Intentions
It’s officially winter here in Atlanta. The temps have dropped. My cat sits by the vent all day absorbing the heat. I can feel my body slowing, wanting more rest. I made a conscious decision over the last month to take some things off my plate for at least a month. To be transparent, I’m in a bit of a burnout from having a very chock full year of teaching and doing too much. The call to slow down this winter was so necessary to heed.
As we move into the next year of the Gregorian calendar, I’m thinking about the ways we make intentions of how we want our lives to be. Some people set goals of things they want to accomplish in a year. Others set intentions for ways they want to grow or how they want to feel. I recently listened to a Moonbeaming podcast episode that really resonated with how I want to move with intention through my life. Two questions surfaced, “What are your values? How do your resources (time, money, energy) align with your values?” As someone who identifies as an Enneagram 1, alignment with my values is of the utmost importance to me. I do not make a move unless it is values aligned. Where possible, I have boycotted and continue to boycott many companies whose values do not align for me. This is an innate way of being that I’ve had to work on not judging others for when they don’t have it, and letting myself off the hook when I don’t have the capacity to meet it. I am writing this to say, I didn’t realize that I wasn’t living in some of my most important values, until I started reflecting.
It’s not just about where I physically spend my time, money, and energy, but how those things make me feel. Do I feel more drained after teaching or more enlivened? Do I get to spend time outside in a way that rejuvenates me? Do I wish I was making more so I could give away more? There seems to always be compromising in the world we live in, so how do we become more intentional about our intentions?
One way for me has been essence work itself. I turn to the flowers as a way to be more intentional with what I am trying to grow. The end of this year brought up some things to shed and build on and so I’ve turned to a few essences: kudzu flower to undo the ties of programming and capitalism, pecan flower essence (which we called in for the Scorpio new moon) for abundance and moving out of scarcity while feeling supported—though still proving this one, and mica stone essence (which we called in for the Sagittarius new moon) for remembering my inherent value as reflected back to me by the Earth itself. These have been the sweetest companions these last few weeks, and I’m already beginning to feel the shift of getting back to my values internally.
If you are interested in setting an intention for yourself this year and wanting some plant allies to support you in them, I’m hosting in person 1:1 sessions at The Grief House in Decatur on Jan. 4th, 3-7pm, or you can book a virtual session. Maybe this year left you a little confused on what you need to call in, in which case we can turn to the cards to help find some clarity.
On January 5th, we’ll have Full Moon Circle where you can do some reflecting and collage as you welcome the new year and the first full moon of the year.
In case you friends who live afar want to do some reflecting on your year, here’s some of our reflection questions from circles this month:
Where did The Hermit (the archetype of this 9 year) come up for you?
If you could give this year a book title, what would it be? Why?
What were your relationships like this year?
What lesson do you want to take into the new year?
What are you absolutely not bringing with you into the new year?
See you all in the new year friends! May you feel the light starting to return within and without.