17 Mar Happy New Year!
Happy new year! No, this is not a long lost blog post that I did not get around to putting up in January. Rather, today is the day that I join in an ancient tradition of celebrating the first day of Spring as the beginning of a new year. And, I invite you all to join me.
For a long time, I have been interested in ancient traditions from different cultures, particularly those that tie us back to the harmonious cycles of nature. From the Babylonians to the Maya, for thousands of years, people around the globe have heralded the arrival of spring with festivities and reverence as they recognized the day as the start of the solar new year.
The technical term for today is Vernal (Spring) Equinox. Literally, an equinox is the time of the year when the sun passes over the celestial equator of Earth, giving us an equal amount of night and day. So, think of it as starting the new year in balance and total harmony.
After all these past few months have tossed at us, we all could use with a little harmony and balance.
Astrologically, today marks the start of the first sign in the zodiac, the sign of Aries, the Ram. Aries is exuberant and outgoing; it likes to initiate new things. Like the horns of a ram pushing forward, this is the time for the seed to push its way through the cold earth after the long dark days of winter.
This new year definitely ushers in new beginnings for me. That is why I am using it to share my new direction in life. With the start of 2017, I took the plunge and became an entrepreneur. Mterprise Strategies will allow me to focus my energies on my passion for personal and professional development and helping change-makers build inclusive workforces. It includes VidaLife which is my life and career coaching practice that I began late last year. I look forward to sharing more details as I nurture these little seeds through the year and hopefully watch them grow.
I think that there is something inherent in humans that creates a need for ritual and celebration. Doing so allows us to connect to something outside of, something greater, something bigger. And, who doesn’t like the idea of being given a chance to begin anew?
While some people balk at the idea of new year’s resolutions, it’s often because we choose things that end up making us feel bad about ourselves when we are not successful – exercise or diet, finances. This new year, I challenge you to find something that you can celebrate and resolve to keep the joy and promise of Spring with you throughout the new year.
So today, pop the bubbly; wear a funny hat. Take a moment to appreciate the reliability of the arrival of Spring that can serve as a reminder to us of our connection to the past, the present, and the future.
I look forward to sharing with you throughout this new year as we watch those seeds we plant grow and flourish.
Happy new year!
Happy New Year!