30+ years shamanic practitioner and teacher • Weaver of spiritual practice into Life and Relationships • Best-selling author, award-winning books, videos, podcast • In-person and virtual classes and workshops • Subscribe for monthly inspirations
January: Preparing the Ground
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January invites us to prepare the ground, to tend to inner and outer soil so what wishes to grow can take root naturally. From Returning Light to Preparing the GroundDecember’s returning light does not arrive all at once. It comes gradually, almost imperceptibly. Past the Winter Solstice, the light of longer days begins to stretch into the dark. January carries that light forward, not yet as growth, but as readiness and intention. Here, in the warmer climes of the northern hemisphere, much of the soil remains open, breathing, workable – grasses resilient, trees quietly holding their energy. The earth is neither dormant nor active, but poised, gathering itself for what lies ahead. This in-between quality is mirrored in the human spirit. The turning of the year invites beginnings, yet January reminds us that true beginnings start with readiness rather than action. What was released in the darkness of December now has space to settle, decompose, and transform. The returning light reveals not what we must do next, but what is now possible. This is a season of recalibration: aligning intention with truth, and desire with capacity. This is the time when careful attention matters more than effort. Plans are sketched lightly in pencil, ready to be amended; tools are repaired and sharpened for use. Spiritually, we are asked to do the same. To tend the inner soil. To notice where energy flows easily and where it meets resistance. To choose not grand resolutions, but clear conditions that support what we hope to grow. January teaches that strong roots form in quiet moments, and that the most important work often happens below the surface. Reflection for January: Tending the Inner Soil
Choose a quiet moment outdoors or near a window, preferably where you can see the land or sky. Stand or sit with your feet in contact with the ground. Take several slow breaths, allowing your weight to settle downward, noticing where your body naturally relaxes. Bring to mind something you released in December – an expectation, a role, a pattern, or a way of being. Without analyzing it, imagine it breaking down into compost, becoming nourishment rather than loss. Then, ask yourself: What quality wants to grow now? (Not a goal, but a way of being: patience, clarity, courage, trust…) End by naming one simple condition you can tend in the coming weeks - more rest, clearer boundaries, time outdoors, honest conversation. Let this be your way of preparing the ground, trusting that growth will come in its own season. May you have a blessed and bright dawning into 2026! Upcoming EventsJanuary 24 February 14 Journey of Personal Evolution: UpdateI have added a new Alive Relationship section, which focuses on an on-going exploration of the nature and qualities of long-term relationships. The first article is an examination of how we develop our beliefs about how relationships work. It introduces the observation that, from the shamanic worldview, there is something else to consider: the Relationship itself as an essential partner. See more at The Journey of Personal Evolution Substack. With appreciation and respect, Reader. I hope to connect with you soon. Gerry Gerry C Starnes, M.Ed. PS: If you live in the Austin, Texas area, you might consider connecting with the Shamanic Community of Austin. We offer regular shamanic journey circles and other events. And by the way, if you do not want to receive these messages while still receiving other notices, please follow the link below to be removed from News and Updates only! |
Shamanic Passages | Gerry Starnes, M.Ed.
30+ years shamanic practitioner and teacher • Weaver of spiritual practice into Life and Relationships • Best-selling author, award-winning books, videos, podcast • In-person and virtual classes and workshops • Subscribe for monthly inspirations
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