Every year this season and time period brings tremendous hustle and bustle to an already growingly bustling world. There’s so much production, consumerism, and even many services offered. Marketers, even artists and authors, choose this time of year to unveil their creations so that the public will munch up their offerings, buying extra to give them as gifts. They hope to make bigger sales at this time. All those offerings come in the form of communications and advertisements, too. In essence, this is a big, loud, and boisterous time of the year! There’s simply a lot of commotion and it disrupts just about everyone’s nervous systems. But, it’s still done anyways, regardless.

It’s easier to get the sales when everyone is dysregulated, right?! Well, if your businesses are those kinds of companies that thrive on perpetuating the unwellness of others, that’s the case. But not for everyone. I see a future where people want to increasingly supply and provide for others that which is actually good for them– and, I think it can be done through business. If business is built with heart at its center.

Meanwhile, my norm at this time of the year, is me actively trying to reduce the clutter, figure out the essentials, and embrace the center of my being. Actually, I cling to the center of my being at this time of year. I make sure that I don’t spin with every single swish/swash of wind-current caused by the hustle and bustle of forces much more sizable than I. You could say that I am actively “countering culture.” Now, I’m not actually ‘a culture’–so I’m not “counter culture.” I’m just an individual, free, and full of self-agency–you could argue that I am a culture, though, because of all my cells and the microbes which make up even more of my body than “I” do, but that’s not the point of my writing here. I am actively “countering” the dominant culture.

This is what I am countering: the mainstream energy of the push and rush–keeping up with ‘other’ people and their movements, following the crowd–none of that is appealing to me!! Now, this requires very little energy from me when I do it right. I simply “stop,” and put my energy into this dark place of “no place.” The external me might even seem like it’s doing the movements, and going with the flow, and even a part of the problem! In fact, the “little self” version of me sometimes does get overwhelmed; but, I do often manage to bring it right back to the center and identify with quiet version of me. I double-down on my efforts to meditate and get clear. I keep ever vigilant to “what really matters.” My goal is to chisel out what is essential from the informant of my inner quietude.

The Sagittarius New Moon, now, coming in on the 19th and 20th depending on where you are located, is here to help. It comes at a special time when the Solstice is very near to us — when the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky for the year, giving the Northern Hemisphere its shortest day and longest night. We celebrate the return to the light, too. This is not just the darkness of winter (as many of us are in more milder climates). It’s also the darkness of our visions. We are being called to confront the fears of the darkness (our past failures) that veils our true vision in Sagittarius (the potential future).

It’s a common tradition to watch or read A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, at this time of the year, as it corresponds to the contemplations of giving vs. miserliness. The didactic nature of the story lends us an accounting of our personal deeds and how good we have been at loving others throughout the year. It’s as if to ask: what is the current state of your heart? referring to the level of its openness. Just as Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of the past, present, and future, we can gaze into the stars and see the light of the past and reckon with times that are beyond the current one and see the fruits of our actions. It’s through this transcendence of time we are afforded the careful and observant weighing of our deeds. To me this is the “clock stopping” silence of the magic of the season… the one we can tap into if we focus on what really matters and go deep.

This New moon in Sagittarius asks us ‘Where do you shine your wisdom light?’ Imagine you have a lantern and it only covers a small crop of space before you. You have to make a choice as to where to point it. Neptune and Saturn in the last bits of Pisces are in square with the Sun, Moon, and Venus in Sagittarius. Now more than ever you can get really clear on both your values and your dreams. You can check to make sure that they are aligned. You can check to make sure that you are aligned with the highest and best.

Step 1:

Pretend you have only one arrow left in your quiver that represents your highest value, and you look into it and gaze at its offering, what would you OFFER TO YOURSELF? How could you translate that most important value of yours into your destination? Only YOU have the answer.

Step 2:

Hitch that value to a star (enhancing the destination), and if you don’t wish to make dream board or vision quest into a labor, then simply place your hand on your heart and say “ I treasure this __(your highest value)____as a gift I have found and wish to share it in the best way that can live freely outside of me… I wish to share it with __(at least one other/ animal/friends/the world)___. Thank you for this day and time, for this special hour, and for the sacred purpose of my life. Thank you that I get to draw these breaths. I trust those steps that will follow with the same clarity and purity of my intention.”

Here’s a short list of values for your thought and intention process to discover which is the brightest of all. Some are similar to others, so you might want to spend some time with it. If you can’t pick one, then the next best thing is to at least narrow it down to 3. It might help to do it in stages and choose those that you want to circle first on a gut-level that stand out, and then further narrow it down, after that, with some more thoughtfulness. You can consider different situations (real or imagined) that help you to use these values in a context for decision-making. These are all just some suggestions to help you get started.

Integrity, Honesty, Self-Awareness, Mindfulness, Bravery, Courage, Authenticity, Personal Growth, Learning, Faith, Spirituality, Wisdom, Knowledge, Creativity, Innovation, Love, Affection, Family, Home, Friendship, Connection, Kindness, Compassion, Respect, Civility, Loyalty, Commitment, Empathy, Understanding, Ambition, Drive, Success, Achievement, Productivity, Effectiveness, Independence, Self-reliance, Leadership, Influence, Recognition, Status, Justice, Fairness, Equality, Equity, Responsibility, Accountability, Service, Sustainability, Environmental care, Peace, Non-Violence, Freedom, Liberty, Fun, Joy, Playfulness, Adventure, Exploration, Health, Wellness, Comfort, Security, Beauty, Aesthetics, Simplicity, Minimalism…

Wishing you a lovely turn of the year— May your holidays be Merry and Bright!! If you should find yourself feeling sad and sullen, know that this too shall pass. Nothing is here to stay–not us, especially. Also, offer yourself so much love and kindness and be extra soft with you.

Be well my dear ones. You are so very loved.