Happy “New Year” to all who celebrate! (And if you’re not feeling all the “new year” vibes, this could be why…)

Today is Thursday, January 1st, 2026—congratulations, we made it! 

If you had a night of celebration, watching an enormous ball or shoe or other item drop as a clock counted down to midnight in every time zone, woo-hoo! I celebrate with you. 

In a lot of ways, 2025 seemed like the longest decade we’ve ever had in a 12-month period… so any times of joy and celebration are 100% welcome!

Now, did I personally stay up ’til midnight to “ring in the new year”? 

Let’s just say… to celebrate this new year in style, my partner (and our dog) and I were… in bed by 11pm…

Celebration is one thing, but for those of us engaging in the metaphysical world, who are especially open and sensitive to (or more aware of) energetic influences—personal, local, and global—oftentimes the transition from December to January feels like anything but a time to set goals and “resolutions.”

And yet… our social media feeds are filled with invitations to vision boarding events, goal setting workshops, new year’s resolution accountability groups, local gyms running ads to get people to finally commit to their fitness goals, knowing full well that the gym will probably be back to its pre-December “crowds” by Valentine’s Day.

Why is this? 

Lots of reasons — but here are a couple things to think about metaphysically.

First—for a lot of people, your birthday feels a lot more aligned when thinking about “new year” activities. And maybe around that time is when you’re doing a lot of your personal and professional planning and goal-setting… whatever that may look like for you.

Second — the calendar system most of the world uses is… well… just made up.

Don’t get me wrong—administratively it’s great to have something that helps get most of us on the same page. It’s a lot simpler to say, 

• “Come visit us at the Chapel on Sunday, January 4th,” 

  
  

…rather than,

• “Come visit the Chapel on the day after the first full moon after the Winter Solstice…”

  
  

…even if that second way is more fun!

But—our dominant, global calendar system—the Gregorian Calendar—has nothing to do with the earth’s natural cycles or seasons, nor any astronomical connections. (Billions of people around the world also use other, non-Gregorian calendars for spiritual, ceremonial, or cultural purposes.) So… it’s great to be able to have both—the Gregorian calendar for administrative and collaborative efforts, and another calendar for deeper meaning-making in our lives.

What calendars do you use? (Comment below!)

Astrologically, the sun is in Capricorn—connected to energies of reflection, responsibility, structure, and discernment. This is a great time to review commitments, strengthen foundations, and release what no longer works. But… set audacious goals for wildly new beginnings? Not so much.

In the northern hemisphere, we’re deep in winter. We’ve passed the Winter Solstice, so yes, the days are getting longer as light has begun to return. But life is still incubating, preparing, conserving energy… we are still resting.

Even with Human Design (my favorite modality), the new year doesn’t arrive until January 22nd—when the sun enters Gate 41 (energies of imagination, supportive pressure to begin creative experimentation… seeding what is to come).

And of course the broader astrological New Year is said to begin at the Spring Equinox for many traditions, when the sun enters Aries and the days start to become longer than the night.

So—if you’re feeling “behind” when it comes to setting goals or resolutions, or planning out your 2026, or starting that new habit… maybe consider pushing all that back just a tiny bit, if you have the space to do so. Or, at the very least, take a nice, deep breath, and recognize that what our natural rhythms are calling us toward might be different from others might be asking of us.

In whatever ways you can, allow yourself to connect with the time we’re in now, pausing, reflecting, resting, listening. 

Journaling reflections:

• How might I take some extra time to pause, reflect, rest, or listen this week?

• What is my body asking me for in this moment?

• If I’ve felt pressure to set new goals or get my year planned out, how might I reframe or re-approach those tasks more supportively?

• When I connect with Spirit, what is the guidance that’s coming through for this season?

• What calendar or tool do I use (or want to use) when it comes to marking seasons and making meaning in my life, whether it corresponds with the Gregorian calendar or not?