Preparations

To get in the mood for the rough nights, prepare yourself as follows.

Since the 12 rough nights should lead you to inner contemplation, where you close the past to make room for the wishes of the future, you should return before December 24th. (even better by the winter solstice on December 21st) have ticked off all the important things on your "To Do" List.

It`s good when nothing is left & unfinished and your house is tidy. Nothing should distract you during this time. Everything should be in its place, debts should be paid and borrowed items should be returned.

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See to it that you have the things for the rituals of the coming days, especially for the incense, in the house. You should leave the house as little as possible, at least not for mundane things like errands. The rough nights are a time of retreat and reflection.

Each of the 12 rough nights stands for a month of the coming year.

It is said that what is dreamed in the individual nights could come true in the respective month. The best thing to do is to get a little book to write down what you dreamed or thought of as soon as you wake up.

Create a space in the house where you can withdraw for rituals and meditation.

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Fumigation

Every Rauhnachtsritual includes smoking out. In the following you will find a small guide for such a house fumigation. You can also find a lot of information about this on the internet.

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For incense you need a fireproof container (there are also special incense burners) that you fill with sand (e.g. bird sand).

 

On the sand you put charcoal (available in tobacco/shisha shops or online), which you have previously lit. It takes a moment until some spots have turned white and you can place the smoked food on the charcoal. Then you move through the rooms with it. The best thing to do is to make a fan out of bird feathers (another one will do too) to distribute the smoke well.

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Instructions for a house fumigation

A house fumigation always begins in the house entrance and then goes from the bottom floor up to the attic. If you have an apartment, start at the apartment door.

Go to the entrance of the house/apartment with your incense. Place the censer on the floor in front of you and kneel. Place your hands together in front of your chest and take 12 deep breaths. Then light the charcoal and wait until it glows, then put the incense on it. Be fully aware of what you are doing. When smoke has formed, go through the house from bottom to top. Always move clockwise through the rooms. In your apartment, go from the apartment door into the first left room, then further into the next, until you come back to the apartment door coming from the right.

Let your intuition guide you. Where is she taking you? Where shall you stay? Arrived back at the house entrance / apartment door, you leave the incense burner in front of the house door / apartment door and cool down.12 rough nights ...