We are about to turn the corner into the New Year. This is the time of year I get all excited with new planners and business plans and plans for my life and health. I’ve shared my process with you all in the past. So, I asked my friend and therapist, Candice Wu to share her process on preparing for the new year. I loved her tips below. I suggest reading this with a pen, journal and a cup of tea or hot cocoa so you can capture your thoughts, feelings and emotions as you visualize what you want 2018 to look like for you.
The new year is an active time of year to write resolutions and intentions, especially for those that live in places with a cold winter, because it is the time of death.
When I create intentions and resolutions, I combine the innate seasonal power of life, death – life with the way this universe works, according to yoga. I’ve found that inner transformation comes first, and gives birth to the outer and concrete world full of action and manifestation. I’m happy to share my process with you in 6 simple steps.
1. Shaman’s Death.
I begin with ending.
Every year at this time, or during the time period of the Day of the Dead (El Dia De Los Muertos), I love to do a Death Visualization, or Shaman’s Death. It’s the intense process of imagining my own death so that you I truly see what needs to die, as well as what’s important and life-giving… NOW.
Winter is the natural time of death, letting go, ending, and shedding what’s old and decaying so that Spring can birth new life. By allying with the energy of Death, I clear space by emptying my internal clutter, what drains me, and what limits me.
2. Plant the Seeds.
Then, I plant the seeds for the new year; new growth and new harvest. The seeds are the most potent and powerful part of the plant, holding all of the potentiality.
To create the seeds, I get into my heart-space and feel into who I want to be before writing any goals or resolutions. The lessons of Karma Yoga have taught me that getting clear and embodying who I am being, is the most powerful place to take any action.
I create a simple and distilled intention or belief. Write it as if it is already happening. For example, “I am ease and grace. I am vulnerable and honest. I love myself. I am energized, etc.”
3. Create and act.
From the intention of who I am being, I ask myself, what are the possibilities and dreams that I would like to take action on? What are the actions that I can take? I focus on the actions instead of the outcomes or results, leaving new possibility and even more than I could dream of.
4. Accountability.
I ask myself:
What are the ways in which I might fall out of my intention?
What are the patterns or actions I take that are signals of me being in an unconscious or habitual place?
How can I hold myself accountable and what kind of support do I need?
I write it all down so it is noted in my awareness as important. As a loving ritual to myself, I check in on myself quarterly by creating a reminder in my calendar.
5. Infuse Love
I use love to motivate myself instead of fear. I let myself focus on what I am worthy of and dream of. I intentionally feel it now in my body and let my energy sync up with my intentions.
Also, celebrate! Love yourself, cheer yourself on, and reward yourself by celebrating even the most miniscule moments you were in your intention or took the steps you intended.
6. Continuous Healing
When I find myself living in an undesired intention, fear, an old habit or a limiting belief of myself, I run towards it and face it with eyes wide open.
I practice what I teach others in embodied healing and let the feelings and images around it be felt. Sometimes, I go for Somatic Healing or Spiritual awareness, and other times I use the Family Constellations process to release something that seems ancestrally inherited.
I get support! It’s important for me to feel the loving attention and attunement of another healer or therapist to help me along in my healing process.
Candice supports people in clearing any unconscious intentions, toxic or limiting beliefs, and embodying their authentic intentions. Feel free to reach out to her to have a free consultation. In February, she will offer group intensives to focus on one of your intentions or your goals.
If you’d like a guided Death Visualization to support you in clearing and composting the gunk to birth yourself into the new year with purpose and intention, Candice has created one that you can do yourself at home. Until Jan 20, 2018, it will be offered for FREE (valued at $25).
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