TOTAL READ TIME: 4 Minutes
Last year I wrote about why I don’t set New Year’s goals. I plant seeds (of intention) instead. When I set a goal, it feels way off in the distance. The path to get there can be scary, varied and long. When I plant a seed of an intention, I must nurture it, today and every day. I have to be curious about every stage of unfolding, knowing my actions will evolve as my intention manifests into real life.
If you feel a stirring of new seeds that you wish to plant, then by all means plant away. But what if your seeds are dormant and still burrowed in the darkness of winter? I’m not ready to plant my seeds for the new year. Why would I plant seeds in the dead of winter? Look around. The days are short, the plants are asleep and the animals reserved in their motions. Given all of this, how could January be the start of the New Year?
I don’t think January is supposed to be our new year – this burst of new goals wrapped in new beginnings. Perhaps our true new year should start in Spring, when seeds and plants are budding to life, and when new lambs, calves and chicks are born. What if this is how it was supposed to be?
There’s greater evidence that our calendar system is flawed. Looking at the roots of the word September, October, November and December – these months are literally named seven, eight, nine and ten. Why then, are they months nine through twelve? We have 28-day moon cycles and women have our own 28-day “moon” cycles. When we add it up, that’s 13 per year. The sun travels through 13 constellations per year (the 13th zodiac sign is Ophiuchus) vs. the 12 astrological zodiac signs that we recognize today.
I’ve gone down the rabbit hole and now I’m a proponent of a 13-month, 28-day calendar which starts in Spring. After all, the 13-month calendar makes more sense. We could have a simple 28 days in each month. It would be in rhythm with the Earth and the moon cycles. This calendar gets us to 364 days per year. That gives us one extra day for a pause – a reflection – a yearly reset button: A true New Year’s Day.
Don’t worry. It is not my New Year’s Goal to change the world. I’m simply changing how I celebrate the new year. Today, I’m still resting in the darkness of winter. My seeds are there – but they are not ready to sprout. They are steeped in stillness, and will awaken when Mother Earth around me tells me it’s time to do so.
For today, since our globally-accepted calendar has indeed turned to 2023, I do wish you a Happy New Year! May all your seeds of intention flourish, when they are ready to sprout and nourishingly grow for you and those in your path.