Hello, you.
I just wanted to pop in and share a moment with you as everything shifts. Weโve come to the end of Advent. Weโve passed through the winter solstice. Weโve welcomed the last new moon of 2022 - which is the moon that carries us into the new year. The Christmas holidays are here. And 2023 is just around the corner.
Iโm sitting in the early morning darkness, cup of coffee beside me, candles flickering, tree twinkling, and ice crystals frozen on the windows. The mood is spot on. And as of right now, the waiting and the preparation are now over. It is Christmas Eve and I am turning my focus to the simple celebrations we have planned for this year.
You know, these days are really like any other day. I mean, I donโt want to ever build up such a legendary expectation that somehow certain days throughout the year are super different than any other. So, it is never my intention to highlight one day so much that it becomes loaded with the stress and pressure to achieve or experience perfection.
What is sacred is this season. These winter days + nights. The energy. The mood. I believe that as we flow through the seasons, we are meant to create out own rituals and traditions. Perhaps that is by looking back to how our ancestors, our parents, and our communities marked special times throughout the year. Perhaps it is by creating something totally new. And, perhaps, as it is in my case, it is a combination of both history, tradition, and new creation.
In any case, as we move through this winter + holiday season, as we make our way through this portal from the old year and into the new year, it is my hope that we all simply feel the energy that this time of year brings to us. How we recognize and celebrate it is up to us to discover.
We are still in the deep, dark days of winter. But, there is a different feeling now, I think. The mood is hopeful. Something is ending. And something new is slowly beginning. I intend to celebrate this shift and to continue to move slowly through the winter so I can really feel the hope that is on the horizon.
From now until the new year I intend to celebrate. Simple gatherings. Food + drink. Quiet moments at home. Reading. Resting. Anniversary dinners. Gifts of love. Long walks. Laughter. Journaling.
And then, as the clock strikes midnight and 2023 begins, Iโll settle into my January hibernation. But, more about that in January. ๐
Now, though, I simply want to wish you the merriest of holidays. May you feel peace and hope this season. Sending you warm holiday greetings and lots of love.
Until 2023โฆ
xoxo. liz.