Shedding
When it comes to the lunar new year, I can best be described as someone with casual curiosity. This time last year I learned two things at once: that it was the year of the snake and that I was born in the year of the snake. That synchronicity was the only sign I needed to lean in.
And by that I mean that I did exactly two things:
Nod to the Snake: I wanted to add a little something to my environment as an homage to the year of the snake. Snake art isn’t quite my aesthetic, but snake plants are! I consolidated my snake plants into a single planter and found the perfect spot in my space to put them on display!
Rituals around the Moon: Since the lunar year revolves around the placement of the moon, I decided to create rituals that would put me in tune with it. I embraced “fresh start” energy for every new moon, and “reflection” vibes for every full moon. And just for fun,has played around with making moon water and co-created full moon nights with my nieces and new moon rituals with my besties.
All this to say, it was all just FUN!
When I read that the snake symbolizes shedding and letting go, I just thought: good luck, I’ve already shed everything. But had I? In years prior, I had shed big things: my New York City identity, my corporate girlie life, romantic relationships that had run their course, any possession that wasn’t on high ground at the time of the flood. What else could there possibly be to shed?
The Remnants
This year has been about shedding and letting go of the remnants of all of the big things that were already gone. I shed my nyc phone number and switched to a local one. I realized one day that my bed frame was one that an ex-boyfriend had given me, and once I saw that, I couldn’t unsee it, and it had to go. Just to name a few. The shedding didn’t feel big or monumental, instead it felt light, and obvious.
Where the shedding of the big things felt like letting go, shedding the remnants has felt like just making space. And making space has felt SO good. Like less clutter and more clarity.
To Make Space
And with the next lunar new year fast approaching, I have been craving making as much space as possible for what is coming next. January has definitively been tidying and organizing vibes and here are 3 things I’ve been giving my energy to:
A Wall Calendar
What a Google Calendar it offers in convenience, it lacks in a visual big-picture. Which is why I need both! This year I’ve gone bigger than ever…
…and I’m obsessed. It gives me space to see all the things: events, birthdays, key dates and dream-trips-not-yet-booked all at once.
If you want to do it too, it’s very DIY friendly:
Calendar: this is a link to the calendar template I used, which I added moon dates to and then had printed out in 11x17 (ledger-size) cardstock at Office Depot.
Frames: these were my inspo, but this is what I went with. I bought 12 of the 12x16 size.
Accessories: this is exactly what I am using to fill out the calendar now that it is hanging on the wall: rounds, washy-tape, sticky tabs.
Seeing the big picture of the year does something to my brain: I can see patterns, conflicts, and opportunities much more clearly. And setting it up feels like making space for what lies ahead. It will fill with events, projects, and travel as time goes on, but for now, it feels like space for possibility and opportunity.
Closet Space
I read The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up exactly 10 years ago. My work bestie gifted it to me after a big breakup, and it was, in fact, life-changing. In a nutshell, it’s all about asking yourself if something “sparks joy” and keeping only the things that are an “absolutely yes”.
I went through my closet this week to clear more space, and it felt so good! In case you need a little nudge to do the same, I share this little nugget from the book, which resonated with me:
The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.
Habit Refresh
Rather than feel pressured to start all the good habits all at once, what if you just made space for one habit you already know works for you?
My favorite way to make space for better habits is by reviving an old one. Starting a totally new habit when you have no idea if you even will like it is madness when you can just restart a habit you know you already love. For me, that’s cold plunging. I do it throughout the year, but the only time I do it every single day is in January.
If you are craving a little habit refresh, it’s not too late to get in on the action. To find the right habit for you, consider:
A habit you have done before that you know delights you
A habit you have easy access to and can commit to doing every day
A habit that can be done in 10 minutes or less (2 minutes is ideal!)
A habit that you can enlist a bestie to do with you for easy accountability
It will give you the perfect little “I still got it” boost that feels so good and ultimately clears out all the mental clutter from the “shoulds” and gives you space to feel like your best! There are 21 days until the new lunar year, perfect timing for your habit refresh!
Which of these will you try, or what would you add to this list?
For Next
On February 17, we begin the year of the fire horse. From what I have read, it represents ambition and opportunity coming through fast and furious. I just discovered that I each animal has an element associated with it and it turn’s out I was born in the year of the “fire” snake. The synchronicity has me wanting to lean in once again, and I can’t wait.
This has me thinking differently about Spanish classes versus an old habit that I love. Dig it! Thanks! kristy
This helps me understand my husband better, who insists on a wall calendar. I will lean into it more :)