happy new year

I woke to a glowing pink sky. I made tea & ventured out to watch the sun rise.

The cold air was enlivening. I heard calls of geese & gulls. I watched water birds flying silently, their passage reflected in the still water below. I envy their effortless elegance.

I pray this calm moment can last thru the coming year. I know it will not. Calm is a prayer, not a constant. Always a place I can return to. Water does calm so beautifully some days. I aspire to be like the water.

The light of the sun is rising up thru clouds, fog, over & above the island in my horizon. It sends 360 degrees of beautiful rays at all times whether seen or not. I pray for the strength of the sun to rise up everyday & shine my heart out whether I am seen or not.

I see & hear what sounds like celebration among the swirling birds in both air & water. They encircle me as the top of the sun breaks into view. Many days recently I’ve seen the bay covered with birds sitting in the water. Are they resting, waiting… maybe for the new year? I pray for the wisdom of birds to know how, when & why to move, how to be in community, where to fly off to & how to be with all the elements that arise.

Just as the sun breaks thru & a young man walks by me saying, “Happy New Year!” It’s more comforting than I could have expected. I say “Good morning.” I pray to interact with humans leading with my wonder & joy, as well as the discernment & wisdom I’ve come by over my years.

I remind myself not to be afraid of people. I’m a safe, strong, badass being. I can radiate some strong “don’t fvck with me” energy if I need to. Mostly I don’t need to do that, but it reminds me of the way people would cross to the other side of the street during Covid instead of pass by on the same sidewalk. It was such a lonely feeling, to be seen & have people move away from you in fear. That experience (both sides of it) lingers in my cells, I pray to let that go.

I pray to be warmed by the rays of the sun, to offer this warmth to the world around me & to live my life on the earth altar navigating gently, gracefully & with love while being flush with forgiveness for all the ways I may fall short.

Happy New Year