Happy New Year! Astrologically, That Is. Want a Resolutions Re-Do?
Starting the Year in January Is a Bad Idea!
Ok, so here it is four months into 2024 and you already feel like a failure. Maybe you hit snooze too many times during those dark mornings. Or maybe you skipped the workout for a cozy couch session next to the fire. Whatever obligatory resolution you declared on January 1st, you haven’t followed through with it and you’re feeling disheartened…sound familiar? Don’t give up! Let’s shake that guilt off and sort this out.
Do you know why it’s so hard to follow through with New Year’s Resolutions in January? Because it’s not the right time. Your body and mind are in peak hibernation mode. You’re meant to be resting, reflecting, and introverting… not outlining the purpose of the upcoming year. January is the perfect time to sit in quiet contemplation reviewing the happenings of the year prior. What worked, what didn’t, what do you want to carry forward, what do you want to leave behind? Journal while staring out your rain-streaked window, but don’t try to ideate your intentions for the upcoming year…yet.
Now, as April is beginning, it’s a different story. Have you noticed your energy starting to perk up with the glimpses of spring? Each year, just as the earth is coming back to life, so do you. Your mood rising, your energy accelerating, your spark igniting, and your ideas flowing are all signs of your insides awakening from a long, well-deserved, winter’s nap. Your body has recovered from the prior year, your mind recharged, and now it’s time to start looking forward.
I used to “fail” at New Year’s Resolutions so often I stopped making them. Once I started on my own holistic journey, the reason became oh-so-clear. I transitioned my resolution creation from January to April and haven’t looked back! Now I welcome this time of reflection, rather than dread it. Follow along as I outline a few reasons why I much prefer starting my new year aligned with how nature intended it.
We Are Living Creatures, Waking Back up With Nature
Signs of spring are creeping in: daylight is stretching longer, the sap is running through the trees, the garden is awakening, chicks are hatching, baby deer are prancing, the rain is dwindling and the sun’s presence is more prominent.
Of course, these classic signs of spring may differ depending on where you live, but in the Northern Hemisphere, this season marks the start of the circle of life. Just as it does within us. We’ve drifted too far from the importance of seasonality in our lives, but the closer you are to nature, the more you’re reminded of this crucial, ongoing cycle.
For this reason, I much prefer the start of the astrological calendar over our standard calendar. Pisces season is coming to a close: the final moments of letting go and giving into the universe’s plan. What you gained from the year prior culminated in the Pisces (aka dreamer) season. That time of rest allowed those learnings to marinate and your soul to absorb the previous year’s learnings.
Now, Aries season is upon us. The season of new beginnings. It’s time to start again. What will this year bring you? What are you meant to learn, how are you to grow, what newness are you drawing towards you? If you’ve noticed Aries Sun Signs’ sense of excitement over all things new, you already have a head start on understanding this season. Hello Aries, good to see you again.
From an Aries’ Point of View
If you believe in reincarnation, think of Aries souls as those living their very first life on Earth. They are just so gosh darn excited to be here! They want to try everything once, oftentimes only once, just to see if their fire is ignited. They frequently jump from one hobby to the next as that initial flare of newness wears off. They aren’t interested in becoming experts, they are professional dabblers. This may drive some insane, but it’s part of Aries’ charm. Just let them be. Moreso, let them inspire. While some are driven by the intention of perfection or being the “best of” their craft, that isn’t what motivates Aries. They just want to share in the wonder for a while. They would rather know a little about a lot, rather than a lot about a little. There’s so much out there to explore, why would they want to handcuff themselves by only pursuing one thing?! From their perspective, what a boring life that would be. The world is their oyster, a never-ending adventure. They welcome newness with open arms and a warm smile.
It’s this very energy that should be kicking off the New Year: Bubbling enthusiasm, wide-eyed wonder, childish eagerness. You know when you witness a toddler discover something for the very first time? That’s the magic of Aries. Imagine how you felt the first time you saw the ocean. How powerful those crashing waves appeared. The sparkling reflection of the sun dancing on the water. The expansive, never-ending view into the horizon. Nothing short of magical. Toddlers are quick to believe in fairytales with unicorns and leprechauns because, from their point of view, magic does exist. Rainbows feel plucked right out of a fairy tale, yet somehow rainbows are real, so why couldn’t there be a unicorn frolicking about? Imagine living life through a childlike lens… now you’ve caught a glimpse into the Aries’ perspective.
How Do We Harness the Magic of Aries Season?
But what if you’re not an Aries and this is not the way you see things? Maybe you like striving to be the expert of your craft or your stomach turns over at the thought of change. Maybe you prefer plans over Aries’ spontaneity and stability over newness. That’s ok! Your astrological season of comfort and familiarity will come too. During that season, Aries will be learning the value of your sun sign and will feel all the uneasiness that true growth brings. One can’t be in a constant state of new, there’s a cycle for a reason. But for now, embrace the learnings of this astrological season and push yourself to look at things a little differently. A little more like you’re brand new here. Like you’re exploring this incredible world, you’re fortunate enough to call home, for the very first time.
So, take back out that list of New Year’s Resolutions and give it another good hard look. Maybe you’ve already “failed” and your well-intentioned habits for this year have fallen flat on their face. Here’s your second chance! It’s New Year’s all over again, but one that aligns with the cycle of life. You’re naturally more set up for success this time around. It’s hard to follow through on a new practice when it’s the middle of rainy, snowy, sit-by-the-fireplace-and-be-cozy weather. It’s much easier to get off on the right foot when Spring is teasing you with fresh growth and sunshine.
After reviewing the items you determined were priorities during peak winter, be open to the potential that they aren’t right anymore. When you’re reading through your New Year’s Intentions, do it with Aries-colored glasses. Are the items on your list what you should be doing? Or are they what you want to be doing? If nothing on that list gets your heart beating with excitement, you’re missing the point. Try something new! Push yourself out of your comfort zone and make it a priority to rediscover your childlike wonder this astrological year. Stuck in a rut? Aries aren’t! Harness that energy to break up your routine with unfamiliarity. Factor those shake-ups into your New Year’s Intentions.
Forget the List, Pick a Word!
Is coming up with a full-blown list of New Year’s Resolutions daunting? Are you avoiding it or writing a few things down because you’re supposed to, but not because you want to? Then don’t do it! Aries wouldn’t. They don’t do anything just based on shoulds. Need a way to step into the new year with a fresh perspective, but writing a list isn’t resonating with you? Write a word. Just one single word that encompasses the energy you want to bring with you into the new year.
Here’s a few to try on:
Tired of your routine? Maybe your word is “spontaneity”
Feeling stagnant and lethargic? How about “movement”
Wishing you had a bigger circle of friends or a sense of community? Think about “connection”
Whatever your word is, make sure it sends an electric spark through your body. Once you land on the right word, you’ll know, you’ll feel it. Now, cherish that word, familiarize yourself with it, and work it into daily conversations. Most importantly, reference it. When you’re stuck between two decisions, refer back to your word. Which decision resonates with your word? Your word is “movement” and you’re deciding between reading a book on the couch or a walk with your audiobook. If movement is your intention, it’s a no-brainer…choose the walk. Each time you consider your word when stuck between two decisions your answer will be clear, and you’ll notice a new habit forming. Before you know it, that habit will become part of your subconscious. Surprise, you’re succeeding at fulfilling your New Year’s Resolution!
Make This Year Count
Meaningful change can be slow but requires consistency. It doesn't require a huge grandiose adjustment, just small choices that build upon one another. Each day, week, or month, reflect on how you’ve incorporated your word into your life. Your relationship with this word might evolve throughout the cycle of the year… that’s ok. That’s preferred! If you connect with your word all year long, you’ll have done right by Aries season. You’ll have succeeded at your New Year’s Resolutions as far as Aries is concerned. You’ll have sparked something inside of you that brought newness and awakened your soul. If that little child inside of you is giddy, that’s how you know this season served you. Now are you ready for the New Year? Go get after it!
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