A Month Of New Years!

Happy New Year! The new year is a special time. A time to discard the old stagnant energy and renew our vitality with fresh and vibrant energy. The New Year brings fresh starts, new beginnings and the potential to create prosperity for ourselves and our community.

Here in Alaska, most of us celebrate the Gregorian New Year's Eve on Jan 31st. The Native Alaskan communities, however, celebrate the Old Russian Orthodox New Year's Eve. This year, the holiday falls on January 14th, according to the Julian calendar. (The Russian Orthodox Christmas falls on Jan 7th this year) In addition, I like to celebrate the Chinese New Year which begins on the full moon on January 23rd, with the festival of lanterns, and climaxes with New Year's Eve falling on the new moon, February 7th. 

While there are many fascinating rituals and traditions behind these various celebrations, I will briefly describe the way I utilize the energy of these holidays in my spiritual practice:

For me, the Gregorian New Year is the perfect time to purge, discard and cut through old energy and patterns. Clearing your home of clutter, excess, useless items and gifts that haunt you from the past. (If you cringe when you look at it, because it reminds you of a false friend, a failed relationship or a sad memory, throw it out!) A thorough spiritual cleansing of self and home will lighten the mood and lift the spirits! Make sure that your home and your physical body are clean and orderly, so you can face the new year with your best foot forward. A bon fire or the fireplace is the perfect place to unload your burdens or worries. Write your problems on small pieces of brown paper and send them up in flames. Firecrackers at midnight will also cut through the negativity of the past year and clear the way so you can move forward with new potential.

I utilize the energy of the Russian Orthodox New Year to focus on new goals, new possibilities and renewed vitality. This is when I like to establish the potential for new growth. Planting the seeds, so to speak, of a full and successful life. You can do this by spreading out a feast to signify a plentiful and rich life. Eat foods that hold potential, like eggs and seeds. Don't forget the vodka!... After all, a happy heart is a healthy heart! Raise your glass to all the endless possibilities and the open doors of opportunities! As a Mayombera, I like to make a special offering at the crossroads to Lucero/Èṣù to assure success.

The Chinese New Year is very colorful and exciting! To me, this celebration is all about prosperity! It is a time to share wealth with friends and loved ones and bless them with well wishes of abundance. Small red envelopes filled with money and little decorative bags of rice are exchanged to ensure, not only individual prosperity and plenty, but community wealth, as well. Firecrackers send evil spirits away and call in protection. Foods representing prosperity are enjoyed and shared generously. Offerings are made to the ancestors and the dragon is fed. Blessings come to those who bless!

I wish you all a month of Happy New Years!
Remember, "As you meet the new year, so will you spend it!"