How to Quietly Reflect and Ring in the New Year
As we approach the end of this year and prepare for the start of 2023, you may be planning festivities and resolutions that will bring in the New Year with a bang. However, 2023 begins inside of a fresh Mercury retrograde, and the astrology invites you to slow down, reflect, and take whatever time is necessary to align your energy over the next three weeks for an amazing year.
Quiet reflection on the past year will help you enter the new year with strength, appreciation, and gratitude. This is even more important for Reiki healing practitioners. It's through cultivating these quiet moments that we're able to hold space for healing flow and miracles. If we speed into the year without a thought, we lose the opportunity to embody our natural power. Here are some tips on how to get the party started for 2023--by honoring quiet reflection while ringing in the New Year.
Set the Mood With A Self Care Ritual
Create a peaceful atmosphere for inner reflection. Take this time for your self-care. The end of the year isn't the right time to fit in last-minute tasks. Clear your calendar for New Year's eve and New Year's day. Make sure that anything you choose to do during this heightened energetic time is intentional, and supports your inner peace.
Start by clearing out any physical or mental clutter that may be holding you back. Make sure your space is clean, tidy and free of distractions. Trust your inner feeling--you may want to do some deep cleaning, or your heart might say that shoving things into the closet is more than enough; either way, make sure your environment feels as peaceful to look at as possible. Dim the lights and light some candles. Play some relaxing music, and do whatever you need to do to create a calm atmosphere.
I'm a huge fan of Spotify, and I often create playlists for certain moods. Try looking up a "healing" playlist on Spotify or Youtube.
Now settle in. Take some deep breaths, relax your body and quiet your mind. Be aware of the present moment and focus on your breathing as it slows down. Allow yourself to sway gently to some music, and sink deeper into the present, taking stock of all you've been through recently, and letting go of anything that needs to be released. Feel free to read this writing out loud in small portions if it helps you to focus and unwind.
Let the release be as simple as possible. If a thought comes up, breathe into it, and give yourself permission to let the thought or story go as you exhale.
Simply breathing with this kind of consciousness is a form of self-care. Let go of anything that has been weighing on your mind or heart. Let go of regrets, grudges, pain, anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, and any other heavy emotions you may be carrying with you into the new year. Sometimes it's easier to be angry at others, rather than take responsibility for where you could have made a different decision, or held a different boundary. Forgive where you can, including forgiving yourself.
Feel your energy getting lighter. And now focus on what's good in your life right now. Allow the feeling of gratitude for all that you have been blessed with. Spend time reflecting on your successes and accomplishments. Take pride in yourself for making it this far.
You are taking care of yourself by allowing good thoughts. Self-care at this moment is honoring your progress, achievements, and growth as you continue on your journey of life. As you inhale, allow yourself to be proud of yourself, and to be vulnerable at this moment, surrounded by gentle acceptance of who you are.
Self-care doesn't have to be complicated. Take a deep breath, and say out loud to yourself, "You are enough." Be as loving as possible in your voice, and now share with yourself the words you've needed to hear. Don't hold back. . . "Dear [name] you are amazing, and I know you've needed to hear some things for a long time..."
Now wrap your arms around your shoulders or hips and hug yourself. Hold tight for 30 seconds, and gently rub your arms. Receive your self-love. Grab a snack, pull out your journal, and prepare to set some intentions for the New Year.
Set Your New Year Intentions In Your Sacred Journal
Some years, having clear goals is a great way to kick off, but particularly in 2023, you'll attract more success if you start with a softer intention that really comes from your deeper desire or creative vision. Then use the first month of the year to gently shape your intentions into clear goals.
For now, ask yourself these three questions, and take about half an hour to free-write 2 paragraphs for each. Let your mind wander and your spirit come out on paper. Please do this by long hand. Writing on the computer stimulates different parts of your energy system, so these are questions you'll want to answer with a pen or pencil.
Don't get too caught up on the answers. Just have fun in the exploration of the question:
(1) What do I want to focus on this year?
(2) If I could manifest anything, what would I do to cultivate more joy and abundance in my life?
(3) What can I do to better serve others (in work AND personal life)?
Reflecting on these questions will bring more clarity and purpose to your journey. As you read over what you've written, begin to chose 1 or 2 clear intentions for your year. These should be core intentions that are most important to you, and later they can be shaped into goals.
For example: "In 2023 I intend to deepen my relationship with my close friends, and create more memories that feed my spirit. I know this will help me serve others, and fire me up for the work I do in the world." There may be other important things that need to be done in the year for work, health, money, spirit, travel, etc, but as you craft those specific goals, you'll want to make sure they're aligned with this heart intention that came from your deeper reflections.
This isn't something to rush. If you feel your mind getting tight or wound, or caught up in old stories from the prior year, then return to the energy of simply sitting, reflecting, and breathing.
Being with yourself in this way is one of the most intimate and vulnerable things you can do.
I like this quote by Wayne Dyer: “The secret to changing your life is in your intentions. Wishing, hoping and goal setting cannot accomplish change without intention. What is needed is a shift from the inert energy of wanting to the active energy of doing and intention.”
As you set your intentions, remember that intention setting is part of how you ground your true, personal soul energy into your year. It is your anchor on a windy day, and it creates space in your daily life for you to feel empowered and energized by the successive decisions you make.
Open To Gratitude
In Reiki healing classes, I often teach my students that gratitude and appreciation are one of the most powerful ways we open our energy to abundance. Once you've explored your intentions for 2023, take a moment to feel your gratitude for all that this intention is already bringing you. If you're a reiki practitioner, flow Reiki healing energy and acknowledge your inherent power to heal yourself this year, through your self care and conscious intentions.
Say out loud:
"I'm thankful for my life and how I choose to live it;
For the healing journey I've taken, and what I've been given,
For the chance to practice self-love and understand more deeply,
For the beauty of reiki healing that touches me so sweetly.
I honor all the people who've helped me on my way,
And the hardships and lessons that have made me strong today.
My blessings, dreams, and goals--I'm thankful they exist,
I'm ever grateful for all that I have and for my inner bliss.
This New Year brings fresh peace to spread across our nation,
And I feel my heart expand with this quiet celebration.
As I move throughout the year I’ll continue to be grateful,
For every single moment, I am blessed and I am thankful."
Magical Midnight Movie Visualization
Close eyes and sit with gratitude. Envision your intention happening, in the movie screen of your mind. For example, if your intention is more meaningful time with friends, then see yourself gathering throughout the year, and at critical holidays or events. Allow the feeling of peace, happiness, and connection to flow through you as your mind creates this movie.
If you already have specific tangible goals, see those happening as well, with your intention solidly in place. For example, if you have a goal to lose 30 lbs, or travel to Morocco, then see yourself exercising or eating healthy with friends, dancing, and on a plane to Morocco!
At midnight, as you celebrate the turn of the year, hold this vibration of love, gratitude and expanded vision. It's important to allow only the highest intentions and vibrations into your new year! If you still feel a little unclear, a certified Reiki practitioner can help you channel and direct your energy to manifest your goals for the year ahead. I love setting up New Year sessions with my clients and students, to help them clarify intentions and remove blocks. Feel free to reach out, as this January is all about getting increasingly clear for a dynamic, creative, and transformative year in human history.
As Lao Tzu famously said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Visualizing your future goals is a powerful way to set yourself up for that success. Now get out there and take splendid, inspired action!
DAILEY LITTLE is a healing practitioner, transformational life coach, ordained Priestess, and teacher who founded Healing Heart Reiki to help others navigate life with joy. She offers private sessions, and teaches classes in healing and mindset from a magical peaceful corner of the world in Northern California. For more info see: www.SantaRosaReiki.com