Are you ready to start again?

If you are like me, last week was a bit of a bust. I know I wasn't alone. For many of us, leaving 2020 behind was welcome, and we couldn't wait to get into 2021. And then once it was here, once we got through the holidays (scaled back as they were), the inevitable let down and realization that things are not significantly different set it. And then we all got to witness the storming of the U.S. Capitol. I had big plans for writing last week, and I found myself sitting numb for a few days thinking about the things that are going on around us.

We are also entering the second calendar year of pandemic life, and it is winter here in the Northern hemisphere; the darkness can start to take a toll. It can be difficult to feel hopeful or optimistic right now.

One way you can create some balance is by learning to live aligned with the natural cycles of life. There are also many sacred days tied to natural rhythms that can help us move forward each year grounded in the things that do not change. January 12th is the first new moon of 2021. It provides us with a way to refocus on what you want right now.

Several years ago, I was introduced to the moon cycles by Ezzie Spencer. You can listen to my interview with her on Reframe Your Life. In her book, Lunar Abundance: Cultivating Joy, Peace and Purpose Using the Phases of the Moon, she suggests using the monthly cycle of the moon to bring balance into our lives. Since the interview to the moon cycle. On clear nights I make sure to step outside and look for the moon. It does bring me joy and peace.

The new moon offers a clean symbolic state. It can be the right time to start again or begin something new. If you had a new year's resolution and you didn't quite hit the mark you set, it's a good time for a reset. The cycle is just beginning. It's a time to think about what you want right now and set an intention to align your life towards that desire.

There are lots of ways to set an intention. Here are some ideas:

1. Write your intention in your journal or planner or on a post-it note.

2. Visualize it. My word for 2021 is 'Imagine" I plan to write out my intention and then imagine what it would look like unfolding in my life.

3. Light a candle as a symbol of your intention.

4. Pray your intention.

5. Share your intention with a trusted friend.

6. Choose an essential oil that will represent your intention right now.

Whatever you choose, let the new moon be a reminder of the cycles and seasons of life. We are in a difficult one right now, and we can choose a different way of living. We can choose to pursue love in our families and our communities. We can choose a better way forward.

Please note: I included an Amazon link to Ezzie's book. I would prefer we all support local bookstores when possible. I am also an Amazon affiliate, and if you purchase through my link, I receive minimal compensation from them. If you buy ebooks, right now, the Kindle book is on sale.