The Bay Leaf Ritual: Write a Wish, Then Let It Go
The bay leaf ritual is simple: write your wish on a dry bay leaf, hold it while you feel it as already yours, then burn it safely or keep it in your wallet. Bay leaves have stood for victory and good luck since ancient Greece, where winners were crowned with laurel.
Key takeaways
Use a dry bay leaf and write one short wish or one word on it.
Hold it for a moment and feel the wish as already yours.
Burn it safely to send it off, or keep it in your wallet to carry it with you.
Then let it go. There is no clock on it, so stop checking.
What is the bay leaf ritual?
The bay leaf ritual is a small wish ritual. You write what you want on a dry bay leaf and then either burn it, to send the wish out, or keep it close, to carry the wish with you.
Bay is the laurel of ancient Greece and Rome, the leaf they wove into crowns for winners. It has meant victory and luck ever since, and in many homes today a bay leaf in the wallet means money that stays. When you write your wish on it, you send one clear signal: this is already won.
What to write on a bay leaf
Write one short line in the present tense, or just one word. A leaf is small, so keep it simple: "love", "abundance", a new job, or a line like "I always have cash on hand." Use a pen or marker that shows up on the leaf.
If your wish is about a person, write how you want to feel, not what you want them to do. The signal is yours, so keep it about you.
How to do the bay leaf ritual, step by step
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Pick a dry bay leaf
Use a whole, dry bay leaf from your kitchen. Dry leaves take ink and burn well. Fresh ones don't.
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Write your wish
Write one short wish in the present tense, or one word. Keep it about what you want, not what you fear.
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Hold it and feel it
Hold the leaf between your hands, close your eyes and picture the wish already true for a few breaths.
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Burn it safely, or keep it
To burn it, light the tip over a sink or a fireproof bowl, with water close by and a window open. To keep it, tuck it in your wallet, phone case or under your pillow.
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Say thank you and let go
Thank the universe and get on with your day. Checking for signs sends doubt, so leave it with the universe.
12 affirmations to write on a bay leaf
Love & Relationships
“I deserve a love that feels safe.”
“My love story is beautiful.”
“Love keeps getting better.”
Money & Abundance
“I always have cash on hand.”
“I always find money.”
“My savings keep filling up.”
Career & Purpose
“I am a natural at this.”
“I trust my ability to succeed.”
“Lucky breaks have my name on them.”
Health & Wellness
“Every night I rest well.”
“I am calm, no matter what.”
“I find calm in any moment.”
Burn it or keep it?
Both work, so pick one for each wish. Burning is for sending the wish off and letting it go. Keeping is for carrying it with you: in your wallet or purse for money, in your phone case to see it every day, or under your pillow for love and sweet dreams. Swap a kept leaf for a fresh one when it starts to crumble, or once a month. Or drop it into a jar of grains and coins at home.
When to do the bay leaf ritual
Any time you want to send a clear wish. Favorite moments are the new moon, for new wishes, and the first of the month, when many people pair it with the cinnamon ritual. Some also slip a bay leaf into their abundance check on the new moon, or burn one on New Year's Eve. On the full moon, you can set the leaf next to a jar of water charging in the moonlight.
Keep your wish going after the leaf
The leaf is one moment. Your signal goes out every day. Put your wish where you will see it, on your lock screen and in your reminders, and if you want it sent even while you sleep, Amplify sends your desire into the universe, up to 2,000 times a second.
Tips for your bay leaf ritual
Burn it safely
Use a sink or a fireproof bowl, keep water close, open a window and never leave a flame alone.
One leaf, one wish
Give each wish its own leaf. A leaf covered in five wishes sends a busy signal.
Write it small and clear
A fine marker works best. If the words don't fit, your wish is too long. Cut it to the line that matters.
Pair it with a letter
For a bigger wish, write it out in a letter to the universe first, then put its one key word on the leaf.
Bay leaf ritual: frequently asked questions
It gives one wish a clear moment. You write the wish on a bay leaf and burn it to send it off, or keep it to carry it with you. People use it for love, money, a new job, luck and fresh starts.
