Hello, 2011.

I have never been much of a resolution-maker at the beginning of a New Year. I believe we need to set goals for ourselves, yes, but I believe we need to make just a few realistic ones and continue checking our progress on a regular basis until the goal is complete. I don't like the idea of resolutions–it's too confining and restrictive to me. This doesn't mean I don't believe in measuring success, because I do. But I think we set ourselves up for failure by trying to stick too hard to a New Year's resolution that is loaded with societal pressure from the get-go. Why do this to yourself?

Whether I want to believe it or not, though, 2011 is upon us. It doesn't seem possible to me, and yet, here we are. Numerologically, I am in a 6 year in 2011, which means love in all its forms will be a highlight (and possibly a low-light) this year for me. From a positive standpoint, relationships will be key, and I know this means I will develop better and deeper relationships with the people I love, and I will most likely welcome some new folks into my circle of friends and clients. But 6 is also the number of the giver, and this means I may be asked to give-give-give until it hurts this year. This is always a challenge to me, so I must watch my tendency to do this–and my tendency to do it with resentment. Yes, I am a giver, but sometimes I carry a put-upon attitude with me that is less than becoming and quite negative in many ways. I need to approach more of life this year with compassion and love in my heart, for love will be abundant–and it will be tested.

In reflecting on this, and on the yearly forecasting Tarot reading I performed for myself earlier today, I have decided my mantra for the year 2011 will be this: "I am peace." My Tarot reading gave me triple messages today about seeking and achieving balance in the year 2011, especially balance between the mundane and the spiritual aspects of life. Although this is always a challenge for me, it seems especially prevalent in 2011. And so with this message from Spirit reverberating in my mind and heart, I say, "I am peace." In taking this as a personal mantra for the year, I hope to change my hyper and anxious persona and energy to something more stable and loving.

In my work with Archangel Metatron, one of the great angels of balance and equilibrium, he constantly tells me of the need for individualized and self-realized peace. It is only when this happens for each of us on a personal level that we can ever hope for peace to be attained on any kind of group or larger level. I feel Metatron's presence as I re-affirm for myself tonight, "I am peace," and as I remind myself of the sacred work of approaching life with a peaceful and balanced outlook and energy.

So…this is what I hope to achieve this year. I realize that I am human, and it may be quite a struggle in the moment-to-moment unfolding of my life. I was already confronted today with yet another problem in a personal relationship in my life. And yet, isn't this really what life is all about, anyway, the lessons we learn in those moments of challenge? So I will take a moment, stop, breathe, and say, "I am peace." I hope it will bring me back to the moment and to the understanding that I can change my energy. I don't have to be angry, upset, anxious, or any other negative, uncomfortable emotion. I can choose something different.

And so, my friends, I wish you all peace as well. Peace of mind, peace of heart, peace deep within your soul. Happy 2011!