Last Harvest - New Year

We're coming up on Samhain (sow-in). Final Harvest. The pagan New Year. ... New Year.  Time for the renewing of commitments to past promises.  Time to reconnect with our ancestors. Time to acknowledge that everyone has a dark side and to stare our own in the face. Time for recommitment to self. 

Unlike many other Americans, pagans don't usually make resolutions at our new year: Samhain. Samhain is a time of reflection on the past year.  So, how are you doing with your health program? Have you slipped a little? Have you not been as diligent about exercise? Perhaps it's time to consider reaffirming your health goals.

Maybe you need a little help but are unwilling, unable, or too embarrassed to ask this of someone in person. Is there a grandmother who has passed or an uncle you were close to in life? Would this person understand your need to get and stay healthy and be supportive of your goals? Perhaps asking this relative or ancestor to walk along side you during this next turn of the wheel would help.

Do you sabotage your own efforts? Does your dark side convince you that just one pizza won't kill you? And, do you often give in to it?  Samhain is a time when we look at the sides of ourselves that we may not particularly like: The side that cheats on our taxes, lies to a friend, or, yes, convinces us that eating a whole pizza won't hurt us. Expose your dark side to the light. Be honest with yourself about it. Be honest with yourself about the times you've let your health goals slip. When you do so, you gain power over it and can move on.

Samhain is a good time to recommit to your health goals. So what if you only exercised twice a week last year? Try for three times a week this year. So what if you busted your calorie goal 4 out of 7 days? Make an effort to bust it only 3 out of 7 days this year. Baby steps may make the journey long, but you WILL eventually reach your goal. Recommit to trying. See yourself succeeding. Release it to the wind.

And, have a great Samhain!