Cycles and Phases

December 21st is the Winter Solstice. The shortest day and longest night of the year. A time to reflect, rest, and recharge for the New Year ahead. I plan the following year around this day.

In Norther Europe in Pagan traditions, they celebrated the return of the light, similar to Christmas. While in Asia, the New Year is celebrated in mid-February on Chinese New Year. Intuitively for me, the New Year sparks again in April when everything starts to bloom after a cold Winter. Everything transformation happens in April. My first solo trip abroad to Italy where I met Michèle and Cielo started in 2022. My first Yoga retreat in Costa Rica as a participant in 2023. My first trip to Japan where I decided to go live a few months there in 2024. The official start of Cielo in 2025. My first Yoga retreat in 2026.

We all have different timelines, cycles, and phases. Just like our menstrual cycle: lutheal, menstrual, ovulation, follicular. Spring, Winter, Summer, Autumn. I thrive in Spring and Autumn, as a cardinal sign (Cancer), and feel heavy during Summer and Winter.

And getting to know ours and honouring it makes life easier instead of resisting it. Also knowing in what season of Life we are. The years of questioning, the years of answering. The era and the one-word intention for it.