Janus - the God of Open Doors

Today is the full moon. It's also the first full moon of the year, and I thought it might be interesting and fun to do something magical to celebrate. When researching, and looking for ideas for posts, I came across this nifty little tidbit:

January is named after the Etruscan word janua which means door, and is dedicated to the Two-Headed God, Janus. In the days of the Caesars, Janus was known as the God stood at the beginning of the year, looking simultaneously to the past for understanding and into the future for manifestation. This is why Janus was usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions.

Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, the growing up of young people, and of one universe to another. He was also known as the figure representing time because he could see into both the past and the future. Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings.

Here we have a small ritual and a prayer to Janus.

Light a cranberry-scented candle, and have some rose petals handy. As you light the candle, recite the following:

God of beginnings
Accept this offering of sweet-smelling cranberry to make you glad
Bless me on the beginning of this new year;
And bless my beginnings throughout the year.
God of the threshold,
Who opens up to a new year;
God of doors,
Who opens on to a new time;
Janus who looks both ways,

I offer these rose petals to you,
And ask you to look behind and ahead,
And guide me through the year that begins today.
A New Year is born from you
Praise, blessings and honours are due for this gift
Hear my words,
You who give birth to everything,
A new born year takes place among your wonders,
One more thing for which you might rightly be praised.

Sprinkle the rose petals, and leave the candle to burn down.

Note: The phrase "new year" can be changed to reflect whatever is new in your life, for example: new project, new ideas, new day, new adventures, new opportunities... etc. Find something that is appropriate for your experience and substitute the words.