A New Year

My last post was about transition and I didn't even mention the most obvious transition, the end of 2008 and the birth of a new year. Multiple holidays and rituals have evolved to help us become more conscious of this transition. It is worthy of consciousness. Anyone who doubts the power of this energy shift need only review suicide statistics over the holidays. New Year celebrations have become a metaphorical exploration of birth, death and resurrection. At the very least we feel compelled to revisit and reassess our year and our lives. What went wrong? What could we have done differently? What are we happy about? What did we learn?

Then we promise ourselves that next year will be different. We resolve to make changes in ourselves and our world. We give ourselves permission to start over. We give ourselves hope that next year really will be different. What is more important than beginning a year with hope? What is more healing and therapeutic than letting go of the past? What is more basic to our growth and health than self-forgiveness? What is more conducive to success than having a plan?

I think it is important to mark this transition in whatever way fits for each of us. I personally love bowl burning ceremonies. Many churches offer some version but, you don't need a church to create this ritual for yourself. Write down everything about the last year that you would like to let go of...that you would like to have out of your life completely. Take time to do this right. You have an entire week to work on it. Plan a small fire on New Year's Eve or prepare a safe place to burn something (perhaps in a bowl). When your list is complete, take all the time you need to consciously affirm that are releasing these things. Turn them over to God, the universe or your inner physician, whatever fits for you. Use prayer, meditation and/or music to deepen your experience. When you feel ready, burn the list in the fire (or in a bowl). Make sure it gets completely burned and the ashes get removed from your environment. Finally (this is important), imagine the year ahead of you free from everything on your list. Feel the excitement! Feel the gratitude! Revisit those feelings as often as possible.

I hope your holidays are transformational and beautiful!

Randall