A Gentler Approach To New Year's Resolutions

The week between Christmas and New Years is always kind of bizarre, isn’t it? It’s like we’re all walking around in a daydream unsure of what time it is let alone what day of the week it is. Christmas and all the anxiety and stress that can come with it is over, and our focus turns to the close of the year, the countdown to new beginnings and a last look at all the ups and downs of the past 365 days. The year of 2022 is (finally) coming to an end, and what a year it’s been. I know for myself personally, this past year has been full of hard lessons, big changes and incredibly humbling and heart-warming moments. It’s been a huge year of personal growth that I was not expecting or really prepared for, but it’s been worth every bit. 

I’m not really one for New Year’s resolutions, to me it’s a tradition that places unnecessary expectations and pressure on ourselves and the focus on just one day of the year to put all our hopes and intended new habits on, is unrealistic and counterproductive. But I am one for ceremony, for cleansing, for intention and for doing simple things that help us close a chapter with joy, hope and a sense of peace. The past few days I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection and personal stocktake, I knew I wanted to do something to acknowledge this chapter of my life ending. But I didn’t know what that something was, until I came across an Instagram post by an incredible artist called Alok Vaid-Menon (@alokvmenon on Instagram if you’d like to check them out). Alok was sharing a list of their past New Year’s resolutions, eleven beautiful statements of intention that were thought provoking and completely different to what the norm is when it comes to resolutions. There wasn’t a workout, diet or financial plan in sight. And it got me thinking, there is so much unspoken pressure on us all constantly, why do we feel like we must add to that at the end of every year? 

The truth is we don’t have to or need to put that pressure on ourselves, it truly is just another day. A symbolic day, yes. But any day can be symbolic if we want it to be. So please be gentle with yourselves, don’t get overwhelmed or caught up in the chaos if all you really want to do is be comfy at home and head to bed by 9pm. The sun will still rise on January 1st, and it’ll still be a Sunday. And if you’re feeling a little fragile on New Year’s Eve, come into the shop and soak up some calming, healing and empowering vibes. Trust me, no matter what kind of day you’re having the shop space has got your back. Come see our huge Amethyst wings and soak up their presence. And if you just need a chat and some human interaction, we’ll be there for that to, ready and waiting for you in the magical haven in the heart of town. 

This end of year I’ve decided to keep it simple, inspired by Alok's beautiful New Year’s intentions, I’m going to start writing in my 2023 Magic Of I Astrological Planner. And I’ll spend the evening with some of those dearest to me, wear something beautiful and fun, maybe do a reading with my favourite oracle cards and pick some crystals to carry my intentions through the ritual closing of this chapter. I’m feeling Larimar for it’s soothing, healing properties. Golden Calcite for inspiration and motivation. And some Malachite for its manifestation and self-empowerment. And at the end of the night, I’ll light a candle and quietly express my gratitude for all the lessons, the tears, the joy and for the life I’ve been gifted this year.  

So, from all of us here at the Empress & Wolf, let us express our gratitude to all of you for this past year. We’ve met some incredible souls, had some amazing conversations and continued to thrive throughout some trying times thanks to all the support you’ve given us. Here’s to 2023 and all it has instore for us.