have I changed?"
   • "What do I see in myself?"
   • "What truth needs acknowledging?"
3. Speak to yourself:
   • "I see you"
   • "I acknowledge you"
   • "I honor your journey"
   • "I love you"

Part 5: The Release (Letting Go of the Year)

1. What needs releasing:
   • Old patterns that didn't serve
   • Relationships that ended
   • Projects that failed
   • Disappointments and regrets
   • The entire old year
   • Write it all down
2. Release ceremony:
   • Read each item aloud
   • "I release [item] with love"
   • "Thank you for the lesson"
   • Burn the paper
   • Watch it turn to ash
   • "It is complete"
3. Energetic release:
   • Visualize the year leaving your body
   • Breathe it out
   • Let it go completely
   • Feel the emptiness

Part 6: The Wisdom Integration (What You're Taking Forward)

1. Key lessons learned:
   • What are the top 5-10 lessons?
   • Write them clearly
   • These are your wisdom
   • Carry them forward
2. Commitments for next year:
   • Based on what you learned
   • What will you do differently?
   • What will you continue?
   • What will you start?
   • What will you stop?
3. Wisdom blessing:
   • "I honor the wisdom I've gained"
   • "I carry these lessons forward"
   • "I am wiser than I was"

Part 7: The Rest (Winter Stillness)

1. Permission to rest:
   • "I have completed the year"
   • "I deserve rest"
   • "I allow myself to be still"
   • Give yourself permission
2. Stillness meditation:
   • Sit in complete silence
   • No doing, just being
   • Feel the winter stillness
   • Rest in the darkness
   • 10-20 minutes
3. Rest commitment:
   • How will you rest this month?
   • What will you NOT do?
   • How will you restore?
   • Plan your rest

Closing the Ritual

• Thank the Cold Moon
• Gratitude for the year's journey
• Blow out candles
• Ground and rest

Year-End Review Framework

The Complete Year-End Review

Financial review:

• Total revenue
• Revenue by source
• Expenses by category
• Profit margin
• Financial goals met/not met
• Lessons learned

Client review:

• Total clients served
• Client satisfaction
• Testimonials received
• Referrals generated
• Best clients (who to attract more of)
• Challenging clients (what to avoid)

Marketing review:

• What marketing worked?
• What didn't work?
• Best performing content
• Audience growth
• Conversion rates
• ROI on marketing efforts

Product/Service review:

• What sold well?
• What didn't sell?
• What to continue?
• What to discontinue?
• What to create next year?

Personal review:

• How did you grow?
• What skills did you develop?
• What habits did you build?
• How's your health and energy?
• Work-life balance assessment

Cold Moon Practices for the Month

Daily Reflection Practices (December)

Morning Reflection:

1. What am I grateful for from this year?
2. What lesson am I integrating today?
3. How will I honor rest today?

Evening Reflection:

1. What did I complete today?
2. What am I releasing?
3. What wisdom did today bring?

The December Rest Practice

Permission to do less:

• December is for rest, not hustle
• Do only what's essential
• Say no to non-essentials
• Protect your energy
• Restore before new year

Rest activities:

• Sleep more
• Gentle movement (yoga, walks)
• Reading and learning
• Creative play
• Time in nature
• Quality time with loved ones

Winter Solstice Connection

The Longest Night

Winter solstice wisdom:

• Darkest night of the year
• After this, light returns
• Death and rebirth
• The sun is reborn

Business application:

• Honor the darkness (rest, reflection)
• Trust that light will return
• Death of old year, birth of new
• Natural cycle of endings and beginnings

The Return of the Light

After solstice:

• Days begin to lengthen
• Light is returning
• New cycle beginning
• Hope and renewal

Prepare for rebirth:

• Rest now
• Reflect and integrate
• Release the old
• Make space for new
• Trust the cycle

Cold Moon Wisdom

Lessons from Winter

1. Winter is necessary: Rest is part of the cycle
2. Cold brings clarity: Reflection reveals truth
3. Darkness precedes light: Endings enable beginnings
4. Stillness is powerful: Not all growth is visible
5. Death feeds rebirth: Let the old year die completely
6. Wisdom comes from reflection: Look back to move forward

The Promise of Cold Moon Reflection

When you reflect under the Cold Moon:

• You gain clarity on your year
• You extract valuable wisdom
• You release what's complete
• You honor your journey
• You rest and restore
• You prepare for rebirth

The Invitation

The Cold Moon invites you to be still. To reflect. To look back on the year with honest eyes. To celebrate your wins and learn from your challenges. To release what's complete. To rest in the darkness. To trust that after the longest night, light will return. The year is ending. Honor it. Release it. Rest. And prepare for rebirth.

What are you reflecting on under this Cold Moon? What wisdom have you gained this year? I'd love to hear your reflections.