A Year of Discovery
By Marlene Buffa

When the clock strikes midnight at the end of December 31st, we may realize that as we move into the New Year, that we have run out of the old year. It’s the end of the road; it’s done, it’s over, it’s gone. When we put the new calendar on the wall, we begin with January and realize we have 365 days to again create the life we choose to live. Instead of mindlessly crossing off each day as though it were something to endure, this year look at the coming months as part of a grand adventure. Open each monthly treasure with eager eyes and be willing to discover the gems of life!

January — Open Doors
Januarius, the Roman god of doors and gates invites us to step through time into the possibility of living a fully engaged existence. Our spiritual doors can either swing easily into the unknown or remain so warped and stuck that life pries them open as they creak and resist, pushing us reluctantly across the threshold. Providing a means to enter into the future, January welcomes us to start again, discover new ideas and possibilities and to plan for the future.

February — Heartbeat
Life beats within every living creature, and in February we honor the rhythm of life. Our hearts celebrate Valentine’s Day and the sharing of the most precious human emotion – love! Over time, the symbolic heart grew to represent love. The pulse of life which keeps our bodies alive, also keeps tempo with love. Our hearts may “skip a beat” when the subject of our affection enters the room, or our hearts may “sink” when we experience disappointment. When we discover the passion which fuels our spiritual engines, we know we’ve met our heart’s desire.

March — Winds Of Change
Fresh air arrives in a flowing movement, on a current of ever changing composition. We sense a storm brewing, or smell oncoming rain. Wind brings with it a cleansing and sweeping away of old ideas and dusty routines and requires only that we allow it to “blow over” and experience the freshness of a new experience. Sure, a strong breeze may stir up a bit of dust and confuse things for awhile; however, noticing which of our old habits ceremoniously blew away, we understand how much better off we are without them. Accepting constant change frees us to discover an ever changing climate of possibilities.

April — Preparing For Growth
Just as the earth begins to prepare for planting crops with nourishing rain and warming temperatures, April offers us a chance to experience a downpour of blessings to ready us for new opportunities for growth. When we understand the storms of life not only serve to fortify us with revitalizing force, we see that our preparatory lessons – however harsh in impact – strengthen us to plant the seeds of what we choose to grow in our lives.

May — Planting Ideas
Traditionally in May, we plan for our lessons in the coming year by planting seeds of inspiration notions of realization. From ideas which root from deep within our souls, to the wandering vines of far-reaching dreams, we create our future with the small little requests put into motion by digging deep in fertile soil of possibility. The Universe then takes over the germinating and sprouting of our ideas, no matter how big or small. You’ll enjoy discovering what an emphatic intention, deliberately planted in the rich soil of your connection to the Infinite brings you!

June — Solstice
Like the farmer committed to his crops, June gives us a solstice of change along with the steadfast yet unseen growth of our energetic desires. The longest days of the year allow us extra time and light in which to tend to and grow our ideas. The solstice also represents a shift from days lengthening to shortening and gently reminds us that although the rules of nature never change, we can accept the transition from light to darkness and remain empowered by the cycle. In the moments of darkness we learn that when we remain eternally connected to the Infinite, we commit to living an ever changing life of discovery!

July — Freedom
Trapped in the grid of calendar days and months, the year stretches out before us as we plan our future. Take a revolutionary step from what you did this time last year and dare to discover something new to do. Think beyond what the month offers in climate and leisure time, break free from what Thoreau called “a life of quiet desperation.” In the symbolic month of Freedom, this July, dare to venture into the freedom of your mind, your thoughts and your desires!

August — Movement
Shifting from the summer months to prepare for the changes in autumn, we often look at August as a bridge between the vacations we knew as children to the school year ahead. Passing quickly, August reminds us our work is ahead of us and to amass the momentum gained from a few months of recreation to a life of creation. We discover that movement brings change as we look toward our goals and embrace the life lessons necessary to reach even higher.

September — Learning
We begin the harvest time of the year with eagerness to reap our life’s work. After a hearty spring of planting, a summer of growing, fall’s impending harvest gives us a chance to enjoy the nourishment we deliberately created. In the Autumnal Equinox of our lives, we reach a balance of both work and restful resolve and we discover the spiritual work we consciously and subconsciously performed benefits us if we pluck it from its foundation and put it to good use!

October — New Ideas
As Christopher Columbus found the new world, we venture out of our comfort zones in October to seek new ideas and meaning. Fat with the abundance of soulful crops, we are full-bellied with spirit and able to allow ourselves the luxury of imagining a greater life. Halloween invites us to put on a face of someone else, even for one night, to aspire to be something different, or perhaps even better than we perceive ourselves to be. Discover something new about yourself daily!

November — Gratitude
Giving thanks for all that we are, all we do, and all that we have keeps the laws of physics and energy in motion. Even when circumstances appear dire, gratitude finds a way to peek through and remind us that a lesson dwells deep inside the well of uncertainty. Amidst a feast of gratitude our life works. Discovering a morsel of positive thought brings about a cornucopia of daily blessings.

December — Rejuvenation
Winding down the calendar year, the Winter Solstice shifts the planet from shorter to longer days. Our harvest long-since stored for use in the coming winter months, December offers time for rest and reflection. Our spirits celebrate the much anticipated lighter days while using the darkness to turn within and rebuild our souls. Take the time to discover all the ways you move from darkness to light, and from storing your good to gladly sharing it with the world.

As long as people attempted to capture time in a calendar, restrictions on timepieces, measurement and ceremony moved into our consciousness. Cultures created rules about when a ritual is performed, when crops get planted, and even when to celebrate and when to relax. As you flip through the man-made calendar, know that you alone hold the key to discovering how you will live in the coming days, weeks and months. It’s your life! Live it well and cherish every minute.

Taking a quiet sideways glance at life, Marlene offers insight through her words from experiences. A student of new-thought teachings, she finds practical spirituality around every corner and seeks wisdom through observation of life’s inter-relationships. Sometimes playful, sometimes poignant, always thought-provoking, her writing inspires readers in meaningful ways. www.WordsOfMind.com.