I find it interesting that with all religions there is a cycle to the year, and while this may not match with our Gregorian calendar, these cycles rotate on a yearly basis. The commonality of starting something new, or beginning all over again, is of great importance. Sometimes we need the creativity and innovation to start something new, a new cycle of life. Or sometimes, we need the opportunity to start afresh, and a new beginning is a sort of acceptance and forgiveness for the imperfections of the past. Either way religions call us to explore and to better ourselves and coming to the beginning of a cycle is the perfect opportunity to do just that.
For me I like the beginning of a new calendar year because it gives me time to pause and reflect on the year that has past, while looking forward to the year that is ahead. This is something that I am not sure that religions are particularly good at doing. We start a new cycle of readings, prayers, festivals and holidays, but we sometimes refrain from taking real “stock” of where we are at with our spiritual guides, God, Allah, etc. or how we may become more intentionally focused on those practices and words that we use day to day. As we start a new year I would like to invite you to take a moment to consider your religious and spiritual undertakings whatever they may be and try to think of a way to deepen the knowledge and understanding that you have. I would invite you take a look at what is in the margins of your life and bring it back to the center, and to ground yourself for the next twelve months.