Happy New Year, Fellow Wanderers

Like many of you, I am deeply moved by the devastation in Los Angeles. So many have lost everything, and my heart is with them. I send prayers to the Santa Ana winds—may they soften, cease, and give space for containment and healing.

This New Year begins in the shadow of tragedy, reminding us that the stakes are higher than ever. The wildfires show us that our world is changing rapidly, and if we don’t change our ways, there may be nothing left to save.

But despite the heartbreak, I remain hopeful. Ashes are the fertile ground for the Phoenix, and I believe in the power of rebirth and renewal.

Let this year be one where our choices reflect the urgency for peace, balance, earth healing, and mutual care.

A Seasonal Approach to Setting Intentions for 2025

In the spirit of this New Year, I’d like to share some of my favorite practices for setting intentional goals.

I follow a rhythm of seasonal living, guided by the Celtic wheel of the year. The deep winter months of January are a time of rest and reflection. As the earth lies dormant, embracing stillness, we too can honor this quiet time before the burst of energy that Spring brings.

This wisdom deeply informs how I approach New Year’s goal-setting.

Instead of jumping straight into action or forcing new habits this time of year, I encourage you to create space for stillness. Use this time to deeply listen to what arises from your subconscious and your dreams. Ask yourself:

• What big-picture changes do I need to make in my life?

• What wisdom is ready to emerge when I stop chasing external distractions?

When we step away from constant doing, we can see more clearly. It’s like the Buddhist parable of the moon’s reflection—only visible when the waters of the mind are calm and still, like a deep lake.

A Meditation Practice to Ground and Cleanse Your Energy
To support you in this process, here’s a meditation practice to help you ground, cleanse, and align your energy for the year ahead: A Simple New Year's Energy Ritual.

Core Desire Mapping: A Powerful Alternative to Resolutions

If you’re looking for a more soulful way to set intentions for the New Year, I recommend a practice called Core Desire Mapping. This practice allows you to identify the feelings you want to experience and the emotional states that will guide your actions in the year ahead. It’s a powerful way to create alignment between your inner world and your external goals.

You can learn more about Core Desire Mapping here: Core Desires Mapping.

Pairing Creative Visioning with Your Intentions

I love pairing both Core Desire Mapping and a Soul Collage or Vision Board session. By making art that represents your intentions, you are helping to root those ideas not just in your mind but in your body as well. The act of creating art about your intentions helps somatically ground them, making them more tangible and aligned with your energy.

Leaning Into Creativity During Winter

This time of year is also an invitation to lean into the creative hobbies and crafts you may have put off during the busier, warmer months. One of my favorite creative practices is making my own music. Music has an incredible ability to help us access flow states, which are key to unlocking deeper insights and clarity about our lives.

In Conclusion:

As we step into 2025, let’s honor this season of stillness, reflection, and creative rest. Our world is calling us to make meaningful changes, but those changes must begin within—through reflection, grounded intention, and creativity. May your New Year be filled with peace, balance, and healing, both within and around you.

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