On the first day of every month, thousands of people stand at their front door with a pinch of cinnamon in their hand, make a wish for the month ahead, and blow it into their home.
If you've spent any time on witchy social media, you've probably seen it. The cinnamon ritual is quick, cheap and easy to remember, which is exactly why it spread so fast. But does it have any roots in real magick, and how do you do it properly?
In this article, we'll look at why cinnamon is linked with money and luck, how to do the first-of-the-month ritual step by step, what to say, a few ways to make it your own, and the safety points most videos leave out.
What Is the Cinnamon Ritual?
The ritual is simple: on the first day of the month, you blow a small amount of ground cinnamon through your front door and into your home while stating an intention for prosperity, luck or protection. The idea is that you're inviting abundance in at the very start of the month, when everything is fresh.
The first-of-the-month version is a modern practice that took off on TikTok and Instagram in the early 2020s. That doesn't make it any less valid. Witchcraft has always grown and changed, and this ritual draws on something much older: cinnamon's long reputation as a spice of success, warmth and plenty.
Why Cinnamon?
For most of history, cinnamon was one of the most precious things money could buy. It traveled thousands of miles along trade routes, and only the wealthy could afford it, so it became a symbol of luxury and good fortune long before it was a breakfast spice.
In folk magick, cinnamon is a fire herb ruled by the Sun. Scott Cunningham lists it for success, power, protection, healing, love and spirituality, and you'll find it in many money incenses, oils and spell recipes. It's warm, quick and energizing, which makes it a natural choice for "get things moving" magick. You can read its full correspondences in The Witch's Cabinet.
How to Do the Cinnamon Ritual
You will need: about a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and your front door.
- Pick your moment. Do it on the first day of the month, ideally in the morning. Anytime that day works.
- Open your front door. Stand outside on the doorstep, facing into your home.
- Hold the cinnamon. Put a pinch (a teaspoon at most) in the palm of your right hand. Take a moment to think about what you want this month to bring.
- Say your intention. Speak it out loud or in your head (see the words below).
- Blow it in. Hold your palm away from your face and gently blow the cinnamon over the threshold into your home. Keep your eyes closed or turned away and don't breathe in.
- Leave it, then tidy up. Many people leave the cinnamon until the end of the day, or until the next morning, so it can do its work. Then sweep it toward the inside of the house, not out of the door, and throw it away.
What to Say
Use your own words if you like. Speaking from the heart matters more than any exact phrase. Here's one to start with:
"When this cinnamon blows, prosperity will come to stay. When this cinnamon blows, luck will find its way. When this cinnamon blows, my home is safe, by night and by day."
You can change the focus each month: a new job, good health for the family, peace in the house, or protection while you travel. Writing your monthly intention in your Book of Shadows makes it easy to look back and see what came to you.
Ways to Make It Your Own
- Add a little sugar to sweeten the month, or a pinch of salt for extra protection.
- Write a wish on a bay leaf and leave it by the door with the cinnamon, then burn it safely in the evening.
- Dress a candle. Roll a green or gold candle in a little cinnamon and light it that evening. Our guide to candle color meanings can help you choose.
- Add a coin. Place a coin on the threshold with the cinnamon, then keep it in your wallet for the month.
- Follow the moon too. If the first of the month falls in a waxing moon, even better for growth. Check our Moon and Magick Calendar.
- Pair it with protection. It fits nicely alongside our protection spells for your home.
A Cinnamon Simmer Pot for the First of the Month
If you can't blow cinnamon into your home (because of pets, carpets, asthma or a shared hallway), try a simmer pot instead. Add two cinnamon sticks, a few orange slices and a handful of cloves to a pan of water and simmer it gently on the stove for an hour or two, stating your intention as you stir. Your whole home fills with the scent, and the energy spreads with it. Our article on the magick of simmer pots has more recipes.
Does It Work?
Like all magick, the cinnamon ritual works best when it's backed by action. Blowing cinnamon through your door won't pay the bills on its own, but it's a lovely way to set your focus at the start of each month, and focus is where real change begins. Many people find that simply pausing to name what they want makes them notice opportunities they would have missed.
If you'd like to go further with money magick, our jar spells article includes a prosperity jar you can build on the same day.
Safety Notes
- Don't breathe it in. Inhaling ground cinnamon can irritate your lungs and cause choking. Blow gently, away from your face, and skip this ritual if you have asthma.
- Protect your eyes. Close them or look away as you blow.
- Think about pets. Cinnamon powder can irritate pets' noses and lungs. Sweep it up before they wander through, and never use cinnamon essential oil around cats.
- Mind your floors. Cinnamon can stain light carpets and rugs. Use a little, or try the simmer pot instead.
- Shared spaces. In apartments, don't leave cinnamon in common hallways where it could bother neighbors.
Final Thoughts
The first-of-the-month cinnamon ritual is a sweet, simple way to start each month with intention. Whether it becomes a monthly habit or something you do when you need a lift, it's a reminder that magick can live in the everyday things already in your kitchen cupboard.
Will you try the cinnamon ritual on the first of next month? Tell us in the comments!
Sources
Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Llewellyn Publications, 1985.
Illes, Judika. Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells. HarperOne, 2009.
Check out our other articles:
The Magick of Simmer Pots
Kitchen Magick for Beginners
Jar Spells Made Simple
Candle Color Meanings
See All Articles
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