There's wisdom in the newness of January -- a wisdom that can't be found any other time of the year.
Author's Note: January's theme is Winter's Rest, but for this post, I wanted to focus on the awesome power of the turn of the year. We'll pick up Winter's Rest in the next posts.
The New Year has a particular power given to no other time of the year. In it lies the wisdom YOU need and want, to be the Wise Mentor you need, to craft and live the life you desire.
As the turning of the old year into the new, the New Year connects us with one of the deepest, largest metacycles of our human existence. It is the time we are most likely to reflect MOST deeply on the choices, curations, attunements, achievements and/or lack of achievements, that have occurred over the past 12 months -- a 12 months that, EXACTLY as we stand right before or after the threshold of THIS year, we recall standing on that exact same threshold of that prior year. Twelve long and yet short months ago.
At no other time is the metacycle of "a year" so keenly perceptible as at the movement from the final day of an old year, into the first days of a new one. While your birthday brings a similar reflection, it is hardly as powerful as the soul of a new year coming face to face with you, fresh on your doorstep, on 1/1.
Think back on your perceptions of the past year as a whole. I'm sure you'll find as I do, that most of your perceptions of remembered time are embroiled in the endless flow of the Now, like a river current you either flowed or battled against, but usually, stood hip-deep in trying to deal with it. Certainly you may have planned forward for coming weeks or months, or moved backwards reflecting across past weeks or months, but the main spate of time felt like the ongoing rush of the Now as the months ticked by.
Although the first day of each new month triggers a similar awareness of the passing of time, none is so useful, or so intense, or so rewarding of reflection, as this passage into a new January. Like the morning of the year, it is a passage filled with promise. After all, it's a brand new year -- JUST begun, a page yet to be written, a fresh path of snow, untrodden by any foot, including your own.
Your goal is to ensure that the PROMISE of this new year, comes fruitfully to you -- as it may or may not have done last year.
Here's how.
The First Question To Reflect On For A Perfect Year: Guidance
While it is tempting to do a deep dive into overhauling what exactly happened between LAST January's fresh start and where you found yourself on 1/1 of THIS year, there's a much more simple way to approach this for insights.
The first question is one of guidance:
"What expected and unexpected flows really guided my fate between Jan 1 and Dec 31 last year?"
It is not so much detailing what, or why, or how -- it is opening to what really went on and its flow in your life.
You began last 1/1 with plans and dreams -- what really happened, between that brand new page of last year's January, and now?
Look on the results with curiosity, but also, for guidance in identifying the master flows and themes in your life. January of last year, you set out on a similar journey -- full of desires, dreams, hopes, intentions, and goals.
What happened to all those? What unexpected derailments or continued frustrations remained unhealed? What unexpected delights and new directions arose that you hadn't even foreseen, but quickly adopted as your own?
Most of all -- where did you end up that delighted you, without it being part of your plans?
The Second Question To Reflect On For A Perfect Year: Transformation
The second question to reflect on for a perfect year is one of transformation:
"What do I need to change in the now to reach and receive what I desire?"
I realize that question is deceptively simple, but answering it and addressing it will POSITIVELY write the diary of this unfolding year to come, moment over moment, day by day, as the months lead you onward into the year.
The famous quote from Albert Einstein maintains that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over, but expecting different results. Therefore, controlled and insightful change is the essence of aligning with your goals in this fresh new year.
Be Open, Curious, And Willing To Explore Your Metacycle's Themes
Step into the open door of this brand new year by exploring YOUR metacycles!
While residing your retreat and with Winter's Rest around you (which we'll touch on in future posts), walk your thoughts on paper with openness and curiosity as you reflect on the last year with the past and present questions we've noted:
"What expected and unexpected flows really guided my fate between Jan 1 and Dec 31 last year?"
Then using those thoughts...
"What do I need to change in the now to reach and receive what I desire?"
January's Power Is Like No Other
January is not only a newness time, it's also legitimately, still Winter, which only began with the coming of the solstice in December. So, it is the perfect time to take this newness energy, while keeping it in the domain of past reflection and future planning.
Not quite tons of activity -- not yet. Just let yourself think, with distance, breathing room, restfulness.
Use these prompts to anchor yourself deeply to bridge any gaps between where last year's expectations fell short or were wildly exceeded, and, all the things you find yourself desiring to bring forth in THIS year in personal, professional, and entrepreneurial work.
How will you understand your metacycles better? How will you use your insights to #healworklife?
Keep Growing,
Katherine
