As January ushers in the new year, it often carries with it a sense of melancholy, earning the reputation as the month of the blues. The whirlwind of the festive holiday season comes to a close, bidding farewell to the joyous 12 Days of Christmas, which concludes on January 5. Family and friends, who filled our homes with laughter and love, have returned to their own lives, leaving behind a quiet emptiness. The vibrant holiday decorations that adorned our spaces have been carefully packed away, restoring our surroundings to their usual state. In many ways, January symbolizes change and the boundless potential of a fresh start. However, my perception of this month shifted dramatically in 2019. It was during September of the previous year (2018) that my youngest son embarked on a new chapter, venturing over 3400 kilometers away to study in Eastern Canada. The memory of his first return home for the holidays remains etched in my mind, as vivid as if it transpired yesterday. The anticipation and excitement welled up within me as I eagerly awaited his arrival at YYC. He had been away for three months, the longest separation we had ever experienced. As a mother, it was a bittersweet reunion, knowing that all too soon he would be bidding us farewell once again as he passed through the departure gates on January 1.

On that fateful day, I found solace under a warm blanket, seeking refuge from the world outside, immersed in a sea of mediocre movies. Time seemed to crawl as I yearned for January to swiftly depart. The frigid temperatures, the snow-covered landscape, and the vacant emptiness of my son’s room all compounded my despair. The grip of the “winter blues” threatened to consume me entirely. Yet, it was during this moment of desolation that I realized the need to pause and rediscover the true essence of January.

Correspondence

Moon Phases  2024– Last Quarter January 4, New Moon January 11, First Quarter January 18, Full Moon January 25

Zodiac –    Capricorn and Aquarius

Elements – Earth and Air

Color –    White and Sky Blue

Herbs –     Thistle, Holy, Basil, Marjoram

Stones –    Garnet and Emerald

Flowers –  Carnation and Snowdrop

Animal –    Ox and Penguin

Oils –       Black Spruce, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea Tree

Symbols –   New Beginnings, New Possibilities, Renewal

Sabbats –    None

 Instructions

To the bottom of a 6 quart or larger slow cooker, add trimmed chicken breasts.  Top with onion, carrots, celery, garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt and pepper, and bay leaf (if using).

Dollop  bouillon chicken base over the top, then pour in chicken broth.  Gently stir to combine.  Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or HIGH for 3-4 hours.

Remove chicken from slow cooker to a large mixing bowl.  Shred chicken.  Discard bay leaf (if using), and return shredded chicken back to slow cooker.

Add egg noodles, stir, then cover and cook on LOW for 10-15 minutes, until pasta is tender. Taste, and add salt and pepper as needed.

Serve garnished with minced fresh parsley and a sprinkle of black pepper.

This can be made in a soup pot on the stove as well.

Creating a Vision Board

I am absolutely addicted to vision boards! Vision boards are a manifesting tool used to aid you in giving a clear direction for where you want to go, and what you want to call into your life. This amazing and fun tool will allow you to visualize your goals and desires and of course your dreams. When you create a physical vision board, you are able to touch what represents your vision. Your vision board will be a constant reminder of what you have prioritized and called into your life. They enact the power of visualization and manifestation. A vision board is a collection of pictures, clippings, words, quotes, and more that help bring your dreams to life. They are typically created on poster board; however, you can use a variety of platforms like an old frame with the glass taken out, corkboard, whatever calls you, and can be any size. It is important when you have created your board that it is placed in a spot that you will most often see it throughout the day. It will become a space that you will take time several times a day to do visualization exercises, which means you will stand in front of your new creation and visualize each piece on it. You will get to a place where you won’t have to purposely stand in front of it, it will just happen as it will become as natural as opening a door.
Vision boards are seen as a silly child’s project by many. The joke is on them. Athletes and high-performance individuals have been harnessing the power of visualization for a long time. You only need to watch Owen Ferrell the England rugby fly half, prepare for a conversion kick. He will take his time visualizing where that ball is going to go. He hits his mark every time.
It is important to know that a vision board is not simply creating collage art by gluing photos or images on a piece of paper. Nor are they simply pasting photos of Disneyland or large stalks of cash onto your board to manifest by using the law of attraction. These are powerful manifesting tools and should be approached as such. Here’s how they work. Your RAS, Reticulating. Activating System is the filtering station of your brain. Constantly seeing the images, quotes, words, and affirmations helps filter out the stuff you don’t want while focusing on what you do want. Seeing your vision board is a constant reminder of your goals and your subconscious mind will stay focused on your goals.

Goals of Your Vision Board

Motivation – Easy to access, however, slow down, take your time in creating your tool, and take your time and look at your board, when it is completed take it all in slowly and deliberately. You will be rewarded.

Intent – Declare your intention when creating this one-of-a-kind powerful tool. The power of your intention will bring your goals and dreams to life.  Be specific and steadfast in what you want.

Inspiration – We are all familiar with the knowledge that life can get in the way of what we truly want. A vision board can help bring inspiration to your life without all the background noise and rush of life getting in the way.

Clarity – Creating a vision board is an extremely powerful way to dig deep and understand yourself. The more clarity you have on what you want the easier it will be to attain what you want.

The following is only a recommendation to do before you begin your vision board

Light a candle and play some soft music. Find yourself a pen and paper and sit for a few minutes, slow your breathing, and tune into yourself.  Ask yourself some questions. (Here are some examples).  What do I really want in my life? What do I want my life to look like? What do I want my home to look like? What do I want more of in my life? How do I want to feel every day in my life? Are there any major purchases I want to make in my life? Where do I want to travel to? As you sit with these questions, and wait for answers to come, your guides will bring the necessary information you are seeking to prepare for your creative session making your magical vision board. Write down what comes to you.  If some of the information does not resonate with you skip it. Some people keep a journal by their bedside and write things down as they prepare for sleep. When they awake the next morning they may write down what came to them in a dream.   It is recommended to use your own handwriting on your vision board as opposed to keyboarding on a computer and printing it.  This adds your own powerful energy to your board making your vision board even more potent and powerful.

There are no steadfast rules here. It’s your magic, your creation rules go out the window. The process should include anything that inspires you and motivates you. It’s a visual representation of how you want your life to look. Your board’s purpose is to bring it to life.

I am Creating the Life of My Dreams