No resolutions.  No verdicts.  No judgments.  No mandates or grand statements for the new year.  Instead, I choose a word for guidance.  A word that acts as a signpost, gently directing me to how I want to show up in the world and for myself.  

Some years, the words choose me easily.  Other years, it is a more laborious process.  This year, the journey to a new word was relatively effortless; it just required a bit of refinement from a phrase to a single word.  A single word which I continued to let tumble through my thoughts, roll on my tongue as I tested it and played with it for a few weeks, wondering, is this the one for 2025? Then, during a group meditation/reiki session on the last day of 2024, the words from a song being sung grabbed me, 

‘Is there a way for you to shine without fear?…’*

As those words, from a song I had never heard before, touched my heart, I knew I had chosen well for 2025.

Courage. My signpost for 2025 is courage.  It is not something I feel I have lacked, yet I believe it is what I will need to grow in the direction I feel so drawn.  It is a reminder to myself I do have the courage to be seen and the courage to be me.  I have the courage to know and trust I am strong enough to handle the ruffled feathers and possible rejection of being just me and not who others want me to be.  The courage to be the light when it is dark and the courage to allow others to be who they are despite any discomfort I may encounter.  Indeed, the greatest gift we can give the universe is to be who we are meant to be and not shape-shift as society asks.   As Brene Brown said, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

So, courage will be my reminder to stay on the path as best as I can. To be myself, to follow my heart.  It is my reminder that kindness is never futile, self-compassion is not indulgence, acceptance is healing and I can shine, even in the darkness. 

Wishing you, dear friend, what you need for your heartfelt journey in 2025. 

*Astral Plane by Valerie June

Is there a light you have inside you? 

Can’t touch

A looking glass can only show you so much

Follow the signs, slowly but steady

Don’t rush

The day will come when you are ready

Just trust

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain

Floating through the stratosphere 

Blind, but yet you see so clear

Is there a way for you to shine without fear?

From other worlds

But you can’t say what keeps you here

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain

Floating through the stratosphere

Blind, but yet you see so clear

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain

Floating through the stratosphere

Blind, but yet you see so clear

Blind, but yet you see

Blind, but yet you see

Blind, but yet you see

Blind, but. Yet you see so clear

But is there a way for you to give it your all?

Dreaming a dream

Of sweeter things great or small

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain