2017 Really Starts January 8 (or 27)

Yes, we’ll be ringing in 2017 December 31/January 1. But… Mercury in the final Retrograde of 2016 going direct on January 8, with the shadow period ending on January 27. This also aligns nicely with Chinese New Year which falls on January 28. So let’s just say 2017 starts on this new moon of the Chinese Lunar Year.

Why are we “postponing” 2017?

Mercury rules communications, on all levels. Mercury Retrograde is the time for deep reflection and self-enquiry. Having a retrograde straddle 2016 and 2017 is a gift. A (probably much-needed) grace period.

The Meaning of 2016

2016 is a universal 9 year, a time for closures, closings, endings, resolutions, forgiveness…The inward energy of winter*, plus a retrograde in Mercury, supports the letting go of any remnants of the old, the outdated, and whatever is no longer working for you.

This is the time to unearth those parts of you that dwell in fear and take the leap into self-love and love.

To get deeper, take a look at the 4 Archetypes we all should know about.

2016 has been a heavyweight year for releasing. (My goodness, just look at the creative legends who have departed this year!) Jumping into 2017 can be a toughie for many people so the space created by the Mercury Retrograde gives us some downtime. This is a breather to really, really, really let go of what needs to be let go of. If any area in your life is still tripping you up, take the time now to dig deep, be honest, be brave, and just be.

I find that all over the world, not only is there an acceleration of just about everything but that many of the old patterns are deconstructing. New ones are arising. It’s tremendously exciting, challenging, and also sometimes, well, scary.

Jean Houston

Go deep into the underworld of who we are, the dark side of the stories we have been telling and re-creating. In this space, we excavate the old underlying beliefs that have kept us here, wherever here is. Because this “here” no longer feels good and this “here” is the past, not the present.

2016 is the last of a cycle that started nine years ago. Nine years. That’s a long time. I bet a lot has changed for you. Isn’t it time for new stories, written from the heart with fearless strokes?

Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.

Carrie Fisher, on mental illness and afraid to pursue dreams, quoted from interview by Elizabeth Johnson for the Herald Tribune April 20 2013

 

Let go of attachments to start a new cycle, free.

Let me borrow the words of Claire Morgan from the movie New Year’s Eve,

“stop and reflect on the year that has gone by, to remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken, the times we opened ourselves up to great adventure or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt, ‘cuz that’s what new year’s all about, getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what can be. So when that ball drops at midnight, let’s remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other, and not just tonight, but all year long.”

Let us all let out a deep cleansing releasing smiling exhale and start 2017 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on January 8 (or maybe 27).

 

 

 


* Winter for the Northern Hemisphere and Summer for the Southern Hemisphere. The energy for winter is quiet and introspective and for summer is more yang and active and is about following your heart’s desires and making the choices that align with them.BVu