JANUARY

Bridging the past with the future

During the cold winter month the spirit of nature rests, much like our spirit does when resting in the realm of spirit we call the afterlife preparing for rebirth. Beneath the blanket of snow and ice it prepares for the coming of spring.

A time of inward contemplation, you can prepare for the rebirthing of new life, new beginnings. It is a good time to look behind you and learn from your experience, without judgment or self criticism. Letting the past be your loving teacher, be willing to draw conclusions from your experience, and receive the New Year that has just been born with open arms and open heart.

January is named after the god JANUS.

In Roman mythology, Janus (or Ianus) was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. His most prominent remnants in modern culture are his namesakes: the month of January, which begins the New Year, and the janitor, who is a caretaker of doors and halls.

Janus is depicted twofaced, many times with one face bearded and the other shaved, symbolizing the old and the new, the past and the future, the young and the old. . He was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, the growing up of young people, and of one universe to another. He was also known as the figure representing time because he could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other. Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings. He was representative of the middle ground between barbarity and civilization, rural country and urban cities, and youth and adulthood.

Speaking of the ancients: one of the earliest calendars known is a 30.000 year old piece of bone found in Europe.

It is carved with holes and markings suggesting the quarters of the moon, representing the lunar cycle from new to full moon. Guided by the lunar calendar, the early ancestors assigned a name to the monthly moon in accordance with the nature of the activity that took place at that time. The moon of deep winter and January is the wolf moon. Motivated by hunger wolves came closer to towns and villages, and sometimes killed humans for survival.

The wolf in northern civilizations was so feared it became the image of Fenris, the creature of destruction said to devour the world at the end of time.

Growing up in Germany, my mother would frequently tell me the fairy tale of Little Red Riding hood.

The young maiden (future) wandering through the woods gathering fruits and berries to bring to the crone (past), her grandmother. The wolf eats the grandmother, only to be slain, and the grandmother, like the world is brought forth again. Like many fairy tales rooted in ancient wisdom, the story of red riding hood represents the natural cycle of death, birth and rebirth.


As another year is born, it offers the powerful opportunity to release the past and make room for new growth and expansion. In the midst of global transformation we all are affected by the changes in economy and leadership. It can make us feel vulnerable, powerless, fearful, and out of control.

Throughout all the changes and fluctuations we are in control of our spiritual practice, our devotion to prayer and meditation, our faith in the divine orchestration in both our individual lives and our planetary community.

Allow time in your daily life for quite contemplation, make a commitment to meditate for 7 days 20 minutes a day to anchor your energy in your truth, sort through unnecessary baggage, strengthen your vision of tomorrow and replace fear with positive and creative insight into the highest possible resolution of your challenges. Give yourself permission to go within, enter the darkness, surrender to the void in order to rebirth yourself emotionally and spiritually.

Clear your home, get rid of unnecessary clutter, open the windows invite clean air in, clear the air with purifying sage and mists, treat yourself to detoxifying baths and fasts, use kyanite to continuously keep the energy of your home, workspace and aura pure and free from negative energy. Add flower essence to purify body mind and spirit to your daily spiritual health program to align your energy with the positive vision of your future journey.

Create a daily spiritual clearing program to ensure the best possible resolution to upcoming challenges.

Most of all remember your own beauty and divinity, hug and kiss your loved ones everyday, let your light shine strongly and speak your truth loudly. You are a spark of the divine spirit which is alive and well inside and around you. May 2009 bring an abundance of peace, joy and bright blessings to you and yours.


In light and spirit,

Dorothea Delgado