As you may know, December 21^st marks the shortest day of the year (winter solstice) as well as the closest Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in 800 years–both of which are a very big deal in astrology.

Now, while I don’t believe the alignment of the planets has any direct impact on our lives here on earth–any more than I believe that the big hand on the 12 and the little hand on the 6 causes dinnertime—I do believe in the natural expansion and contraction of energy in the universe, and that these astrological markers are symbolic of these phases, just as the hands on the clock in a certain position are symbolic of the phases of our daily activities.

With that in mind, I do believe it is useful and powerful to align our intentions and actions to the very real shifts in the energy field around us.

In my last newsletter I wrote about the phases of the breath—inhale and exhale—and our planet literally has phases of inhale and exhale as well.  (Did you know that global carbon dioxide levels increase in winter and decrease in summer because of the shifting light cycles and its effect on photosynthesis?) 

For me, the energy of these last few days of the solar year is an opportunity to fully exhale thoughts, habits, behaviors, and relationships that don’t serve.

We all love the feeling of expansion, but one of the reasons why change is difficult and New Years’ resolutions often don’t work is because we haven’t gotten rid of the old to make room for the new.  If we don’t lighten our load how can we expect to be able to take on more?

2020 has been the darkest, heaviest and most energetically negative year of my life.  On top of political, economic and pandemic nightmares, for health reasons–pre-diabetes–I’ve given up alcohol, sugar, and almost all carbs.   (Aargh! No more pizza!)  A shoulder injury has forced me to give up playing golf and guitar—sources of pleasure, creativity and identity for over 40 years.  

But the good news is, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  So what’s the opportunity to “exhale” just a little bit more, contracting here now just a little bit more, to allow for even greater expansion next year? 

Is anyone else losing energy down the sinkhole of social media/cell phone distraction? What’s the energetic cost of mindless behavior? I wonder what new, more interesting activities I would have energy for if I didn’t continually leak my juice checking my news feed again and again?

It all sounds simple enough, perhaps, but changing behavior is difficult.  It requires an investment of energy and commitment, and oftentimes accountability. Perhaps more than anything, it requires the celebration of the small steps, the witnessing and the celebration of the daily succeeding that leads to success—the secret sauce of my coaching.

If your desire for 2021 is to be the equal and opposite of 2020, click here for a free breakthrough coaching session.

–Lucas