Scenic spot along the Canadian Rockies

2013 marks the year of the Serpent beginning on the new Moon on February 9th. Serpent is a universal symbol of healing and rebirth. Serpents crawl around the ground with grace and fluidity but contain the venom to kill. Among the mysteries of the Serpent, the year of the Serpent is a time for introspection, planning, and seeking answers. The Serpent’s wisdom can influence new discoveries and inventions. In ancient China, the Serpent is one of the twelve animals of the Zodiac and was present in folk tales assisting births and blessing children with exceptional talents. Those born in Serpent years are driven to success and accomplish goals through careful plans and calculations- much like a coiled Serpent waiting for the right moment to strike.

2013 is a great reminder that it is never too late to be what we might have been. As January proceeds, the Sun moves into the change-maker of Uranus and asks to make this year tangibly different than the last. As January comes to a close, it is time to sort through threads from the past to see which serve us. Perhaps it is time to face painful memories or move out of our comfort zone into growth, finding new talents and resources we didn’t know we had. We’re safe because we know our ability and our willingness to love comes from within us. It is the ultimate form of learning to embrace our power.

The daybook/calendar that I use to keep track of my business and life is the We’Moon Astrological Datebook. Each year the theme changes, and this year is fittingly titled “The Other Side.” We survived the end of the world in 2012, and we have reached the other side- not in a negative or positive way, but in looking at the other side of the story. Associated with magic, witchcraft, and Goddess worship, the number 13 has become one of fearsome connotations in Western culture. “The Other Side” as We’Moon puts it is a shift of focus:

“The broad canvas of Change that we have chosen for 2013 asks us to toss out our accustomed points of view…It invites the wisdom of deepened perspective, unlikely angles, and the unusual vision that sees The Other Side.”

With the hustle and bustle gone from the holidays, the cold blanket of winter still remains. This is a time when all is contained within us– all the future possibilities, growth, and knowing. Fear is cold. Sometimes, we become so afraid of life, people, and ourselves that we become cold. Put warmth back in our lives. This is a time of illumination. It is dark and quiet before the blossoming of spring. As the light continues to increase, ask yourself what desire needs a bit more light to be seen clearly?

A 2013 habit I have started is reading a daily passage from the meditation guide Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie. Originally a gift from a friend, Beattie’s work has turned into a wonderful nightly ritual. I am usually so exhausted by bedtime I can not read an entire chapter, making reading an entire book seem impossible. Journey to the Heart is broken up by daily passages, so I read the night’s previous message (to remember), the day of (to stay present), and the following day (something to dream about). So far my favorite passage from January has been the excerpt from January 13th titled Honor Winter’s Lesson:

See the pine trees and learn their lesson. Pine trees are nature’s reminder that growth continues even in winter. Winter is more than a time of coldness and snow. It’s a time of going within…Despite the time of lifelessness and inactivity, this is still a season of growth. Cherish the hope that lies beneath the snow.

What Problem?

The other side of any problem, no matter how big or small, is the opportunity to ally with it as a vehicle for your own evolution.

Robin Rose Bennett

Let your soul lead you through meadows and take you down deep into the valleys, for all your experiences are just that– experiences– on this mysterious journey of the soul.