Releasing 2020 & Setting Intentions for 2021

Over the last two weeks, we looked at some of the big events going on in the cosmos, and we thought about the changes that they might bring for our own lives. We learned perhaps that while some change can be unexpected, some changes bring much needed and beautiful events, experiences and people to our world. As I have said before, change is the most constant thing in the universe. Helen Keller said, “A bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn.” See this week’s video here: https://youtu.be/rddOcyhxk18

I do believe that in the year ahead, there will be some big changes for a lot of people. Our world has already changed in ways that so many of us could not ever imagine. Now that we have arrived at this juncture in our collective history, I wonder what now? What can we do to help create the world, and the lives that we desire for ourselves and for humanity as a whole? One of my favorite astrologers Rick Levine, says, “Think cosmically, but act locally.” So while we are thinking of bigger changes, sometimes the most important thing we can do is to focus locally or inward. Rumi said, “Yesterday, I was clever and I wanted to change the world. Today, I am wise so I am changing myself.”

 It is my hope that as we move into the New Year and a new energy, that we will all take some time to reflect, and to think about how we would like the New Year to be. I am making this video both as a way to reflect and imagine, and as a reminder to incorporate some of the tools that I mentioned throughout the year. Maybe in the next coming days, you can retreat for a moment to your sacred space, to spend some time in quiet meditation, visualization, and a bit of daydreaming. How would you like 2021 to be? What were some of the lessons that you learned in 2020? 

In just a few days, we will have closed the door on the year 2020. While some of us imagined that it would be a big year, we had no idea how intense and eye opening it would be on so many levels. This year I learned more about balancing the range of my own emotions—from sadness to joy. Sometimes these emotions happened so closely together that I felt almost guilty for feeling one or the other. Now I sense that it is all a part of the human experience. Do you have any ways in which you release the things that no longer mesh with your life? I think as we prepare to enter a new year it is a great time to mentally, spiritually, and physically release the things of the past that no longer serve your life, and to set some intentions for what you would like in the future.

In one of my first videos, I talked about creating sacred space. If you have some time in the next few days, I would highly suggest either creating or retreating for a bit to your sacred space. You might decide to light a candle, and play some soft music. Write down your intentions, and anything that you feel gratitude for from 2020. You might even surprise yourself. I love to write these things down on actual paper with a pen. But this should be a personal exercise for you, so you can get creative or not, as much or as little as you like. I think that this does require doing an inventory of your life, and I do think that requires some very serious thought.

Here are some questions to ponder:

·       What are the things that you want for your life in the following areas: What do you want for your spiritual life? Financial life? Physical, emotional, and mental health? What do you want from your relationships? From your career? 

·       What do you have as far as goals in these areas? 

·       Is there anything that you would like to start—your own business? 

·       Any new hobbies?

·       Is there anywhere that you would like to travel to when it is safe to do so? 

·       Any people that you would like to see? 

·       Are there any grudges that you are holding on to?

·       Do you have a lot of things that you haven’t been using that you could donate or sell?

·       Are there any new skills that you want to learn?

·       Do you need to relax more? Rest more? 

As you spend the time in your sacred space, allow the questions to come. Allow the answers to come, without judgment from you—just allow your mind to think things through. In a previous video, I talked about visualization and affirmations. Now is a good time to close your eyes for a bit, and just spend a little time visualizing the answers to the previous questions. Before we do that, we will do just a short breathing exercise.

Take in three deep breathes and as you inhale, I just want you to picture yourself inhaling love, good health, prosperity, and all that is yours by divine right. As you exhale, I want you to exhale any of the stresses from 2020, anything that cause you pain or sadness. The important lessons will remain, but the feelings will drift away. You will feel your body becoming more and more relaxed with each inhalation, and you do feel a sense of hope about how things could be. 

Remember Shakti Gawain’s tips for affirmations from Creative Visualization:

1)     Always phrase affirmations in the present tense, and not in the future. It is important to create it as if it already exists.

2)     Always phrase affirmations in the most positive way that you can. Affirm what you do want, not what you don’t want. 

3)     In general, the shorter and simpler the affirmation, the more effective. 

4)     Always choose affirmations that feel totally right for you.

5)     Always remember when doing affirmations that you are creating something new and fresh. You are not trying to redo or change what already exists.

6)     Affirmations are not meant to contradict or try to change your feelings or emotions.

7)     When using affirmations, try as much as possible to create a feeling or belief, an experience that can be true. Temporarily suspend your doubts. 

Here is a reminder of some Examples of Affirmations: (Florence Scovel Shinn & Shakti Gawain)

–        I am at peace with myself and with the whole world. 

–        I love everyone and everyone loves me.

–        My good now flows to me in a steady unbroken, ever-increasing stream of happiness.

–        Divine love floods my consciousness with health, and ever cell in my body is filled with light.

–        I give thanks for radiant health and endless happiness.

–        All that is mine by Divine Right is now released and reaches me in great avalanches of abundance, under grace in miraculous ways.

–        My life is blossoming in total perfection.

–        I am whole and complete within myself.

–        I now give and receive love freely.

–        I am an open channel of creative energy.

–        I always communicate clearly and effectively.

–        It is ok for me to have everything I want. 

–        I am open to receiving all the blessings of this abundant universe. 

For me, one of the ways that I release something is that I write it down as well, and then I might ceremoniously burn the paper. I release the ashes into the wind with loving thoughts.

I am thankful for each experience in my life because it helped make me the person that I am today. I also used to do this thing, where I created a little pouch, and if there was anything that I was worrying about, I would write that down on a paper and put it in the pouch. I would pray for some divine help on the issue, and give it a time frame. I want this resolved in 30 days, or in 2 weeks. Whenever I would worry about it, I would just look at the pouch and know that there would a resolution for the highest good of all involved.

Another pro tip, is that if there is someone in your life who is causing you grief, Marianne Williamson suggests praying for their happiness for 30 days. The theory is that happy people generally don’t have time to create grief for other people. So either they will stop whatever they are doing, or if won’t bother you anymore. I have mentioned this before and I think it is important to repeat that it is better to walk away from some people and situations. It might be hard, but your life will be better for it.

I hope that you have the courage to release whatever isn’t serving you or whatever is blocking your from living your best life. I also hope that you have the courage to embrace whatever comes to your life. As you go into the New Year, it is my personal wish and prayer that your intentions be made manifest, and that they unfold in beautiful ways, and bring supreme joy to your life. Have a wonderful holiday season, and a beautiful New Year. May the stars shine brightly over your week, and may it be a delightful one indeed.