Why New Year's Resolutions Don't Stick: A Witch's Thoughts...

Why New Year’s Resolutions don’t stick…

January 1st rolls in and suddenly everyone is ready to jump start a new life. We resolve to eat better, work-out more, find a word of the year, etc. It feels like fresh energy and motivation is flying ALL around… for about a month.

Ever wonder why so many of us fall off of our well-intentioned “resolutions” by February? Well, here’s my witchy take on it. 

It’s the WRONG time to be setting resolutions and getting all revved up. Mama Nature doesn’t support it. From a pagan/earth magic perspective, Samhain (Oct. 31st) until Imbolc (Feb. 1st), is thought of as the dark time or the quiet time of the year. These months are about slowing down and doing the inner work, a time for rest and recuperation so that when spring comes, we are rejuvenated and ready to begin again. 

So if you feel like you’ve already slipped on your resolutions, guess what? You’re fine. You have three whole weeks before it’s time to make a real move.

Imbolc, February 1st, is known as the Return of the Light, and honors the goddess Brigid, a Celtic triple goddess of fire and inspiration. It is a day to sweep away all of the old energy and make room to plant seeds. It is a time to prep the mind, body, and spirit for new growth, yet to come. Imbolc translates to ‘ewes milk,’ and February was the time ewes began lactating. It was considered the first sign of early spring. In ancient times, people were grateful to have survived the winter because the winters were harsh. Imbolc marks a time of hope, a time to welcome the return of the light, as the days begin to lengthen and we look toward spring.

Imbolc also marks the end of what is known as the dark time of the year.  The dark or quiet time the year is a time for stillness, introspection, and reflection.  During the winter months, the energetic focus is on allowing ourselves time to turn inward, meditate, and contemplate our lives, goals, and choices. In contemporary society, we often spend that time in holiday madness… shopping. Then, we wonder why we feel so out of balance when the calendar turns to January 1st. (Hint: We didn’t take the quiet time to tune in and recharge)

At Imbolc, we take time to reflect and “till the soil.” Imbolc  is a time for early spring cleaning, for clearing our what no longer serves us. As we begin the transition from winter to spring, there is a sweetness in pausing to check in and see where we stand, and begin to think about where we would like to move forward.

My offering to you is to take the next three weeks and carve out some quiet time, some space in your schedule. Give your spirit time to rest and recoup, and really listen to what your mind, body, and spirit are calling you to do. How can you recharge your system, so as the days grow longer and we move toward spring, you have the energy you need to make this year amazing? 

Sometimes, a little physical clearing helps us clear out all the mental clutter we carry around. A good place to start is to take a look around your home, and notice the things that are cluttering up your space. Where can you clear out and release? 

If you would like to create a personal Imbolc ritual, take some time to write down things you would like to release from your life to make room for new growth and new ideas.  When you are ready, ask Brigid’s blessings and toss your paper into a fire. Make sure to give thanks.

When we choose to CREATE space, we make room to CREATE new growth in all facets of our lives.

This is a prayer to Brigid from Amy Marashinsky's Goddess Oracle:
”Let me come to you
through the mists
through the fire
through the plants
through the deep flowing wells
with ideas
visions
words
music beyond the tips of your ears.
Let me move you
enliven you
stimulate you
till your perspective shifts
and your mind/body/spirit explodes
and you are left standing
in the wake of something that has been revealed
and life feels very sweet”

Blessed Be!

XOXO,

Katie