At the start of every new year, many make resolutions. Of course, the world's religions each have their own calendar, year, new beginning and periods of taking account, repenting, forgiving, assessing, making amends and welcoming the light. We recently passed the Winter Solstice, marking the shortest day of the year. From this point forward, each day in the Northern Hemisphere gains daylight, until the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. We all share in nature's rhythms, regardless of the cultural rhythyms and calendar we also follow. For Christians, who recently celebrated Christmas, we are moving into a time of Ephiphany or dawning light/realization of who/what the Christ presence is and is about. The anticipation of Advent now behind us with the birth of the Christ Child/Christ consciousness born in human form celebrated at Christmas.
How does one achieve a new and renewed self to start the year? An essential part of meditation is to open oneself to a sense of one-ness with the Holy Presence, immanent divinity, the Sacred Source of all that is.
Another tool to welcome the new year is creative visualization. This was popularized in The Secret, and also in many self-help books. Shakti Gawain explains that 'The physical universe is energy. Our physical universe is not really composed of any 'matter' at all; its basic component is a kind of force or essence which we can call energy. Things appear to be solid and separate from one another on the level at which our physical senses normally perceive them. On finer levels, however, atomic and subatomic levels, seemingly solid matter is seen to be smaller and smaller particles within particles, which eventually turn out to be just pure energy. Physically, we are all energy, and everything within and around us is made up of energy. We are all part of one great energy field." p 5 Creative Visualization, Shakti Gawain, 1978.
What do you want in 2013? Can you picture what that looks like, tangibly? Make this a practice several times a day. Focus your energies on the positive and positive outcomes. Express your admiration and appreciation for loved ones and co-workers. Have you ever met a person who simply radiates good energy? Become him/her in your own way. Feel the radiant energy moving throughout the cosmos, and through your life in 2013.
Meditation for this post:
"I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life . . . " Deuteronomy 30:19 Bible. 'To me this means far more than 'Don't kill yourself' or 'Be a survivor.' It means choosing life in all its glorious richness and limitless potential, choosing it for what it really is, the most incredible miracle of the universe.' Dr. Wayne Dyer, The Sky's The Limit
Local Events:
Reserve March 1st through 3rd on your calendar for a Spirituality Retreat with James Finley at First Community Church.
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