I sit on the cusp of the New Year and a New Moon, a time to reflect on the year passed and set intentions for the future.

I sit on my porch, listening to the rain , comforted by it’s soft, persistent tapping on all it kisses yet longing for it to stop and summer weather to return (it’s been raining more days than not this December in Canterbury, New Zealand).

I sit with a heavy heart, the rain matching my teardrops, burdened with grief for the suffering of loved ones and strangers, praying for relief for us all, for change and healing. I know that I’m not God and cannot save the world, yet want to ease the pain somehow. Perhaps I can be a vessel of love and light, a catalyst.

I sit reflecting on the year passed….so many changes, some chosen, some thrust upon me, some I question, some I relish. I have moved from city to forest and am still adapting from being a lifelong townie to a country girl. And, at 65, I realised that I am neuro-diverse. Both of these are a shock and taking time to accept.

I sit on my porch and set my intentions, hopes and dreams prayerfully by candlelight to the Universe this New Year’s night – to deepen my spiritual life and create space for others and myself to experience more healing in the forest.

We are never static, always moving and evolving, shedding skins of a life outgrown.

In 2025 let us embrace the emergence into this new life we’re intending for ourselves with trust and hope, for without these anchors life is like dust blown away by the challenges of mortality.

My gift to the world is myself.

Your gift to the world is yourself.

How do you intend to use your gift in 2025? I’d love to hear.

I’d like to leave you with this, MY version of “The Serenity Prayer”, a staple in my repertoire of pleadings to a power greater than myself. For some reason (perhaps the neuro-diversity) praying these in reverse order makes more sense to me, so here it is:

God, help me to recognise and discern the difference between what I can change and what I can’t,

Thank you for the resources to change the things I can. Please give me the courage to utilise them,

And help me to accept the things I can’t change.

And so be it.

© Karen Lighthouse 2024

Namaste.

Thanks for reading and take care until next time.

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Words by Karen Lighthouse.

I also offer –

• One-on-one counselling/coaching via Zoom
• Group facilitation
• Mental health education
• Oracle card readings

Email me at: karenlighthouse59@gmail.com