I hope that this message finds you well and feeling the optimism of new beginnings as we enter the calendar’s new year.
Amidst the many cultural and traditional celebrations around our new year shift, I’m always most interested in exploring the energetics of the holiday. I ask myself, “What is the underlying purpose?” and “How can I participate in this season in a way that is nourishing to me?”
First and foremost, this holiday is out of sync with the natural world. Our calendar shift to the new year doesn’t match the energies of nature, which are still very internal and rejuvenating from within.
For this reason, I enjoy using this period of the ‘new year’ calendar shift as an opportunity to re-focus my own awareness into the power of the present moment. It’s a wonderful time to feel anew the promise of each new day and the spontaneous vitality of each new moment of creation.
The Power of Now
My understanding of Source Energy changed a lot when I learned that time doesn’t actually exist in the higher frequencies of our Spirits and Source Light. In other words, my Spirit (the true ‘me’) isn’t ever in the past OR the future. My Spirit only lives in the spontaneous dynamic creativity of the present moment.
This understanding has been a game-changer. Which brings me back to the energies of this transition time we call the “New Year”, which is often used to encourage us to review the past (successes and failures) and then make plans for the future.
What if the only New Year resolution that matters is NOT to make resolutions?! This is the habit I’ve been playing with for the past several years. When I find myself dropping into old habits of attaching to the past or future, I take a breath and drop back into my heart, asking myself “What is my choice NOW? What do I prefer in THIS beautiful moment?”
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t make plans or get inspired about our visions for the future. I’m simply saying that the energies of this particular season hold a different opportunity. This is a wonderful and important time to follow nature’s guidance, move within and focus on the rejuvenating potency of NOW.
Living in Harmony with Nature's Cycles
One of the biggest challenges of our new year holiday is that it doesn’t correspond to the natural cycles of nature.
While our culture focuses on activity and external goal setting, the winter instead is a time when the energies of life have turned inward. If we fellow nature, this is the season for building our vitality from within.
I love learning from the trees. In winter I spend time every day outside, walking in my neighborhood, soaking in the sunlight and connecting with the trees.
I feel a tree’s vitality most strongly in winter, when the tree’s life force is fully inside, gathering strength and gaining potency in preparation for the emerging of new life in Spring. Along my daily walks I have favorite trees that I touch, either with my open palm or connecting through my back. Their life force (Light) is fully present. When I connect with them from my heart they remind me how to build my own Light from within.
As with the trees, it can actually be easier to feel and experience our Inner Light now, when there is less Light outside around us.
Nourish and Honor Your Light
If we follow the wisdom of nature, then the quiet weeks of winter are the perfect season to focus within, on growing the potency of our Life force and the creative energy of our Light.
As with nature, during these weeks of long winter nights it’s essential to prioritize self care. Treasure quiet time, cook delicious food, get fresh air every day, spend time with those who make you laugh. This is a season to nurture your body’s vitality. It’s also important to find ways to play and be creative.
Our Spirits are naturally playful and they love to create. It wasn’t so long ago that winter was a very important creative season. Long evenings were a traditional time to gather together to share meals, create art, tell stories, play music, play games, laugh and sing. And then go early to bed for a long restful night’s sleep:)
What are the creative activities that can nurture your own Spirit during this season? What lights you up? What rejuvenates and restores you when the days are short and the nights are long? How can you prioritize those activities and create space for more easy fun, playfulness and laughter?
Whatever nurturing activities you choose, remember that your Spirit only lives in the moment, never in the past or future. For your Spirit, who is the true ‘you’, every now moment is a new beginning, filled with optimism, freedom and adventure. Today and every day may you experience the creative Light of Source that fuels your journey to the beautiful future that we create.
Much Love,
Beth
