The Next Step - Finding the Path

My new year begins with intention and ritual. I have not been a big New Years eve party person since my 20s. I prefer solitude and reflection for setting my sights on the coming year. I often begin with selecting a word for the year. I suggest you begin here in this blog. In the previous blog, I wrote about Refilling the Well. There are some great exercises and suggestions, and you may wish to revisit it here.

This year I wanted to deepen my search beyond just the word for the year. The word is a great way to keep yourself focused; it is the seed. Since I am in my decade transformation process, I wanted to go deeper and to create a new ritual for the word for the year. I have worked with nature-based archetypes and psychology. I spent a decade as a Spirituality counselor at a residential treatment center and we would create healing ceremonies and artistic encounters of the soulful kind. Working with the four elements is a foundation based on various cultures, stories (myths) and practices.

The four elements are integral for transformation, so I incorporate them into my ritual. Use what feels comfortable to you. The ideas are the same and you want to make this ceremony your own. I have created a graphic you may wish to print out to get you started on your journey. The elements represent aspects of the world, us and the act of change and evolution. Think of how water transforms from a solid state to fluid to vapor. The elements are all involved in this dynamic process.

I begin in the cave. This is where I go after I have spent time refilling my well and finding my word for the year. I take my word or concept into the cave. The cave represents the inception of your idea. Where all the potential possibilities come together to form the energy of the seed you will plant. When you nurture it, you allow it to manifest in many different interpretations. My word was originally going to be collaboration, but I changed it to Connections. While I was in the Cave and journaling, doodling and meditating on the word, I saw that Connections was a more powerful and encompassing direction for me. Connections may be made with collaborations, but they can also be made with nature, stories, history and animals. I sat with the idea of Connections and wrote about all the possibilities.

The timing is not important for how long you take in the cave, but at some point, you will bring the seed forth to be planted. I like to keep my seed protected and nurture it gently. I don’t share my ideas of what intentions I have put into the seed at this point. It is too fragile to have someone, or something stomp on it and end it prematurely. Bring the seed to the forest and carefully plant it among the trees. Let the seed rest in the soil of the forest. As it begins to awaken and form, it will push toward the light and shed its seed casing. Slowly and gently hold the intention and watch as it begins to form roots. The forest floor provides a nurturing environment for the tender seedling. The mycelium culture or the web of life will help sustain the plant as it grows. The surrounding trees and their roots hold the fragile plant in place until the roots have grown deep enough and strong enough to support it. They continue to surround and protect the young plant.

Now it is time to let the ideas that have sprouted from your seed begin to trickle out into the world. Tell trusted friends and colleagues about your ideas and intentions. Begin slowly like a forest stream that is flowing out to join a larger river. Release your ideas and creations with intention. Let them build and join the larger rivers and mingle with more energy and let it flow to the ocean or the sea to join in the creative group energy. This flow process takes whatever time it takes. Do not abandon it if you feel it is moving too slowly. Energize the flow to move it along. If you feel it is moving too fast, slow it down with a wider area like a lake. You can control your vision and tell your story in your own time.

When the idea feels full and rich, and that it is becoming too big to be contained, then you must let it go into the world and become something greater than you. It is now time to release it to the wind. Let it move and flow with the breeze and connect with the world. Become like a Windwalker and let your energy flow to where it is needed. I have never cared for the wind blowing on me since as a child I was caught in a tornado. I learned to overcome this by moving with the wind and letting it move me where I need to go. When I move with the wind, become the wind, there is no resistance.

I will be keeping you updated on my journey with my word Connections. When I am in the river phase I will let you know what has manifested. Please keep me informed of your journey as well. Happy New Year and much love.