I’m not one for blueprints. In fact, I’m the one rabitting on about Inner Guidance, and “intention trumps everything”, and “You always know.”
And really, the Gregorian calendar is nothing but a mass-agreed-upon, man-made blueprint, right?
However, there are cosmic and planetary rhythms that we, as humans cannot help but be aware of, simply by being here, because we are all fragments of All-That-Is.
Rhythms like the ebb and flow of the tides, the turn of the seasons and the orbits of the planets above us. We may logically poopoo this, but our insides always know.
Yes, January 1st is a fab confluence of fresh start energy – A New year AND the first of the month AND a global attention oomph.
But on January 5th/6th, there’s a glorious New Moon. And it may be worth holding off on any massive fresh-start actions till then.
I’m inviting you to think of your New Year’s Eve party more like a Closing Night Celebration for The Epic Production Of 2017.
In theatrical terms – because y’all know I think of <everything> in theatrical terms – the end of a show is a time of celebrationThere’s usually copious bubbly and a whole lot of reminiscing.
We’ll noodle on what went fabulously right, what went horribly off-script, and what we learned about ourselves in the process.
Next day, the stage will be struck, the props packed away, and costumes returned to the main wardrobe.
As an actor, you re-gather the stuff you use for every show – the greasepaint and lashes, the script-marking pens, the petticoats + shoes + talismans. You smile again over the break-a-leg notes as you remove them from around the mirror. You’ll toss the stuff that you won’t use again and you’ll return what you borrowed.
And when the wrap up is done, you rest.
The period between shows is both a death and rebirth. A pregnant pause in between an ending and the beginning that follows. For the actors, the crew, and the theater herself.
Life moves so fast these days that few of us give ourselves the gift of being in-between, y’know.
Yes, there are many voices out there urging fresh starts and resolutions and enthusiastic leaping into the New Year.
I’m actually urging y’all to do exactly the opposite.
I’m inviting you to sink into the ending energy, and for a few days, allow yourself to be in-between.
In between who you were last year, and who you intend to become next.
Let both identities, both iterations of you, both BEingnesses exist gently in your awareness.
Be kind and curious as you hover in this liminal place.
Release whatever no longer supports your thriving.
You are surrounded by the residue of Who-You-Were.
We all are.
Our lives are made up of the physical manifestations of past decisions, decisions were made by Who-You-Were at the time.
If you’re going to rock the role of YOU-Version-2019, there may be some of the Version-2018 that could get in the way.
This in-between the start of the calendar year and the Capricorn New Moon is perfect for casting a gentle eye over what needs to be packed up and put away, or thrown away, so you don’t need to carry it with you into the next ‘show’.
The time for seed-planting and intention-setting and resolutions will come on January 5th, with all the burgeoning rebirth energy that the New Moon brings.
From now, till then, it’s time to clean and declutter, clear away and purge.
Set aside some time to do a review of the Grand Production Of 2018.
What went right? What will you carry with you from that?
What wasn’t wonderful? Gently put it down or pack it away. Take what you learned and leave the rest. Bring only what will support you.
Have a look round the ‘backstage’ areas of your life.
What’s still in your space that’s anchoring you in Who-You-Were?
Is there food in your fridge you know your body doesn’t thrive on?
Are there clothes in your closet that make you feel blah and ordinary? (Btw, just in case it’s not spotlight-obvious, you are neither blah nor ordinary.)
Is there mess or clutter around you that makes you want to give up before you even start?
This Dark Moon time is the utterly perfect time to handle all of that.
(The Dark Moon is the two-to-three days before a New Moon)
Think of who you were last year as a role you played, an iteration in the on-going actualization of you.
Who you’d like to be by the end of 2019 (with all its accompanying Doing and Having) is the ‘role’ you’re prepping for.
Consider everything around you and check whether its supportive of your becoming, or whether it’s anchoring you in your last role.
And not just your outsides, btw. Check your insides too.
Check your habits and patterns and the ways you’ve always done things.
If you were actually in the theater, your next role would have a whole new script.
In real life, that might look like reconsidering the scripts you use daily.
- So, instead of defaulting to “I can’t afford it”, you shift to “I wonder how I could afford that.”
- Instead of “I don’t have time”, you might rehearse saying “I choose not to invest my time in that.” (warning – that one can have life-altering repercussions)
Over the next few days, simply allow yourself moments of pause.
Gift yourself this time of in-between.
Don’t be in such a rush to begin that you rob yourself of the release of completion.
Don’t work against the cosmic tides to kowtow to the dictates of a man-made calendar.
This January 1st, focus on clearing your stage, putting away what you know you no longer need, and quietly trying on new words and wardrobe for size.
Be in-between for as long as it takes to feel complete with 2018.
The nuanced information, the next-steps you need for You-Version-2019 will emerge as you make room for it.
Then, on January 5th or 6th, depending on where you are on the globe, the New Moon in Capricorn will call you out into the spotlight.
The lights will come up on your metaphorical stage and you’ll feel free and spacious and ready to begin creating the grand production that will be your life in 2019.
I’ll be right there in the front row, ready to lead the standing ovation.
Tally ho!!
J