Happy New Moon! This is a special New Moon, because it is the last one in 2016, ever! This means we are given an opportunity to set a powerful new intention for not only the next lunar cycle, but also the next year and the next nine-year cycle. No pressure, right?

Recently, I’ve been exploring my past nine-year cycles. I put it in writing, too. There is an undeniable spiritual shift that occurs when you write stuff down. Suddenly thoughts will begin to creep their way into the real world. I started this exercise by writing each year 2008 – 2016. Then I wrote as much as I could remember of what happened in each year—places I went, adventures I had, people who I relied on for support, and feelings I felt. After I wrote a few sentences for each entry, I chose a theme that summed up the feeling of the year for me. For example, in 2009 I struggled with infertility issues. I themed that year, “Disappointment and Persistence.”

There is an undeniable spiritual shift that occurs when you write stuff down. Suddenly thoughts will begin to creep their way into the real world.

To discover the themes, I looked for repeating words or emotions that seemed to be triggered by my memories. I started circling words in my narratives (using color coded pens) that corresponded with each feeling. Red indicated something painful. Purple indicated where I experienced freedom. Green showed where I made a commitment. Doing this exercise made me want to explore the nine-year cycle before this last one: 1999 – 2007. Once I had reflected on that cycle I began to see clear themes emerging for each nine-year cycle. It’s amazing how much growth can occur in nine years!

Being of a curious nature, I went back yet another set of nines. As I went further back in time, I realized how much I had forgotten. There were major life events that came forth and claimed their spot in my memory and there were also years I struggled to remember anything at all. Some years just seemed to be lost forever. I prefer to think that the memories are lost because things went pretty well and there were no major upsets, but still I can’t help but feel sad that I can’t remember them.

As I went further back in time, I realized how much I had forgotten.

Since choosing to become more spiritually aware, I now harness a power that I used to believe was simply chance or fate. I can deeply reflect into who I am and recognize the patterns of my life. I can choose to consciously work with them instead of wondering helplessly, “why me?” I can set new intentions that have resonance. It’s like having a road map that shows you how to navigate a hairpin turn, where there might be a bumpy road, and when to truly appreciate those long straight stretches of smooth paved highway that may later be forever forgotten. It’s not about predicting the future, but rather creating a future by nurturing each present moment with good intentions.

It’s like having a road map that shows you how to navigate a hairpin turn, where there might be a bumpy road, and when to truly appreciate those long straight stretches of smooth paved highway that may later be forever forgotten.

Once I had themed my past years and cycles, I took some time to appreciate how far I have come. It’s been an amazing journey so far. I know that there is much more to come and with patience, grace and gratitude I will discover my theme for 2017 and the next nine-year cycle. I’ll let you know what it is when I find it. In the meantime, I invite you to create some powerful intentions of your own for this coming lunar cycle, annual cycle, and nine-year cycle. How could your life be even more than it is right now by activating your creative powers? Now is the perfect time to do a little dreaming, my friends! Please share your experience with this exercise in the comments below. I’d love to know if it was helpful to you.

How could your life be even more than it is right now by activating your creative powers?

Your Creativity Coach,