Hello 2017! What You Need To Know.
By any chance was 2016 an unusual year? Did it seem as if everything around you was changing or coming to an end? Perhaps you had a career change, a relationship or two ended, maybe your living situation shifted. Did you find yourself getting rid of things you were no longer using that had just been gathering dust? Or, bigger yet, did you begin to modify the way you believe or felt about things in your life?
It was a big year for losses. Obviously, there were a lot of famous people who died, even some at young ages. I also saw this with many friends, family, and clients. Lets look at our political situation where many felt a sense of loss. If you voted for Trump and felt excited, there was also a sense of change without the actual ability to trust what may be ahead. For many, it felt as if we were going backward in our culture of racism, freedoms, and the rights that many had worked to change.
With all of this in mind, I wanted to share my insights after I meditated on our upcoming year. Three things were shown to me; The butterfly, the Visionary and the number 1. What does all of this mean to you?
If you are unfamiliar with Numerology, it is the culture that uses numbers to describe energy. Every number has a vibration or concept to its science. Numbers are added together to be reduced to the numbers of 1 through 9, except for 11 and 22. A brief description is to add a sequence of numbers together until they become a single digit. As an example of 2016; 2+0+1+6 = 9. For our current year 2017; 2+0+1+7 = 10 then reduced to the number 1. You can do this with your age, birthdate, name and so forth. Every letter is associated with a number, and your name and address can also be described by a single number.
The year 2016 was a number 9, which vibrates to a time of endings. Hence, why you may have felt this last year. Now that it’s 2017, a number 1 it’s identified as a spiritual meaning of creation, the primal force from which everything begins. We get to start over, sort of speak.
Here are a few definitions of the meaning of the number 1: A doer, a powerful force that produces results and does not allow anything or anyone to limit its potential. Aggressive, in the forefront; directing and leading others; it is upright and walks with pride and purpose. Strong, determined, unwavering and with specific goals in mind. A number 1 pushes obstacles aside or drills right through them.
Well, you get the point. If 2016 was about changes, loss, abandonment, removing barriers and so forth, you were on target to create a new space to rebuild. Think of removing the old that no longer serves you so you can create a new canvas that no longer carries that old energy. Consider it not being a new chapter, but how about an entirely new book?
If you believe in multiple lifetimes or believe that we can have many life experiences to grow and hopefully become somewhat wiser, then perhaps if you think of the last nine years as one of your lifetimes it will help support your new growth for the next nine years. These opportunities present themselves in hopes to provide us spiritual lessons. While it can be difficult to experience losses and sometimes severe changes, as well as not be sure what is ahead, it can also allow us to carve a new path.
From our past, we can take along the tools and knowledge that helped us and apply it to our future. Our experiences whether positive or negative can provide wisdom that we can carry forward.
Two of my favorite movies are “Ground Hog Day,” with actors Bill Murray and Andy MacDowell and a filem which is a little dated called “Defending Your Life,” with Meryl Streep and Al Brooks. Both stories give us a glimpse into how we seem to get comfortable in our situations, but we are truly not happy, and show how we can reflect on our lives and about decisions we have made. However, if given a choice to have a “do over” would you embrace that gift?
We have obligations that we have created and can also feel guilty if we don’t take care of everyone else’s needs, even if they have continued to make choices that don’t support a healthy life. We often leave our happiness on the back burner but then feel upset that our needs are forgotten. Spending time, energy perhaps even money to support those around us, and then neglecting ourselves.
These are just a few of my recommendations for your 2017:
- Find your voice and create clear boundaries.
- Give yourself the gift of saying “no” to others and “yes” to you.
- If friends or family are having a difficult time and you typically give advice or try to solve their situation, STOP IT! Be a good listener and don’t try to “fix” what they won’t. Remember it’s different if they “can’t” instead of they won’t.
- Become more visual about your new foundation. You are starting a new nine years of energy. If you were building a home, your foundation which isn’t beautiful will only stay active and support you if this part of the process has thought, heart and vision for your future.
- Grieve the past, but if at all possible try to see it as spiritual lessons, not a loss, failures or mistakes.
- Give yourself credit for what you did gain; insight, courage, taking quicker steps to change are just a few.
Find new ways of learning, giving, receiving and trusting yourself and what comes your way. - Every day or as often as you can, throw away old things that no longer serve your soul and gather new thoughts, ideas or friends that help support this new beginning.
- Start a new story about your past and your future. The old stories are just old.
- Start new things that you have wanted to do, but haven’t felt you had the time or whatever your “old” story was.
- Prepare a new recipe, buy yourself flowers, have professional photos taken, travel to somewhere new, even if it’s around the corner, test drive a sports car, buy sexy lingerie, read a book for fun…not self-help.
- Wear bright colors if you normally don’t. Bye to black, gray or dark blue unless it’s sexy and fun.
Well, I think you got the point. Embrace the new and unknown and release what doesn’t feel great.
Next, let’s talk about the butterfly and visionary.
In the Native American culture all animals including “bugs” can be messengers. When the butterfly shows up, it means: Lighten up and stop taking everything so seriously. Get ready for a big change, one where an old habit, a way of thinking, or lifestyle is going out, and a new way of being is emerging. It’s time to make the changes you’ve been considering. In spite of the challenges, you’ll get through this transition, and as always, know that “this too shall pass.” Express yourself by wearing more colorful clothing.
The above description was from Steven D. Farmer, Ph.D., and his book Animal Spirit Guides. He has much more information, and you can check online for more details and the transition of the beautiful butterfly.
If you are unfamiliar with the idea of topic Archetypes, it was first used by the psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung. He used the concept of archetype in his theory of the human psyche. He believed that universal, mythic characters—archetypes—reside within the collective unconscious of people the world over.
I have taught for years that we have an archetype or personality that we use to maneuver through life. Warrior, healer, teacher and so on. For 2017 I think many of us will become the visionary. What describes this archetype?
I will be explaining more on this subject in the near
future.
We can change our world, community or better yet change our personal lives.
Each of us has had dreams that we want to create a better planet for our future generations or those of us that are here today. For 2017 you can design a footprint that can begin your dreams. Having the courage to embrace change, create better futures. Also remember you don’t have to see what it’s going to look like and evolve too, it’s just about starting something with vision and transformation.
What do you see for your 2017?
