I had so many ideas around what I was going to post for the New Year, but in some ways I feel like I already celebrated the New Year on the Winter Solstice. It has been an inward time mostly, since that ritual process on the Winter Solstice that I shared with Sydney. The New Moon in Capricorn on January 1st coupled with our commitment to more deeply study and experience third chakra energy (also known as the solar plexus chakra, which centers on will power, self esteem, the right to act), helped us to clarify actions regarding our Winter Solstice Celebration/Ritual and our sacred sexuality project.

Stepping away from the computer has been a relief in a way as well. Tomorrow I go back to work, where my hours spent on the computer are fixed and often tedious and detail-oriented (the saving grace of my job in graphic production is that my projects have a beginning, a middle, and an end). Just in the last couple of days, after having been away from the computer, I have noticed that my visual awareness has expanded — the best way I can describe it is that it seems like I can actually take more in through my sight. But even more exciting for me, is that I can visualize what I see as art. I live in a beautiful place, there is no doubt about it, but suddenly it seems more vibrant and colorful, and I attribute that to giving my eyes (and mind) a break from the computer.

Working with Sydney has been fantastic. I love deeply exploring topics, and looking at sex and sexuality through the lens of the chakras is no exception. When I reach my limit, when it feels to me like I can go no further, Sydney has a way of nudging me to go a little farther. I get to the point where I kick up swampy mud and I think that is all there is, and with one word, Sydney has us flowing downstream, out of the swamp, and deep into a vast ocean.

I feel really fortunate that Sydney is my friend. I feel like our friendship could not be more perfectly timed.

She explores the depths again with using dream boards. In her post Sacred Timing — The Sun, she writes about her visioning process, and the balance between the active and passive creative process:

Consider this: the dream board making process is both an active and a passive process.  The active part is in putting your conscious dreams and desires on paper, such that you will be moved to take action in the coming year.  The passive part is in listening to and gathering images and putting things you are drawn to also on the dream board—creating a image dialog that you may not know the meaning of yet.  This second part is a mysterious part of the creative process and the action to be taken is of receiving!

Try it! Go through magazines, journals, old calendars, cards, and look for what you are drawn to and compelled by.  Gather the imagery and words and put them together by cutting and pasting them into a collage.  Think about what you want to create in your life for 2014.  But also add stuff that you are attracted to and maybe you don’t know why.  And take your time, I usually develop my dream board for the entire six weeks between Winter Solstice and February 2nd.

I have begun to collect images, and have been thinking about creating a board since the Winter Solstice. I find that there is a push and pull between the desire to internalize ideas and to be alone and creative, and desire and obligation for holiday gatherings and to spend time with loved ones while we are all on holiday. I’m looking forward to making my board (as well as making art).

I like Sydney’s idea of six weeks for building images and dreams, it makes a lot of sense to me. Rather than rushing, allow the energy to be natural and fluid.

Check out more of Sydney’s Dream Board process at Sacred Timing — The Sun.