Culture

Here Are the Rituals Walter Mercado Wants You to Follow to Manifest Your Best Life in 2020

Lead Photo: Collage by Alan López for Remezcla
Collage by Alan López for Remezcla
Read more

The late Walter Mercado was the Latino and Latin American world’s spiritual adviser, in part, because of how accessible his warm and vivacious forecasts were, collaborating with popular media outlets to ensure that we all were able to gain the insight he had for us.

On Thursday, El Nuevo Herald published the Puerto Rican astrologer’s final end-of-year horoscopes and rituals, which he filed to the Spanish-Language South Florida newspaper before he died on November 2, 2019.

“Whether good or seemingly negative, everything has happened for a reason. There were lessons learned, and there are lessons to be learned,” Mercado, who passed away at the age of 87 from kidney failure, said of 2019. 

Looking into the new year, the late astrologer recognized the influence the planets have on us all but encouraged us to “use our own energy and our own power to attract more blessings, luck, prosperity, health and lots of love.”

Below are rituals Mercado left for each sign to attract what they want to manifest in 2020, in his own words.

 

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

“You are fire, your red candle cannot be missing. On December 31, select that item of clothing that reminds you of something negative, rip it up and throw it away. Write on paper the seemingly negative thing that happened to you in 2019. Light a bonfire and burn it. Just as the paper becomes ashes, your problems will disappear. Take a bath of red flowers, perfume, jobo leaves, almonds and water. For luck, carry a diamond or white quartz. Dress in red and gold. Declare that the changes that occur in 2020 are positive and will lead you to live a future full of peace, love and prosperity.”

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

“Your lucky color is green, your candle has to be the same color. You are an earth sign. Your symbolic magic for December 31 is to plant a sansevieria or any other plant of your liking. Put five coins or pennies in the pot or in the ground at the bottom of the hole. While performing this magic, visualize everything you wish to begin and prosper in this 2020. Dress in green and gold to receive the year. Take a bath of mint, basil, perfume, honey and cinnamon. In the first hour of 2020, throw four coins at a crossroads to declare that money comes to you in many ways.”

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

“Geminis should keep a yellow candle burning as is the tradition on the last day of the year 2019. Gemini belongs to the element of air and burning incense cleans your environment of negative energies, highlighting the peace and harmony in your home. In addition to burning incense you must clean your house and office or work area and pour ice around the corners so that any bad energy or intention towards you is frozen. Have a crystal figure that represents a pair of something, for example: a wedding couple, new shoes, cufflinks, earrings. Dress in green and gold. Your bath should be with parsley, honey, cinnamon, cloves, perfume and water.”

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

“On December 31, light a white candle, a color that represents you as a child of the moon. Decorate your house or room with lilies, gardenias or white roses. Pray a rosary or do the mantra of your predilection by visualizing yourself happy with your family, including the souls of your loved ones who are no longer present. On the morning of the 31st, walk around your home with a glass, cup or jug with water to pick up the negative. Wait for midnight and throw that water into the street or far away from you. Dress in silver or white with gold accessories. Pearls cannot be missing from your outfit. You should do your bath with white flowers, milk, anise, husk, perfume and water.”

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

“Leo is very traditional. You will need a lot of energy and courage to face 2020 with positivity. Your lucky color is orange. Your candle and clothing for the last day of 2019 and the first day of 2020 is orange or golden like the sun. It is important that you clean and eliminate from your environment everything that is broken, useless or that you no longer need. It is necessary that you eliminate stagnant energies and make room for the new things that are coming your way. Write down on paper everything you want to happen in 2020 and read it daily. If you are single or having trouble with your partner, buy a heart-shaped candle and light it before midnight. You should do your bath with 12 bay leaves, orange tree leaves, yerbabuena, perfume, honey, cinnamon and water.”

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

“Everything you do with great faith to end this year will be manifested in 2020. You need to reprogram your mind to think and express yourself positively. Practice not criticizing or judging. To increase your prosperity and abundance get three wheat branches and put them in your home or workplace to attract abundance. Keep them there for the next 12 months of 2020. Rub an egg across your body or if you prefer, use a piece of fruit, then later throw it far away from your home. Declare that just as that fruit or egg has collected the negative energy from inside you, so blessings will come in to your life. Pray or repeat a mantra that elevates your spiritual energy. Bathe with seven drops of your seven favorite perfumes or essential oils, honey, cinnamon and water.”

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

“You represent love and beauty, also fairness and balance in everything. Ring bells while walking through your home, blessing each room to change the negative energy to a positive one. Your lucky color is pink, which you can combine with silver or gold to wear on December 31 and if it is a strong, bright pink, much better. Buy natural flowers to decorate your home. Light rose incense or whatever you prefer. Bathe in roses, fern leaves, perfume, honey, cinnamon and water. Visit a church or place that is sacred to you and promise to change the negative into positive thoughts, attitudes and actions starting in 2020. Wear a pink quartz to increase your luck in love.”

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

“December 31 is a very special day for you because you are the little witch of the zodiac — you like rituals and magic. On this day you will close a cycle, those chapters of your life that you want to conquer and put behind you. It is important that you light a red candle and a white candle. Make a list of everything you want in 2020 and keep it in an envelope to open it next year. In your home place a glass of water and camphor in each room. You must surround yourself or decorate your house with many flowers, like lilies or a fragrant flower in honor of your angels that always guide and protect you. Your bath should be red wine, red flowers, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon and water. Place a cross or any symbol that represents protection for you on the door in 2020.”

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

“On the last day of 2019 keep blue candles burning in several areas of your house. Spread holy water in each room or corner as a rain of good wishes for this 2020 year that begins. Blue, in all shades, is your color combined with gold for that big night when you will end a tough year to receive 2020 with more luck and good vibes. You must have four red apples in your home or on your altar next to your favorite deity, representing health, money, peace and love. Open the Bible and read Psalms 23 and 91 or recite mantras to raise your energy. Your bath to attract blessings in the next year needs basil, mint, peppermint, your favorite flowers and water.”

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

“With so much planetary energy in your sign as 2020 begins, you must celebrate the night saying goodbye to all the negative experiences you lived in 2019 and being thankful for everything you learned because of those experiences. Declare that the changes that will come in this new year will be for your good and you will accept them with gratitude. The universe forces you, for better or for worse, to develop self-love and to be free from what anchors you and does not let you be happy. Dress with earth colors and golden accessories. Eating 12 grapes at midnight is mandatory, a desire for each month of 2020. On your altar you must have flowers and white candles for your deities. You must bathe in coconut water, seawater, rain, white flowers and perfume.”

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

“2019 was a year of changes and more are coming in 2020. It flows with the energy of the universe and with what God has prepared for you. Dress in violet, purple or lavender with gold. An amethyst garment or accessory will complete your wardrobe. On December 31, keep a white candle, a blue candle and sandalwood incense lit. Harmonize, clean your environment, ask for protection and a lot of peace. Your bathroom should have red roses, almonds, honey, cinnamon, perfume and water. Make the commitment with yourself to be reborn in 2020 with a positive attitude toward life. Repeat statements that raise your faith in yourself.”

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

“You are a fish and you belong to the water element. You have sailed through troubled waters but with successes during 2019. Light a white candle and other different shades of sea blue. Dress in navy blue with gold or silver accessories. Take stone or coral or mother of pearl accessories with you. Your ritual is to go to the sea or some body of water and bring an offering of white flowers to Yemayá or to the universal Great Power represented by the majesty of the sea. Ask for that great power to fill you with blessings in this year 2020. Your last bath of 2019 is with rose petals and other white flowers, basil, goat’s milk, honey, cinnamon, perfume and water.”