The turn of the year is a liminal time, when the soul stands between what has been lived and what is coming. On New Year’s Eve, human consciousness can more easily review the past year with honesty and moral clarity, plant intentions for the coming year at a deeper, soul level. This is not so much about resolutions in the modern sense, but more about inward orientation. Part of the 12 Holy Nights: New Year’s Eve falls within the Thirteen Holy Nights ( Dec 24 – Jan 5), a period that Rudolf Steiner described as spiritually heightened because the physical world’s grip is slightly loosened, imaginative and intuitive faculties can become more accessible. Human beings have the potential are more open to spiritual influences—for good or ill and because of this openness, Steiner emphasized inner vigilance. Responsibility of Thought: Steiner points out that thoughts and intentions formed around New Year’s Eve can have a formative influence on the year ahead. Clear, ethical, and consciously chosen thoughts can help align the individual with constructive spiritual forces This is why quiet reflection, rather than excess or distraction, was seen as especially fruitful (but I do like to combine this with a party, music and preferably fire works). Seeding the Coming Year: Spiritually speaking, New Year’s Eve can be seen as a moment to strengthen moral imagination, reconnect with one’s higher aims and align our personal will with broader human and cosmic development. In short, New Year’s Eve is a moment of spiritual orientation, not necessarily prediction. Happy New Year! Mick Art by Colin W. Burns

The 13 holy nights (from the 24th December to 5th Jan) are a very special time spiritually speaking. The veil between this world and the spiritual world becomes thinner during this time. This has its positive side and also its negative side as not all spiritual forces/entities have our best interests at heart. Over this time, the human soul actually lives through everything that we’ve experienced through all our incarnations from the time when we were “at one with the Gods”, when we were less individual and at one with the spiritual world. This was the time when we were given the seeds of our freedom and our individuality and also our ability to make mistakes and choose evil over good (referred to as “the fall” in some traditions). Before that time we were so connected that this was not even possible. We live through (unconsciously) everything that the human soul has had to endure from those primordial times up to the present day. Then on the 6th January (Epiphany) we are led to a vision (unconsciously for most of us) of that being who entered earth evolution to enable humans to spiritualise their individuality (or their “I”) and the earth itself. Wishing everyone in this group a peaceful and connected Christmas. Warmly Mick

Hi everyone, I'm looking to run 6 week, Spiritual Development Support Sessions in the New Year, with an emphasis on Rudolf Steiner's 6 exercises for helping us to get control of our own thinking, harmonise our emotions and strengthen the will. Please let me know in the comments if this is something that would interest you. Thank you! Warm wishes Mick