This the second of a monthly series in which I’m sharing the work of women on the web who inspire and motivate me. Maybe they’ll do the same for you.
Journaling for the New Year
Susannah Conway
“Seeker of the sensual + the sacred”,
Susannah uses creativity to help others remember their true selves.
Susannah Conway has an elegant presence on the internet where she has built a huge following. A self-proclaimed introvert, she writes about real life, grief & healing, mindfulness, inspiration, empowerment, the creative life, life online, and soul. All subjects that speak to my heart. The beauty of Susannah’s work is her intimate sharing. She is able to translate the universal into the personal and vice versa, reminding her readers that they are not alone in the depth of their feelings and encouraging them to connect with their creative selves.
It is natural for introverts to look within and I think such introspection helps make one more aware of and in tune with the natural world. One of the things I like best about her writing is that it always flows in time with the current cycles and phases. Totally “on-time” is her free workbook, Unravelling the year ahead 2016, and this week’s post, 2015: The Year in Review, where she shares her personal experiences. Which is exactly why I chose to feature her on this Friday, January 1, 2016.
As an astrologer, I observe various new year celebrations. Today, January 1, marks the beginning of the year 2016 in the Gregorian calendar. December 21, marked the beginning of winter or the Last Quarter phase of the annual seasonal cycle. This is the season to look back and review our experiences of the last nine months. Where have they brought us? What got in the way of our achievement? What have we learned that we can carry forth into the astrological new year in the spring (March 20)?
My soul sister, Donna Iona Drozda, discusses the need to take time to explore The Mystery this season, along with the importance of journaling for health in her latest post, Eat My Words. It’s a good practice to spend the first half of winter exploring the recent past while looking ahead to what you want in the future.
I was introduced to Susannah’s work via a friend and fellow journaler who had downloaded Susannah’s free workbook, ‘Unraveling 2012’. My friend and I met weekly during the month of January, sharing our explorations of the previous year (2011) and our goals for 2012. It worked so well for us that we have continued the practice every year, albeit now by phone since she has moved to the mainland.
The workbook provides an excellent format for looking back by asking questions and providing exercises to open new channels of thought. It changes slightly every year. This year, to my delight, she added a place for drawing a Tarot card for each month of 2016, a practice I’ve done for years.
You may not find every page relevant, nor must you respond to every question. However, I promise that if you invest the time to work through even part of it you will be glad you did. I intend to spend the remaining five weeks of this phase in the annual cycle Unravelling the Year Ahead and will be sharing my revelations here as the weeks progress. I urge you to consider Unravelling the Year Ahead on your own or with a friend. And, please, share your experience here.
It is my pleasure to promote a woman, barely into her 2nd Saturn opposition, who has built a successful business using her life experience to inspire and motivate others. It’s little wonder that she’s listed as a resource on our Journaling page.
I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do.
Note: this post was published during the Disseminating phase of the Sagittarius lunation cycle, fulfilling my own advice to “promote your goals & share how they contribute to the good of all.”
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