I wish you well for 2025. A 9 year – completion and the end of a cycle
First I want to thank you for your support in 2024.
In numerology, the digits add up to 9. Since 9 is the last digit, it is said to hold the energy of all the previous digits and year - the year of completion.
In many ways it is strange to have a new year starting in the depths of winter. Only a week has gone by since Christmas, the modern equivalent of the winter solstice. It makes more sense to celebrate the beginning of a new year at the end of January/early February like the ancient Chinese and indeed many traditional cultures, the Celts (Imbolc) and Christians (Candlemas). In another month we will be nearly half way to the spring equinox (20th March) when there will be roughly equal hours of light (Yang) and dark (Yin) and the sun will rise due east and set due west. It may still be cold in February, but the increasing light holds the promise of spring.
Enjoy my poem:
In this year of 9, embrace completion,
As January’s chill envelops the earth
Rest like nature, reflect and shed past layers
Let winter’s rest renew your soul
Indeed many ancient cultures, such as the Babylonians, celebrated New year around the spring equinox. The Romans also celebrated in March, until Julius Cesar, in 46 BC, introduced the Julien calendar, based on Sun cycles, and decided to start the new year on 1st January, as Janus is the god of beginnings. This was kept when Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 updated the Julien calendar in 1582. This calendar which we use today gradually became adopted world wide over the next few centuries, with Greece being the last European country to adopt it in 1923, even then only for Civil use.
Many people find January challenging because, although the days are getting lighter, there is still more dark than light and they are often tired after busy holidays. We are still in a more Yin time. Remember the days won’t be as light as they were before November 21st until 21st January and there is still more dark than light until after the Spring (Vernal) equinox. Indeed, did you know that the latest sunrise time is not until around January 6th? January and February days also tend to be colder than November and December days.
So my first wishes for 2025 are to hope that you can continue to rest, to nourish yourself, to stay more in the Yin, ready to emerge a little from your cocoon at the end of January, which is the beginning of the Chinese new year. By nourishing your Yin, you support your Yang. Your Yang is always present and also needs supporting. I suggest some gentle affirmations and an activity to support your Yang. Keep some inner fire, Yang, alight during this cold, dark time of Yin.
Yin nourishes your Yang
Gently prepare your Yang with these Governing Vessel affirmations:
I initiate new beginnings and enable you to separate from the old.
I am aligned with my destiny. I am in command of myself
I take appropriate action in every situation. I protect myself.
I am your navigator on your journey through life.
I am open to new ideas and ways of being.
#newyear #nourish #yin #yang #whyJanuarynewyear #chinesenewyear #imbolc #candlemas
Ways to grow with me.. for free!
Subscribe to my You Tube channel.
Here you can access videos on movement practices, visualisations, and talks as well as massage and shiatsu. If you comment on them or have questions I will reply. And please let me know of any videos you would like me to make.
Here you will get lots of free content from everything to discovering how the powerful points of the Extraordinary Vessels can support you as well as movement ideas or my thoughts on life or snap shots from my garden..
Sign up to and share my blog “Rewriting your Life”
Here I explore our different life cycles I explore the gifts and challenges of each phase of life, from conception to death, with the added perspective of the Extraordinary Vessels of TCM. Commenting on these helps enrich the conversation. You can also let me know of topics you would like me to write about.
Sign up to my newsletter “Wellmother news”
Here you learn what I am up to. This includes information on free courses coming up as well as paid courses.
Other ways to grow with me
Book a 1:1 session, either in person or on zoom
Book a course. All courses are on my website.