I love starting projects at this time of year.

Today I launched a tag on Instagram, where I like to play visually.
It is an invitation to doodle every day, photograph it and post it on Instagram with this tag #doodleaday2013.
Sunni Brown tells you in this Ted Talk why doodling would do you a world of good this year.

When I doodle, I just make myself a small, often square, shape to fill in and apply my pen or pencil. I don’t give myself a wide panel, just something small. Go on. Try it. If you enjoy Instagram, I’d love you to play there with me. I will post more doodles from my friends here on the Line.

In this bright sunny winter light, I am taking stock of what I have done for the past year. I consider what ideas that have taken form in me and in my world. Today I am preparing for an annual meeting I have with my art collaborator, Karen.

I love this quote from Sarasvati Yoga’s site.

The juicy, precision sankalpa is the resolve, determination and good intention that resonates precisely in your core and aligns sublimely with your essence . It is fluid enough to insinuate itself through the semi conscious patterns of self sabotage, wounded self’s objections and ego discontent. It is a will power that is flexible enough to account for changing circumstances as the sankalpa begins to manifest in your inner and outer world. Yet it is precise enough not to be diverted by the core negative beliefs that stand against it.

This meeting is our sankalpa practice. This ancient tradition is described here.
As you may have noticed, Karen and I love to take things we learn-like this practice from the yogic traditions, and bring it in to our daily lives. We are both yoginis and lean in to our meditation practices for inspiration and guidance. In our sankalpa practice Karen and I list things that inspired us and illuminate what we choose to carry forward into our life and work. This is a time of deep harvesting and listening for themes that emerged in 2012 and looking at what might take root in this new year.

I am so drawn to my winter cave on these cold days. I have learned to answer the call of winter and hibernate. I give myself time to write longer in the evenings, I don’t do every little thing outside the house, I budget more hours when I don’t have to be driving places so I can respond to the quieter forces that well up in this stillness.

(This is when the slow cooker really comes in handy.)
 

Here is another writer yogi’s description of sankalpa.

Here is what I said about my Sankalpa preparations last year.
Just reading this post gives me a perspective on what 2012 held for me.

I am heading back to my writing chair, but I urge you do let yourself engage in a new practice this year that could add a new dance move to your already cool repertoire. Doodle with me if you like, follow me here on Laundry Line Divine and go ahead and find your juicy resolve to live your brightest light.

It is so required today.

Love,
S