Tis the season to get caught up in the insanity of shopping, parties, decorating, planning, and all the other things that are part of this time of the year. Whether you choose to celebrate Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or anything else, the frenetic energy surrounds us all.

Enjoying the twinkling lights and other decorations and being part of secrets is a lot of fun, but the external energy doesn’t match what is happening in the natural world in which we live. This can create all sorts of internal conflicts for anyone who follows our path; learning to connect with this natural energy and its ebbs and flows is often a big part of a personal practice and this time of year it is moving towards the peak of Dark Energy with the upcoming Solstice. The natural energy calls to us to close in, be more introspective, and most of all to slow down! Not taking this energy into account can lead to exhaustion or even depression at this time of year so planning ways to manage your own needs is vital.

Trying different things at this time of year may include taking some time periodically to do some introspective type of work, such as journaling or thinking about where you are in your practice and want to go next; saying a firm no to some of the extra parties and events by carefully choosing those you may be required or want to attend; getting some extra sleep; or taking some time throughout the day to sit quietly for a couple of minutes and just breath.
Becoming aware of these energy differences that will happen throughout the year and finding effective ways to manage them will end the feelings of conflict without a known source that we may be experiencing and give us back the true joy of holiday seasons.