Why Mystics Don't Celebrate New Years

You’re sensitive to Earth’s natural rhythms —and NYE is too early. Here’s how to align with lunar cycles for your highest outcome ✨

Welcome to Clarity Workshops, where we talk multidimensional living, stress relief for empaths, and grounding your spiritual gifts in sustainable leadership.

A girlfriend recently told me, “Everyone is asking what my New Year’s resolution is, and I don’t have one — so it stresses me out.”

Obviously self development is an important part of life, but what happens when good intentions just become more stress?

This is what I told her:

“Whether you have a New Year’s resolution or not, it’s hard to pursue the right goal at the wrong time.”

Look around. What are the trees and animals doing?

Are they beginning new chapters, or are they still fast asleep in dormancy and hibernation?

And I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted too, even if I don’t realize it. 

I used to white-knuckle my way through January, trying on new routines — which never stuck — while my body silently craved rest. 

I’d be back in the same cycles by February, feeling like I’d failed again.

New Years in January can be stressful, but moreover, it’s expensive stress — costing us at a time when rest couldn’t be more crucial.

But after my spiritual awakening, I discovered that winter is a time of deep rest and reprieve, a time to begin a trial period — not a hard launch. 

I discovered 5 things we can do to make the most of the winter season and start the New Year off refreshed and resourced.

1. Align our New Year New Me launch with the lunar calendar

A lunisolar calendar, like the traditional Chinese moon calendar, can help us align with the planet’s agenda for stillness and growth. The Chinese New Year is on February 17th this year. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Spring is the perfect time to hard commit to our new goals. When we treat Jan 1 as a hard-and-fast date, rather than winter’s trial period, we end up abandoning our goal.

Already have a New Years resolution? Try making a 6-week adoption plan. 

2. Take intentional time for stillness

Stillness allows the body to process subconscious emotions, which has been shown to be a vital element of health for 90% of our mind. Rest helps us develop healthy beliefs, including positive self-perception and confidence. This healing happens best during long periods of stillness. It may be difficult to plan for an incredible year when we haven’t made time for rest. 

Is stillness difficult for you? Try walking long distances with no music or podcasts instead.

3. Soft launch our new habits

Consider the six weeks between Jan 1 and Feb 17 as a trial period — a time to try on our new habits. Instead of cutting out all carbs, we can cut out just gluten. Instead of meditating for 30 mins every day, we can meditate for 3 mins. A soft launch helps us prepare for the year ahead — and there’s always time to abandon our goal and set a new one. 

Having a hard time choosing a resolution? Use these six weeks to try six new habits. 

4. Use self-compassion to bolster our results 

Mindful self-compassion is proven to decrease procrastination and stress. Self-compassion allows us to mold ourselves more easily. Whenever you feel guilt, shame, or discouragement coming up from your slow habit changes, take a moment to greet those feelings with a warm welcome.

Having a hard time understanding what compassion is? Try this phrase: 

“Part of me is hurting enough to derail me from my goal, and that’s okay.” 

5. Understand how our New Year’s goal supports our Big Why 

I’ve noticed that people who stick with their goals don’t have more discipline, they just have a clearer Why. With the right Why in mind, we’ll do anything! Going to bed earlier becomes a lot easier when we know it will help us be better parents, or land a spot in the NBA. Our New Years goal should be directly related to our Big Why.

If you’re hoping to build a meditation practice in 2026, our Lunar Cycle Activation Sessions are the perfect place to start. We meet twice a month — on the New Moon and Full Moon — for 75-minute group calls where we do exactly this work: we get still, we process, and we get crystal clear on what we’re building toward. If you’re interested shoot me comment. 

Sending many blessings,

Reyna

I’m a shaman and stress relief coach. I can help you improve your intuition and speak with your spirit guides. I can help you live with more joy. Do you have questions about your future? I can help you with this as well.