2022 Year in Review
What's in & What's out
2022 was the labour and the birth, 2023 is raising this new life into its potential. My word of the year is FOUNTAINOUS (if it’s a word). The image of water being drawn up through a central channel to burst into the air in many different directions, only to be recycled again in a majestic dance of expression is the metaphor of 2023. An endless well of inspiration, joyful expression in multitudes and continuous motion of ebb and flow, of trusting and creating action, of surrender and pushing forth. 2022 prepared me for the life of inner / outer congruency that’s waiting in 2023.
What’s In
Having realistic expectations for self-care within my capacity. Living nomadically means some of my go-to self-care practices have to look different. Most places don’t have a bathtub so I’ve taken to sitting in the shower in a dim candlelight, listening to Hz meditation frequency. It isn’t the same as a bath but it’s kind and caring to my body. The nomad life has also made daily tarot spreads tricky - not everywhere has space for me to lay out a 40 card spread. Instead of pulling spreads, I got to know each card individually, combining every interpretation I’ve studied. Then I stumbled upon the Labryrinthos Tarot app (not sponsored, just a fan)- I’m a stickler for the old fashioned so I was skeptical to say the least. But I’ve loved every spread I’ve done with the app and it’s a great way to still create space for reflection when we’re on the go or on a low energy day when shuffling and pulling isn’t.. ahem, in the cards, so to speak.
Prioritizing insight & fun. Remembering to take weekends off. As a Capricorn, my work is my purpose, it is so important to me. But I always remind myself of the insight I get in the shower. Or while doing dishes. Or on a walk. Because we need SPACE to have insight. No work of art was ever created from start to finish in an 8-hour work day. I often think of Michelangelo (the artist, not the Ninja turtle) painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Legend has it that for two years, he laid on his back starting at the blank ceiling. Two years. Inspiration is part of the creative process and our lives are our primary work of art. For me, 2023 is about having fun - not only on days off. Remember fun? The kind of joyful-puddle-jumping fun you had as a kid when anything could become anything? I want to integrate moments of fun even (and especially) on full days, to create space for insight. Belly laughing until my cheeks hurt. What makes you laugh with your whole body?
Losing track of time with a book instead of scrolling. I love the timeless space between Christmas and New Years because time doesn’t exist. There’s no hurry, no rush, there’s nowhere for us to “get to”. And that absence of pressure is so freeing. My favourite thing to do in the holidays is o read a book-in-a-day. It’s my favourite way to lose track of time and become immersed in a whole other world. There’s nothing quite like it. I’m *always* re-evaluating my relationship to social media - as a tool of connection but also escape. It’s been helpful having boundaries with social media, setting timers and app limits so I don’t get “lost” in a story I can’t put down. I’m not one to purport abstinence in any form, but am always reflecting on the why we do what we do. If you have a good book to “get lost it”, I’d love recommendations!
What’s Out
Rigid expectations of doing the same thing the same way. Part of having space for shifting capacity is letting go of expectation, including the expectation I have of myself. It’s within my values to cook from scratch - as a kitchen witch, it’s often the place of inspiration for me - but I don’t always have the capacity. Knowing my values and my ideal and that my values don’t have to be acted out in the same way all the time. I can give myself permission to express my values in a multitude of ways because we are complex, multifaceted people. Some days I’ll have capacity to express my values in their ideal, but I have many choices and options to express them in other ways, too. What can you give yourself permission for? What expectation can you release.
Measuring success by how exhausted we are, by how many days we’ve worked in a row. No - this year we’re measuring success by how safe people feel in our presence - including how safe you feel with yourself. As Maya Angelou said, “people will not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.” We’re creating safe places in relationships for vulnerability and creating safe places for ourselves too. The hustle and grind culture is out - 2023 is about rest. Gone are the days of being applauded for working overtime - we’re staging interventions. Say it with me - “exhaustion is not a mark of success. I deserve to rest. My body deserves to rest. Exhaustion is not a mark of success.” Consider if you were a friend to yourself (you are) - what kind of friend are you? Do you respect your own boundaries? Listen to your own limits? Offer kindness and compassion when things are hard?
Overly planning my life, getting caught up in the minute details instead of actually living life. This means not living by my to-do list but by time. So instead of saying “I have to get 6 tasks done today”, I just see how many tasks I can get done in a 30 minute chunk of time. However many I get done, is how many I get done. It’s a funny thing being a Capricorn - you put so much energy and effort into making plans, creating checklists - it’s like your whole life becomes check boxes. Sometimes planning is helpful but a lot of the time, it just keeps you from living. No matter what, we’ll encounter unpredictable parts of life - that’s the point of life. And I’ve proven to myself I always figure things out, even when things are hard. You too, have proven to yourself that you figure things out. I used to have a 5 year and 10 year plan and I accomplished most of the things on the list. And I was so unhappy. Life was dull and bland because it was devoid of real feeling. Life opened up so much when I stopped planning. When I allowed myself to be inspired by life and create plans from inspiration - instead of trying to get life to fit into my teeny check box. It isn’t about not having direction or being unprepared - it’s just about letting life happen. Most of life is outside of our control anyway, so we may as well enjoy the ride.
I have no idea what 2023 will hold. Mostly my life is even-keel with peaks of adventure and a few dark nights of the soul. I like doing the same things everyday that create space for creativity and reflection - I’m a creature of habit but still a creature. May 2023 be the year of YOU - to see yourself clearly, to know yourself fully, to truly become yourself. Here’s to the unexpected journey of life!
If you want to start 2023 with reflection, January 6 is the first manifesting workshop in a series of 4. We’re starting with how to manifest your Inner World - focusing on identity, deserving-ness and worthiness. If you’re interested in signing up, it’s only $27 for 90 minutes of education & experience - complete with worksheets and meditations galore. Click the image to book your spot - limited space available!
