There are no blank pages in life, only pages of limitless creative potential. Pages for creating art, capturing thoughts or songs, folding into shapes, kindling a fire, the list is endless; but it's never blank.
What a wonderful journey around the sun last year was. What started as a clean white page evolved quickly as it filled with wide brush strokes of vibrant colors running in every direction, on and off the paper, light patches next to dark ones, chaotic swirls enriched by clean uninhibited white spaces of silence, and in rare instances, strokes of color so magnificent that they could be described as nothing less than stardust residue left behind from moments of pure magic.
Resolutions. I love the idea of being resolute (e.g. admirably purposeful, determined, unwavering). So on the eve of the New Year, I ventured out solo in search of lovers of life willing to share what they desired to fill their spirits with in 2016. Cheers to the following 12 resolutions, along with song and crystal pairing recommendations, as reminders to live each day in the New Year with purpose and determination.
#1. Dance Through the New Year
"I want to dance more in life. I want to learn new dances and about the history of where they originated."
Featuring Stella Mowen for Free People New Orleans © Michelle Moore.
Dancing is art in motion. What a gift to allow your body to move as it pleases while it is bursting at the seams with life's energy. Dancing is one of the rare art forms that is just as lovely alone as it is with someone else. Whether you are dancing alone, with a partner, professionally trained, naked in the desert around a campfire, or while Face Timing with your best friend, dancing will keep you feeling alive, happy, and sexy in the New Year and beyond.
Song: "Love Is All I Got" by Feed Me & Crystal Fighters
Crystal: Garnet - Represents primordial fire, the creation of the world out of chaos, purification and love.
#2. Pressure-Free Living
"I don't make resolutions, there is too much pressure in our lives already. Instead, I'd like to work on prioritizing the things in my life that are important to me on a more frequent basis."
Featuring The 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal; What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey. Photo © Stella Mowen
Resolutions can be overwhelming and most likely, if you're like me, you'll forget them within a week if you don't write them down. I recommend making lists. Writing lists allows one to purge your mind of any and all chaotic elements and organize them in a digestible fashion. Setting aside a few hours in the beginning of every month to sit and think about what is important to you can do wonders for the soul for the rest of the month.
Song: "Don't Be Too Hard on Yourself" by Jess Glynne
Crystal: Lapis Lazuli - Universal symbol of wisdom and truth.
#3. Eat Well and Eat Local
"I don't want to diet in the New Year, but I do want to eat better."
Featuring William Belickis, Seattle based Chef and owner of Mistral Kitchen. Photo © Stella Mowen.
"Try to eat more whole foods that look like themselves," William Belickis, Seattle based Chef and owner of Mistral Kitchen, advised through a smile while he paused to meticulously place a half chicken on the plate like a work of art. "The more processed the food is, the fewer nutrients it retains, and the less it looks like its original self. Vegetables and meats should be eaten as fresh as you can get them. When you are eating out at your locally owned restaurant of choice, feel free to ask the chef where they source their food from and how they prepared it. Also, if you are vegetarian or have special dietary needs, don't hesitate to ask the server or the chef to recommend plates to fit your body's needs."
William's advice for beginning cooks, "When shopping for ingredients, try to stay clear of the middle of the grocery store and instead shop along the outside aisles where all the fresh ingredients are located." For advanced cooks, "There are some great local spice stores in every city that will allow you to try a variety of spices, don't be afraid to be adventurous. I frequently dream about flavors and colors of food that I can't wait to try the following day. Let your mind and heart take you where it wants you to go."
Song: "Keep It Healthy" by Warpaint
Crystal: Green Aventurine - It brings optimism and a zest for life.
#4. More Red Wine, Please
"I'd like to learn about where my wine is made and also drink 'better' wines."
Le Caviste Wine Bar, Seattle, WA. Photo © Stella Mowen
Drinking red wine in moderation can help your heart, prevent cognitive decline, and can prevent memory loss. Cheers to that. Remember to ask your server about the origin of the wine you are drinking, the creation of wine is its own unique story in itself.
Song: "Lilac Wine" by Nina Simone
Crystal: Amethyst - Balance, healing, and lucidity.
#5. Create Art
"I'd like to carve time out of every day to make art."
Featuring Paper App & Pencil by FiftyThree. Photo © Grace Johnson.
There is nothing better than creating art in pencil, allowing your mind and heart to make adjustments along the way, and when necessary, to erase things altogether.
Song: "People" by SOL
Crystal: Citrine - Awakens creativity and imagination.
#6. Complete an Unfinished Project: Write a Book, Finish an Album, or Finish a Painting, etc.
"I'd like to find time to start writing my novel this year."
The number one question I received on my 2015 book tour was, "How did you have time to finish your book while working a full time job?" My answer: It was (and still is) really, really, hard work.
My recommendations for finishing a passion project:
- Ask yourself how important the project is for you and if you are willing to sacrifice other things in order to finish it
- Pick a designated location to work on your project, it will help you get into the proper mindset the moment you arrive to your location. I do most of my writing at coffee shops like Seattle Coffee Works (stop by and say hello to my favorite baristas Shelby Kester, pictured below, and Bryan Norris; they are sure to put a smile on your face)
- Dedicate time every week to work on your project
- Partner with your significant other, friends, children, etc., and let them know what an important endeavor this is for you. You'll be amazed at how many people will want to help you accomplish your dream.
Seattle Coffee Works. Featuring Shelby Kester. Photo © Stella Mowen.
Song: "Believer" by Kris Orlowski
Crystal: Tiger Iron - Helps with creative endeavors and all types of artistic abilities
#7. Shop Local #ShopSmall
"I want to buy fewer things, and also be more deliberate about the things I do buy."
Featuring crystal jewelry from Deer Hazel (necklace bottom left), Gypset Honey (bracelets upper right), KRISTJANSON (necklaces far right).
Buy fewer things, but buy better quality things. When possible, take a look at what products went into the item you are buying and where it came from. Try to buy locally made items; e.g., jewelry and clothes, or to buy from economically friendly brands that give back to the community. Recommended reading, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.
Crystal: Black Tourmaline - Protection, dispels negative energies.
#8. Find Harmony and Peace with Yoga
"I would like to take up yoga this year, however, I don't want to spend a lot of money and I don't want to be bad at it."
Featuring Grace Johnson and Stella Mowen. Photo © Grace Johnson.
Full disclosure, I learned yoga with my best friend via a free iOS app a few weeks ago. I was hooked after the first session; I felt relaxed and empowered when I was done. It's a great reminder to remember to breathe throughout your day, and to remember that you are a living, breathing, human being made of 7 octillion atoms. You are a miracle. We are not guaranteed the future, but we are guaranteed this moment in time, so remember to periodically pause and enjoy it. Namaste.
Song: "Sea of Voices" by Porter Robinson
Crystal: Tibetan Quartz - A bridge from Earth energy to Air energy.
#9. Travel: Be One with Nature
"I want to get out of the office and spend more time in nature. Period."
Joshua Tree National Park. Photo © Chris Danielle (Instagram cldanielle)
The US does not specifically have a word for being "one with nature" but it is a concept that is widely recognized worldwide. The Japanese may say shinrin-yoku meaning "forest bathing" or the Norwegian's may say friluftsliv meaning "free air life," but in the US we say "I need to go [insert hiking, camping, boating, skiing, kayaking, etc.,] which translates essentially to the same thing...a desire to feel the power of being one with nature.
Song: "The Woods" by Hollow Coves
Crystal: Shungite - 2 Billion year old, helps make a connection to the earth.
#10. Create Head Space: Meditate
"I want to meditate, but I don't know where to begin."
Featuring Stella Mowen at Cathedral Rock, AZ. Photo © Yijen Liu.
My friend Yijen Liu, Wellness and Meditation coach, https://twitter.com/qqnoodles recommends the following advice for beginners, "Start by going to an in person class to absorb the atmosphere that the teacher and the rest of the class creates...that can help put you in the right frequency to go deeply inward and keep you from giving up when you want to."
As for advanced meditation, Yijen recommends, "Remember to keep your ego in check. Sometimes we have amazing experiences in meditation and begin meditating for the purpose of achieving those experiences again. Meditation can be anything you want it to be, but truly being present and in a position to fully express your soul requires that you drop expectations built from the past and be open to whatever the present wants to offer."
My (free) recommendation: Download the free app Headspace and try the "10 minutes a day for 10 days" program in the privacy of your own home to see if you are into meditation.
Song: "She is Spirit" by Motopony
Crystal: Clear Quartz - Connection to the Divine Mind
#11. Live With Passion
"I'd like to live passionately, each and every day."
Model Natalie Zucchero wearing Trilogy Clothing Brand by Designer Jordan Elizabeth Rick. Photo © Michelle Moore.
Be a force of nature, fueled by love, and filled with passion from head to toe. Taking care of yourself and following your passions is the best gift you can give to yourself. This is your life, the only one you'll be giving. Love it. Live it with all your heart. You are worth it.
Song: "More Than Just a Dream" by Fitz & The Tantrums
Crystal: Topaz - Creativity, individuality, true love, and hope.
#12. Embrace the Unknown
"I'd like to be more fearless and embrace the unknown."
Featuring Stella Mowen. Photo © Jane Seim.
Surrender to your inner greatness and do not fear your inner light. Take time to intimately know yourself. You can't build a house with a faulty foundation, you can't grow plants without strong roots, and you can't become your best self without first becoming grounded. Listen to your heart and don't be afraid to share your true, authentic self with the world around you as you embark on your journey around the sun.
Song: "All I Want" by Bob Moses
Crystal: Green Jade - The ultimate "Dream Stone."
For more music recommendations follow: https://twitter.com/jeffreguilon