Are you feeling the New Year?
A few years ago I started paying more attention to the environmental energy I felt on a daily / weekly / monthly basis.
I’m nowhere near a perfectly cycle-synced earth queen, but I’ve gotten better at noticing how I felt / what my energy is naturally doing in each phase of the earth’s cycle, the moon’s cycle, and my own cycle.
Prior to connecting with the natural rhythm of earth, I was a very enthusiastic member of the ‘reflect and plan brigade’ for the end of each year.
The week between Christmas and New Year was my favourite time to buy a new journal or sign up for a new programme with guidance on making THIS year my Best. Year. Ever.
Like, from 2008-2018, at least.
I felt less and less like starting the new year with a bang.
I felt more and more hibernate-y in that week between Christmas and New Year.
At first, I was frustrated – why have I lost my enthusiasm for the new year? This used to be one of my favourite and most-inspired times of the year!
Something weird started happening...
As I got more into giving myself space to feel the energy of the world around (helped partly by my forced work break – thanks burnout & Covid!) I felt less and less like starting the new year with a ‘bang’.
At first, I was frustrated – why was I losing my enthusiasm for the new year?
Then, I realised – this was me feeling the new year in a different place – closer to Spring.
When the earth comes out of its slumber and all the stuff that’s been hibernating in the ground (like daffodil bulbs) start to poke out of the earth.
How does it make sense that the beginning of a new year falls 10 days from the longest night of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere)?
Like, if we’re following the seasons, winter is for resting, digesting, restoring, hibernating, and conserving energy.
Pre-electricity and mod cons (modern conveniences), there was less food, less light and less activity in the winter, and a LOT more sleeping, right? Especially depending on how far from the equator you are.
You’re telling me that the powers that be decided, oh, yeah, we should have the beginning of our year here, when everyone’s facing another 30-45 days of dark, cold winter.
Not feeling inspired?
I was talking to a friend a couple weeks ago, who was lamenting the same thing – ‘I just don’t feel inspired this year, or excited about the new year.’
Obviously, that’s understandable for a number of reasons.
But could part of the reason be that we’re being asked to celebrate a fake new year?
I mean, we’re in the middle of winter (again, in the northern hemisphere), how is THIS the new year?
How is THIS when we’re supposed to get a burst of energy to be inspired and plan?
This is all to say, that if you’re in a deep, restful, hibernatory energy and not feeling particularly inspired, maybe it’s because you’re in tune with nature’s cycle and can feel it’s still time to rest and hibernate and reflect and let things percolate.
Of course, if you’re hyped about 2025 starting now and having the inspiration and energy go for it! It’s great to jump on the energy of the world starting a new day on a new calendar.
But if you’re not, maybe it’s because it’s not actually the new year.
Give yourself a break and see if your energy starts to pick up when winter is actually ending.
