Letting go of the old…

…welcome in the new year!

“Intention goes where energy flows”~Denise Linn

I have a time honored tradition on New Years Eve of being intentional about what I want to let go of in my life and my desires for the New Year. This tradition begins with a ritual. Rituals are an energetic bridge between heaven and earth; they are a physical act of a prayer. Michael Davis, author of “Rituals-Light for the Soul” writes this about the meaning of ritual; “the value in any ritual comes from its ability to connect you to a larger context that clarifies your relationship to yourself, others, and your place in the universe. Whether the names used are God, nature, ancestral wisdom, or the great mystery, a relationship is established that both nourishes and instructs”.

Here’s how to begin;

1) You will need paper and pen, your memory and imagination, that’s it!

2)Create a list with the heading “What I Release from my Life”

3)Create a list with the heading “What I Welcome into my Life in 2011”

In order to get you started on your lists, here are some areas of your life to consider:

Inner Qualities Outer Qualities

Feminine/masculine side Physical health & wellness

Confidence Work/Career

Spirituality Relationships; love, friends, family

Emotional health Fun; travel, hobbies, social

Loving nature Prosperity/financial health

Releasing

Reflect on 2010 for a moment and think about what did not work well for you or where you may have been out of balance in the qualities listed above.

If you have a safe fire source, burn this list and watch that which you no longer serves you, burn away. Or you can rip/shred the list; just make sure you release your list in some manner.

Welcoming In

Visualize December 31, 2011 as you reflect back over the year. What would feel satisfying to your soul if it had manifested?

Put this list in an envelope and place it in a favorite book or on an altar/special place in your home where it will be held sacred all year long. Light a tea light candle in honor of your welcome list and allow it to burn out. This ritual holds light around your intentions.

There is no better time than right now to be intentional about your life. Times are a changin’, and the energy is shifting,. Ride the wave of this energy by declaring what your heart and soul desires. I’m holding the vision with you for a 2011 filled with heaven on earth and in your life!

I’ll be including my annual Soul Vision Map in January during my January 15th Women’s Retreat for the Soul Day.  You’ll create a “vision board” for 2011 with your soul’s hopes and dreams. Contact me directly at 678-296-1278.

Soul Quotes

“Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul” ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

Are You Having Fun Yet?

“People do not quit playing because they grow old. They grow old because they quit playing” Paul Valery

fun noun lively, joyous play or playfulness; amusement, sport, recreation. Enjoyment or pleasure a source or cause of amusement or merriment, as an amusing person or thing (Webster’s online dictionary).

 How much fun do you plan on having in 2010?  This might seem like a trivial question, however, your answer is telling.  You may react with “I can’t have fun, my life is serious and I have responsibilities” or “fun is for children” or “not in this economy”.  If you did not embrace the idea of planning for fun and play in your life, read on.  You may be neglecting a very important aspect of yourself that is a natural, innate part of being human.    Play and fun creates inner well-being by bringing balance to your life. 

Do you remember how to play?  If not, think about what fun you had as a child.  The formula for fun is; activity (doing or watching) + feeling = fun.   You can recreate this feeling with activities that are reminiscent of what you did as a child or bring them up to date in an adult way.  

By adding more fun and play into your life, you recharge yourself.  From this place, you can move forward to tackle the serious issues with much more energy and ideas because you are filled up.  If you are depleted or trying too hard, new ideas will have a difficult time reaching through  rigid, tight, serious thoughts.  Creativity Coach and author Jill Badonsky says this about how new ideas are born in her book The Nine Modern Day Muses;  ‘ideas do not just appear when we are sitting down and thinking real hard.  Ideas cannot resist playful movement.  Play’s active spontaneity is the optimal condition for creativity”.  

If you are in the midst of a difficult situation right now, you have an even more important reason to add activities to your schedule that you enjoy.    Your mind needs a rest from worry and stress and play is a way to leave it all behind for the moment.  When you are fully engaged in play, time can appear to stand still.  This happens because you are fully in the moment, engaged in life with your senses. 

As you consider your plans for 2010, add a dose of fun and play into each week and observe what happens.   Side effects may include; spontaneous laughter, new bright ideas, unexpected joy, increased energy, youthfulness, improved relationships and greater sense of lightness in your life.   I double dog dare you to take a risk and play this year!

 

 

 

Photo credit; thank you to my nieces Stephanie & Jennifer and cousins Olivia & Briley in CT for jumping for joy with me on the trampoline a few years ago.