Each year I pause to go through a process of harvesting the outgoing year.

With colored pens and big paper I make a lively chart of the highlights and events of the year, I write down the major things I did and experienced, what dreams, desires and goals were reached or moved towards, what did not go as planned or hoped, and what I learned.

I give thanks for the many blessings that came, always surprised by how many there were and how much I did, and I acknowledge, grieve and let go of the disappointments and difficulties, so that I can truly make space for the new.

It is so helpful to take this time to pause and reflect, not to plow unreflecting into the new year, but instead to allow a potent gap in which to feel the sacred void, the womb of creation, open before us, vivid with new life waiting deep down in the dark soil.

This harvesting honors all that we experienced and gleans from it what we can take with us to help us in the coming year, as well as giving time to release that which would hold us back. It prepares the soil of the garden.

Then, I begin visioning the new year, what I wish to create, call in, invite, what I’d love to do and be and experience, what this year might be about for me. This is like looking at seed catalogs from the garden store and choosing what to plant in my dream garden. It is exciting and fun.

As I begin to vision the new year, I start with broad strokes, tuning into what I call “the dreaming of the year,” what Life is dreaming through me, wanting to come to birth in the coming year. If I get quiet and tune into my heart and body and spirit, let myself dance and be moved and sung by this dreaming, there can be beautiful surprises, great inspiration and deep wisdom to guide my path.

I ask myself big, inspiring questions and write freely and quickly to see what arises.

I uncover my Breakthrough Dream for the year, the key focus for me, the one thing that will make the biggest positive difference in my life if it were to come to light.

Then, taking time over several weeks, I get more specific, looking at 13 key domains of Life to see what might want to be born in each area this year, which areas feel most important now, and what actions I can take to support my dreams.

I do this visioning to support what is most important, meaningful, joyful, rich for me in life, to walk my path of Heart, aligned with my deepest values and highest aspirations. It is sacred play.

I create ritual and creative play around all this dreaming and intention-setting, so that it comes alive in body, mind, heart and spirit, and has the support of Life moving with me.

And then, throughout the year, I keep reviewing these dreams, desires and intentions, adjusting them as new insight and learning comes. I ask myself what actions I will take this week to support my dreams and desires or whether this is a time to allow myself to just rest in Beingness.

And all along the way, I acknowledge and give thanks for the steps I take and the blessings that come.

I invite you to create your own rituals and processes that feel right to you to harvest the past year and then let yourself dream the new year. You might be amazed at what occurs when you bring this level of attention and intention to your life and take time to listen to your beautiful Heart.

If you would like support in this process, I would love to work with you in my one-on-one Mentoring program.

Love and blessings on a beautiful, heartfelt year,

Maxima