I know there is much that continues to challenge us at this moment, but I hope you are taking the satisfaction of last year’s completion and the joys of all milestones celebrated, and baking them into your daily rituals. If you need to write things down, post them up on the wall, or weave into a quilt and wrap around yourself, please do. We need to hold on to everything that brings us softness, comfort, joy or connection. And especially those things that give us relief, a reason to pause and rest. The global pandemic rages on, devastating many countries and communities, with particularly harsh tolls on disabled communities. So please, mask up, get vaxxed if you’re able to, and if not, or if you’re sick, stay indoors/away from people. Sending everyone love and light and healing energy.
It’s a new year in all the ways, from solar to Lunar New Year tomorrow. The spirit of “resolutions” is floating in the air, and I too wondered — what are mine? At this point in my life, I’m less motivated by goals (the What) than by Intentions (the Why behind things). But at the end of December, I had no desire to set new intentions either. I was simply done. It has been an intense couple of years globally, and though I’m lucky to be alive and well, I had no desire to create any uninspiring work for myself. I didn’t have a clear vision of what’s next, and I don’t mean that in a negative way. I’m happy to be where I am, physically and spiritually, immensely grateful for my family, friends, community, and happy doing meaningful work that aligns with my purpose. I could keep going, and keep growing in all directions, but there was no particular inspiration for anything new to do or focus on.
Then I read a perfectly timed blog post from Dr. Tanmeet Sethi, a kindred spirit, writer, healer. She asked, what’s your word for 2022? This ritual rang a bell in the temple of my soul, and I started immediately. I became still, closed my eyes and opened the doorways within. I knocked, and asked — what do I most need to practice/ follow? And I got a response instantaneously.
Surrender, let go.
I couldn’t have “thought” of this. Not that I don’t believe in the concept of surrender, spiritually, but that there are many good ideas, values, and practices floating around in my mind that I aspire to embody, and I wouldn’t have been able to logically pick the one I needed most. The rational mind does not talk (or perhaps it does not listen) to the soul. So once this message came, it made sense of how I’d been feeling. I was full. I had to let go to let something new in. I had mustered all my energy and effort towards many big goals in the last couple of (globally intense) years, and it was time to surrender. Let go and let God, right?
Surrender is also a good direction for me because it seems like a natural closing to the Intention - Action - Reflection cycle. Once we’ve done what we humanly can, we can let go. This means letting go of control, letting go of our attachments, letting go of our thoughts and logic, and surrendering to the magic and mystery. This is not a “do nothing” philosophy, but a “witness everything” approach — without attachment or aversion, with grasping or fear, with neutrality and openness. Engage when you can, and where you must. We keep taking meaningful, necessary action aligned with our values, showing up for who and what we care about (like abortion access, or voting rights). But we do so knowing that we don’t/can’t singularly control outcomes. Despite our best efforts, things don’t always go as we planned or worked towards. There is a mystery element — the Universe, social-political conditions, support & amplification from other people, or simply Timing. So then we need to flow with the flow, as my Dad says.
The truest meaning of spiritual surrender is to devote your life to God/ humanity/ selfless service. There is a divine light in every aspect of nature, every human, every tree, and if we can benefit collective life in any form, we should. So one might pray:
Take this life and make it yours, divine One.
Take this body and make it an instrument of your will.
May I be the sound that emerges from your strumming.
May I be the dance that emerges from your drumming.
So I invite you to tune into your own soul, sit with your word for 2022, and align your actions accordingly. If there is any way I can be of service, please let me know. As always, the gems below are an offering from what teaches me, what moves me, and I share in the hope that they bring you light and wisdom as well.