Warm blessings for this new turning of the year.
Contrary to what we are often taught, the passage into a new year is not meant to be a moment of striving or self-correction.
In the Andean traditions, it is honored as a time of shedding — of releasing what no longer belongs to us, so that life can reorganize itself in beauty.
Letting go is often far more effective than adding one more resolution or task to our lives — one we may carry for a few weeks, only to quietly set aside. Just as the serpent releases its old skin, we are invited to let go of the habits, beliefs, and imprints that have gently but persistently shaped our health, our energy, and our vitality. It seems as if the world at large is heading toward division, not unity, and that affects the whole "being" that we are. A human being who was created to live in harmony with all creations, in peace and joy.
Ancient Andean prophecies speak of a time when humanity would be asked to step into a new way of being — one rooted in awareness, responsibility, and respect for the intelligence of the body, the Earth, and one another. Many of us feel this call now. Not because a calendar tells us to change, but because our bodies are asking us to remember how they were designed to heal. When something feels off in our lives, we often try to fix it in pieces.
If the body falters, we consult one specialist.
If the mind struggles, another.
If meaning or purpose begins to unravel, we look somewhere else still.
This fragmented approach may manage symptoms — but it rarely restores wholeness.
True healing begins when we recognize that the body, brain, emotions, and spirit are not separate systems. They are one living conversation. And when that conversation returns to coherence, the body remembers how to regenerate.
Our bodies are miraculous, and yet we are not taught how to care for them properly. Taking time out for yourself is of the utmost importance. We have to feel the love for our "True Self" before we can truly love another. Basically, you can't give away what you don't have!
So, how do we do this? Time out is important! Whether you choose a walk in the woods, or a time and space for meditation, or just a cup of coffee with a friend, taking the time to stop the busy-ness in life and regenerate your body, mind and spirit is critical to deny the negativity that builds up as we try to keep up with the Joneses by working more hours to make more money, to buy more things..... Stop, already! What is important is not how much we have, but how we show up in the world around us. People want to be remembered for the good things they said, did, or created, not for how big their home is, or what they drive.
In the spirit of accruing that sense of peace in your life and the lives of those around you, remember to take that time for yourself and do something to make you and others know that you are important, and that they are important to you. And like the serpent, shed the to-do list that keeps you on the merry go round and doesn't allow for the time to stop and smell the roses! In the spirit of getting you started on taking care of yourself, I want to remind you that I am here, doing massages to help you release the tension in your body, and start to feel great again! And there are others with different skills close by to nourish your body, teach you a new skill, sell you a new treasure that makes you smile, or go for a walk with you! Let this Valentine's Day be the day you remember how to love your Self!
