Little New Year

Kitchen God I drew a few years ago.

Today is called Little New Year - it falls one week before Chinese New Year. Little New Year is also known as the Kitchen God Festival because this is the day that the Kitchen God, Tsao-wang, and his wife, Wang Bo-jia, leave to report to heaven. A picture of these two gods, printed or drawn on rice paper, hangs in a niche just above the stove in a Chinese home.

In China a whole month is spent in preparations - cleaning, cooking, and decorating the house. All of the things displayed at Chinese New Year are symbols of the ideal life - tokens and reminders of the good things we hope for: Luck, wealth, long life, and happiness.

Agenda today:

1. Read the Sweet Spot

2. Ongo journal

3. Heart brainstorm

4. Forced Blossoms

5. Make a Tray of Togetherness

6. Kitchen God Good-bye Ceremony

Journal Brainstorm Week

Next week, at the new moon I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. This week I'll take time to write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days, including at least a few crazy, improbable notions. 

-Start with a list of seasonal themes and celebrations, vacations, and other events.

-Write about my biggest priorities this month, how they might fit into my life, and how they connect to my values and principles.

-Write about possible obstacles and factors such as the weather, upcoming schedule changes, or money problems.

-Write about the parts that excite me and the parts that might be hard to find motivation for.

-This month I will also review the brainstorming I did in December, for the new year.

  

Agenda:

1. Read "The Spirited Walker"
2. Walking script

3. Self-care brainstorm
4. Sanctuary brainstorm

Third Quarter Moon of Early February

Tonight is the waning Third Quarter moon of February. Today's moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work, renewal, and self-care.

I relish this calm time before the busy-ness of March; time to make plans, study, and renew my spirit.

Agenda today:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Ongo journal

3. Renewal plan

4. Meditation and Evaluation Journal

5. Ritual for Release and Realignment

6. Monthly journal brainstorm

7. 

Choose a theme for Lent

8. Surrender, rest, recuperate

Proaction

I've been working on Proaction for many years, but I think now I have a new handle on my dilemma - It's a battle of needs: My deeply ingrained need for justice and fairness, which I often respond to in a childish, reactive way, and my need for equanimity. It's a battle between red and blue parts of my personality, and my inner child and grandma.

Agenda:
1. Love cycle
2. Ongo journal
3. New narrative

4. Days of passion flow plan

St. Dorothy's Day

St. Dorothy lived in Caesarea in central Turkey, around the year 313 AD. She was tried for refusing to worship idols, and a mocking lawyer asked her to send him fruit from the garden of Paradise. In response to her prayer, an angel appeared and presented three roses and three apples.

"And then said the holy virgin with a glad semblant: Do to me what torment thou wilt, for I am all ready to suffer it for the love of my spouse Jesu Christ, in whose garden full of delices I have gathered roses, spices, and apples."

Because of this, she is the patron of gardeners. Also of brides, and brewers.

Agenda Today:

1. Garden visualization

2. February tasks

3. Prepare to plant

4. Make potting soil

5. Study soil health

6. Plant native plants

7. Make Persian Spiced Apples

Creative Imagining

I'm ready for a creative re-boot!

 Agenda:

1. Generosity practice

2. Read "The Book of Doing and Being"

3. Beginner's mind meditation for my book

4. Pre-K school plans

5. Projects for the week