On Focus, and the Influence of Saturn

I find it pretty tough to avoid the process of reflection at this time of year. As much as the transition into a new year may feel like an arbitrary measure of time, the urge to reflect upon the past and envision a future seems to seep in from all sides. The holidays have a dual effect of making me excited to spend big nights out with people I love, while also making me crave solitude.

I’ve indulged both wishes this year; festive nights of food and drink, followed by gentle days savoring books and thoughts. Today I will begin some reflective writing and extreme journaling. As I eased into this space of introspection, I thought of a horoscope I had recently read. Last year, my New Year’s Eve post was fueled by a horoscope as well, and Richard Reeve expressed exactly why the images and metaphors of horoscopes might appeal to me:

I think having archetypal images like this to inspire the energies that often lie dormant within us is an excellent way to engage with our path.

As Richard suggests so eloquently, such images and symbols work wonderfully to awake what simmers within us. This week, my end-of-year horoscope evoked a theme that had already taken deep root in my thoughts. Speaking of the influence of Saturn, Rob Brezsny writes:

My experience is that the ringed planet provides the greatest gift imaginable: motivation to become the person you were born to be. It steers you away from pursuing goals that aren’t in alignment with your soul’s code. It pressures you to give up vain fantasies that even if fulfilled wouldn’t make you happy.

I have been thinking a lot about focus, and this text fed right into those thoughts. I am trying to move into a practice of greater focus, both in my daily actions and my broader pursuits. Part of this translates into re-cultivating little habits that I’ve neglected in recent months, but much of it translates into questioning myself (constructively) consistently and writing more often. Although I’m quite open to perpetual movement and change, it can be easy to go for stretches of time without questioning whether I should keep moving forward — but what about turning left? Veering softly to the right? It’s important to me to have a stronger sense of my own pulse, to make sure everything I do is deeply thoughtful and intentional. Although writing can lead to dwelling on the past or future, it can also be a beautiful, flowing record of the present. Amid my motivation and broad pursuits, I hope to be fully present. And so, as I reflect upon the past and envision a future, I will put my strongest energy into being fully conscious of my present.

What about you? Where are you finding yourself these days?

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Tagged as: conscious, focus, future, horoscope, image, inspiration, journal, motivation, movement, past, present, questions, space, thinking, Writing