How to Begin the New Year in a Sacred Way
A reflection on entering the new year as sacred time through heart-remembrance, courage, soul determination, devotion, and love.
A sacred way of entering the new year unfolds through remembrance of the heart, the courage to know what is known, and devotion to divine purpose.
We are aware of difficult, even perilous, times. We wonder, what should I do? What is mine to do?
Where do we begin? Here. The Mystic Julian of Norwich said, “begin with the heart.”
From the Taittiriya Upanishad 2.2 (Easwaran, trans.)
They have attained the goal who realize Brahman as the supreme reality,
They see the Lord in The Cave of the heart
They see the lord in the cave of the heart
And are granted all the blessings of life.
And from the 23rd Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd,
I have all that I need.
Five Steps for Entering the New Year in a Sacred Way
What follows are five simple, inward steps for entering the new year in a sacred way. They are not offered as techniques to master or goals to achieve, but as invitations to remember what is already present—guiding awareness from the heart, strengthening courage and determination, and anchoring life in love and devotion.
"Let the beauty we love be what we do."
—Rumi
Step One: Let Your Mind Sink into Your Heart
Our first step for entering the new year in a sacred way is just this—to let the mind sink into the heart of divine remembrance.
A poem from the Buddhist master and poet Hsu Yun:
This is an exquisite truth:
Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start.
Inquiring about a difference is like asking to borrow string
when you've got a good strong rope.
Every Dharma is known in the heart.
This poem expresses the truth for beginning in a sacred way: start by remembering that we are emanations of the One Divine Reality, God or Spirit in expression. Then direct our attention beyond the mind with its ideas to the contrary, and let our awareness be immersed in spiritual truth. We have a good, strong rope!
Through spiritual understanding, we recognize that what is ours to do (our dharma or higher purpose) is already known to us.
Approach the new year as a sacred time by embracing Self-knowledge. This way is not making goals for what we ordinarily want to do. We have many of those goals.
But there is one thing for each of us in harmony with our higher purpose that is now ready—either to begin, or to express more fully in this divine time. And, we already know what that is! We just need to admit it. Let it in fully. Embrace it.
Step Two: Summon the Courage to Know What You Know
It takes courage to open to higher possibilities. We may veer away from considering expansive possibilities because we forget who we are. We forget that we are divine instruments. Whatever that divine impulse is, it is not personal.
It is not calling us because we are the best, but because the calling is in harmony with our dharma—in alignment with our purpose to awaken and to serve life in the highest way. It takes our talents and abilities, but most significantly, it requires our willingness.
Life seeks willing instruments to express Its purpose for healing and blessing. We can cooperate with that, or not. Sometimes we miss the opportunity, but other times the invitation from life lingers and keeps knocking on the door of our heart. Are you ready yet?
When an inspiration to do something has been there for a while, and I have not responded (other than to pretend I haven’t heard it), it arises again and again until I stop resisting. I ask myself: Do I have the courage to stop pushing away what is trying to come forth? Do I have faith that I will be guided each step of the way as I make this commitment? Can I drop my excuses?
This is not thinking up some grand idea; it is claiming that which has been within us all along, pressing on the door of our heart and tapping on the door of our mind. To know what you know and claim it with clarity and with faith is the second step.
Step Three: Rouse Your Soul Determination
Call upon your iccha shakti, your divinely guided will power—the divine energy and manifesting power within you.
Even when we become willing to serve Life’s higher purpose, perhaps through healing or creativity, we may not feel up to it. We think—I don’t have what is needed, or what it takes, and besides, the circumstances are not favorable! Maybe later.
Besides prayerful receptivity to divine inspiration, we need the energy of soul determination to cooperate with the Infinite trying to express through us. Even though we do not know how to do it, what will happen, or what it will take.
I have given many examples over the years of this poignant juncture, when we hesitate at the delightful abyss of a new year before us—knowing what we are called to do, but not knowing how to accomplish it or whether it will work.
My most recent example is being inspired last year to take a year-long sabbatical. What would it be like after 40 years, to completely let go of my life’s work for a year? No news, no communication, no contact, no planning, no engaging in work for the future. Just let go. How would that be? What would happen to me, this center, the community, the students, and disciples? Why would I do it? Because my soul said, “It’s time.”
What was the higher purpose? Soul renewal—time for deeper attunement, inviting creative energy and prospering of the Center in a new way, supporting everyone to grow stronger spiritually. Would it work? I didn’t know. But I trusted the persistent inspiration, the stellar team of ministers, dedicated staff, leaders, and this community. I trusted God in expression, in all of it. I trusted the divine inspiration. I was willing to follow that call and fiercely determined to see it through.
Have I grown stronger and clearer? Yes, I think so. Has this ministry grown stronger? Yes, I think so. And…
I had to galvanize my soul’s determination to do it.
Rouse your soul determination. Name the inspiration, declare it:
This will be the year that ______________________.
Such a declaration is a fierce offering. We feel it. It has soul energy and the power of life force. That fierce determination must be balanced and tempered by surrendered devotion.
Think of it as an arc—on one end is determination, and on the other is surrender of self-will. Realizing the connection between soul determination and spiritual surrender is the key to skillfully expressing our Dharma, because we do not know how it will come about—it is a living, moving revelation of spiritual power. That’s what we are signing up for.
We learn how to cooperate with what Spirit is bringing forth. It isn’t a done deal. It isn’t linear, step by step; it’s step, surrender; turn around, step, surrender. Pray, plan, act, let go, pray.
We muster the determination to take the first steps AND stay open to how the spirit is leading us. We make corrections as we work in harmony with the Infinite source of inspiration and the power to bring it about in accordance with its purpose.
We need the willingness to face setbacks, disappointments, victories, accolades, and criticism, without being caught, lost, or separated from the purpose of serving Life itself.
Step Four: Make It a Priority
To express your dharmic inspiration this year, find a way to tend it every day. It’s not something to fit in when everything else is taken care of. It needs a structure and consistent support to come forth.
Decide how you will prioritize. Start small. Make it simple and repeatable. Nurture it every day, and it will grow. The Shakti, the divine energy of it, will move you forward with new inspiration for implementation.
Step Five: Stay in Love
The divine inspiration pressing on your heart for this new year is your love assignment. Its pathway is joy, because joy is the nature of the soul.
As it is written in the Upanishads: From joy, we come, enjoy we live and move and have our being, and to joy we return.
Our higher purpose will not be manifested in the highest and best way through the force of self-will or grim determination.
In the most astounding way, we are all assigned to love and to joy —to live in that love and joy and let the light come through.
As Rumi wrote: Let the beauty we love be what we do.
Begin with the heart.
Watch a recording of Yogacharya's message below.
Begin the New Year in a Sacred Way
Yogacharya O'Brian offers five essential steps to begin the new year in a sacred way—with an open heart, a clear mind, the courage of determination, a support system, and the soul’s joy. How we begin sets the future in motion.
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