"Bringing In the
New Year - Part 1"
by
Rev. Christine
January 9, 2000
This year is especially interesting I believe because so many people were speculating to what would happen as the clock struck 12 a.m. changing from year 1999 to 2000. My feelings on this is that few people were planning for the future. They were caught up in the transition of time. So many people had dooms day predictions and Y2K disasters planned that there wasn’t much thought except in fear. Even those that didn’t really buy in to support those beliefs purchased emergency supplies for just in case.
Yet when I saw on the T.V. the celebrating that took place around the world, it was like a monumental accomplishment — a world accomplishment to thwart off the Y2K bug, and a day of peace around the world. The news media was totally positive — at least the reporting I heard.
I spoke to Jane Kopp Dean of Brooks Divinity School, she said "The showing of celebrating around the world is even more consciousness changing as the day we saw the earth from the view of outer space." That was about one earth, now we are realizing one people. Even those countries that have their own calendars celebrated with us. There were also so many religious groups holding sacred events to bring in the new year. This New Years I believe was the most sacred — I know it was for me.
I am sure that it was all this prayer and positive energy that overcame all the fear based stuff. What could have happened didn’t have to happen, and it didn’t. That is an important lesson. Nothing negative has to happen. It just doesn’t have to be. When we give the opening for the light to come in, then the light moves in transforming all outcome.
After all this celebrating and intense energy spent there appears to be a kind of lull. A what now? What does all this mean — where do we go from here? In this pause, we shall reflect upon last year — look at all our accomplishments in year 1999. Also, those goals that we did not complete, to reevaluate them, and decide to release or add to this year. Next week we shall work on our visions and commitments for this new year.
It is a natural process to take this time of year to look at our life. The month of January numeral-logically is a 10 reduced to a one; representing new beginnings -- the zero intensifies for all possibilities. January is also named after the Roman two-headed God, Janus. Who looked at both the past and the future. The romans put his double-face at their doorways and entrances. One of their names for a door was "Janua." A door can be symbolic of leaving one place and going into another. Janus reminds us that the present includes the past and the future.
This new year, year 2000, is a transition period from one century to another. It is a 2 year supported by zeros. The two is a feminine number. It represents relationships with our self and others, balance, equilibrium. It is also partnerships, community, communication, negotiations. Again the zeros intensify for all possibilities. This is a year for being open to all new possibilities. It is the bridge lifting us from one level in consciousness to another. We are setting the tone for the coming century.
I believe peace negotiations are really going to intensify until a peaceful resolution. I can see the world leaders in peace negotiations saying to the warring countries, something like, "Wake-up get with the program. Its year 2000, this is it! You cannot take this battle into the next century -- the Golden Age of Peace. Your game is over!" And, billions of people will be sending love and peace to help lift their vision into the new world vision of peace.
We too can use this time to release the old and create the new. This week we bring our focus on our accomplishments in the past year. Even those experiences that aren’t quite complete or may have seemed quite difficult have important lessons for us. So many people I know have moved to new homes, changed jobs, and said good-by to loved ones. Its been quite a year of transition for many. So I would like us to look at what we have learned from these as well.
As we bring together the knowledge and wisdom we have gained from our past, we fashion in the present moment -- the fullest, richest, and our most creative life we are capable of living now — and at every moment in time. The instant in time between the past and the future is Now! Now is all the time we have. It is the "eternal now we call the present."
Please take a look at your handout sheet. The first section asks you to write down at least 5 accomplishments; those things that are completed and cleared. Some areas to look at are new responses and ways of seeing things, such as handling problems, relationships, work. Completed goals in your personal life, work or hobbies.
In section 2, list those things unfinished; relationships, projects, or stuck feelings. These may become some of your new goals to complete in 2000, or you may choose new ones.
Section 3 is for listing the blocks that stood between you and your goal from unfolding.
Section 4 is for listing what you learned from 1999.
Section 5 is to list what you are most grateful for in 1999.
Bringing In 2000
Worksheet1. List 5 goals, accomplishments, or cleared problems completed
2. List 3-5 unfinished goals, special projects, relationships, habits & attitudes
3. List the blocks that stood between you and your goal from unfolding.
4. List what you learned from 1999.
5. List what you are most grateful for in 1999.