Reishi and Rituals: End the Year with Calm and Reflection

Reishi is a time-honored and versatile mushroom that delivers benefits you can appreciate all year round. But in winter – and particularly at the start of a new year – the “Queen of Mushrooms” is particularly appealing.

Called the “mushroom of immortality” in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reishi has been used for millennia as part of calming, grounding routines. While modern preparations of Reishi can look quite different from ancient ones, the intention behind this mushroom remains the same — to support balance during times of stress and transition.*

Why Reishi Fits the End-of-Year Energy

Late fall and winter naturally pull us inward. Shorter days and cooler temperatures encourage rest, reflection and nourishment. Reishi aligns beautifully with this seasonal rhythm. Unlike Cordyceps, Reishi is not a mushroom associated with quick energy or stimulation.* Instead, it is commonly used in evening rituals, moments of stillness and practices designed to help the body and mind unwind.

Rather than pushing through when we crave rest, Reishi invites a gentler approach that’s rooted in consistency and presence. This makes it especially meaningful at the end of the year, when many of us are evaluating what we want to carry forward and what we are ready to release.

Creating a Reishi Ritual

Rituals don’t need to be elaborate to be effective. At their core, they are simply actions done over and over, with intention. Incorporating Reishi into a nightly or weekly ritual can be a way to signal to your body that it is time to slow down.*

Some simple ways to build a Reishi ritual include:

• Preparing a warm Mighty Mushroom Matcha for calm energy earlier in the day, reaching for our Chill Elixir as evening approaches, or winding down with our Sleep Capsules - each ritual supports the body’s natural rhythm from quiet focus to rest. 

• Turning off screens while sipping and sitting quietly.

• Journaling about the year, what felt nourishing and what did not.

• Practicing breathwork or gentle stretching.

• Integrating other calming elements like dim lighting, aromatherapy or soft music.

Over time, these small actions create sensory cues for relaxation and reflection.

Tip: If you’re lucky enough to find Reishi in nature, the fruiting body dries to a smooth lacquered finish. Try holding a small piece during a meditation. You can also add a small piece of dried Reishi to broth or stock, to impart its benefits. Tough mushrooms like Reishi need to be extracted or cooked low and slow to release the helpful compounds within.* 

Reflection as a Form of Self-Care

The end of the year often comes with pressure to set goals immediately and to decide what’s next. Reflection offers a softer entry point. Before planning ahead, it helps to look back – and to give thanks. Reishi rituals can support this reflective pause, giving space to acknowledge growth, challenges and moments of gratitude.

Ending the year with calm allows you to embrace the energy of the season. When paired with thoughtful rituals, Reishi offers a simple way to honor the closing of one chapter while creating space for the next.