Year of the laughing tiger, that is. 🙂
Each winter at the start of the new year, I consider what occurred in the past year and what may be in store. For me, 2021 has brought perhaps even more challenges than 2020, but who is comparing? Life has been seriously challenging for a while now.
At the start of a new year, I like to contemplate what concept might be a helpful guide in the months to come — looking back at what occurred in the past year and considering what may be in store. Lately I’ve been a little stuck and wondering what might be a way to move forward. Usually I like to sit quietly in meditation and ask the Universe for the proper direction. Recently I learned of a goddess from the Japanese tradition, Uzume, goddess of the dawn. She is credited with returning light to a world that was engulfed in darkness. She is known for her baudy humor and is ever the comic. She is also credited with inventing the performing arts and it was her risqué dance that restored the light to what was a dark, dark world. The mythology of this goddess teaches us to not take life so seriously, because it is in play and merriment that we can find a little relief from life’s difficulties.
Each year instead of a resolution, I like to choose one word as a guide for the year. In the past, I’ve chosen words like calm, rejuvenation, and curiosity. So, when there is a big decision to be made, or even a little one, I would ask myself, does this support calm? Does this support rejuvenation? Or curiosity? It is a way to help guide me through the year. This year I’m choosing laughter. In honor of Uzume, it is a reminder to see the bright side of life and try to find the humor in situations. Sometimes there is not much humor at all, but in time, with loving care, patience, support, and perhaps a little comic relief, we can cultivate resilience.
What concept or word would you like to be your guide in the new year?