Carrying the Light Into What’s Next

Have you ever noticed how the space between Christmas and New Year’s feels a little different? There’s that steady build-up toward Christmas, full of lights, traditions, and anticipation. Then things slow just enough to catch your breath before the excitement of New Year’s Eve approaches.

The days leading into a new year carry a mix of emotions, excitement, reflection, and a little restlessness. The lights are still glowing, celebrations are still unfolding, and there’s a hum in the air as the calendar edges closer to January. There’s something genuinely fun and hopeful about it, that feeling that something fresh is waiting just ahead.

At the same time, many of us sense another layer beneath the surface. An internal shift. A pull asking for a different kind of attention. Without even realizing it, that excitement can turn into an unspoken pressure to step into a new version of ourselves the moment the calendar turns.

For my family, the holidays stretch on a bit longer since we also observe Orthodox Christmas, which keeps that sense of meaning and reflection alive past December twenty-fifth. Even so, that shift is still there, the subtle turning of energy as one year begins to loosen its grip and the next starts to stir.

That sense of being in between is reflected in the Chinese calendar as well. The year doesn’t change on January first there. The Year of the Snake continues into late February, officially closing on February twenty-sixth, while the Year of the Horse begins earlier, on February seventeenth. I’ve always appreciated that rhythm. It allows for overlap rather than abrupt endings, creating space for reflection and integration even as forward movement begins to stir.

The Snake carries a more inward, reflective energy, a time of reassessing and releasing what no longer fits. The Horse, in turn, brings momentum, vitality, and a readiness to move forward. Together, they mirror this season beautifully, completing one cycle while preparing for the next.

It’s often from that same mix of excitement and pause that New Year’s resolutions enter the picture. For many, they’re genuinely helpful and motivating. They offer structure, direction, and a clear place to begin, and that can be a powerful thing.

New Year’s resolutions also tend to revolve around getting healthier or fitter, often with the help of some kind of workout program. That’s certainly been part of my experience too. I’ve always loved working out and have even done some pretty intense programs over the years. These days, though, the thought of holding a plank for what feels like an eternity and doing thirty sit-ups isn’t exactly what keeps me inspired for the long haul, although it may result in me saying a few not-so-nice words 🙂

What matters most is honoring whatever genuinely works for each of us, because motivation touches more areas of life than we sometimes realize. And it’s natural for that motivation to shift, change shape, or ask to be approached differently over time.

Because of that, my hope here is simply to open up your realm of possibilities around how you choose to enter the new year, especially with so much available offering guidance and ideas in thoughtful ways.

From there, it can feel meaningful to step back and look at the bigger picture. Paying attention to where we are right now and where we want to be moving forward, without turning it into a pass-or-fail situation. When the focus shifts from obligation to intention, something opens up. There’s more room to listen, adjust, and move forward in a way that feels sustainable.

In my work with energy, intuition, and Spirit, I see this kind of awareness show up for people all the time, often as a sense of connection to themselves, to what’s unfolding, and to something deeper moving through it all.

For me, that understanding has come through the past few years, which have been a significant season of change, shaped by navigating cancer, its treatments, and the uncertainty that comes with that terrain, alongside the loss of my mom and other meaningful losses, including cherished family, friends, and beloved pets. Experiences like these tend to slow life down and shift perspective, bringing attention to what truly matters and how we choose to move through our days.

With everything we’ve been moving through, both personally and collectively, it feels natural to approach the new year a little differently this time. Many of us seem to be sensing that shift. It’s as if the new year is gently nudging us to move forward in ways that feel calm, steady, and supportive, while staying aware of the direction we’re taking and how we want to live as the year unfolds.

So let’s welcome the new year together, with curiosity, kindness, compassion, and a willingness to see what unfolds naturally.

May the year ahead meet you with moments of connection, clarity, and light.

Happy New Year! ✨🎉