JANICE CHRYSLER: Over the last few months in the northern hemisphere, our daylight hours, have silently and slowly left us, leaving us in a cover of darkness, The wind blows colder, the leaves have fallen and most of the birds have flown south while animals have retreated to the woods and caves for their long winter naps. Many people have trouble accepting this season as they constantly complain about the bleakness of winter.

Perhaps the Divine has given us this season for reflection: a time of silence, a time to go within and rediscover ourselves so before we close the door on another year, think back over the past twelve months and its seasons and remember all the lessons we have experienced. In doing so we will better plan our future. 

It is so easy to get caught up in the fast pace of the world around us, its changes, advances and evolution that we often forget we are all part of it and we contribute to it. What we think creates the reality of not only our own lives but of those around us. 

How did we add to the past year and where do we go in the coming year? 

To help you get started, take a moment to answer the following short questions:

• In the springtime of your year, what seeds did you plant?
  • Were there new projects you planned out, goals set, a plan made?
  • Were you patient?
  • Did you look for the opportunities needed to bring your plan into action? 

• In the summer of your year, did you constantly look over what you had planted, taking time to pullout the weeds?
  • Perhaps you needed to replant some ideas. Were you willing to do so in order that your garden of possibilities would grow?
  • Were you presented with obstacles, delays or diversions? How did you deal with them?
  • Did you remember to take time to sit back and allow the Universe to unfold its plans?

• In the autumn of your year, were you able to harvest from your garden?
  • Did all your seeds grow and bear fruit?
  • Or did you find you had not focused on your garden and it was not all it should have been?
  • Perhaps you sat and did no work on your life garden and then felt as though you had not accomplished anything?

• In this the winter of your year, can you see the lessons you have learned from all the other seasons?
  • As nature relaxes and goes within, have you prepared a time for yourself to reflect, regroup and reenergize?
  • What wisdom have you gained from all this year's experiences?
  • Are you ready to set your goals for this year's garden so you will be ready to plant the seeds when the spring comes?
  • Are you using this season to complete unfinished projects? 

Put aside some me time for going within. By soul-searching, you may be very surprised indeed just how much you have changed over the past twelve months and will be able to see what made those changes in your life; spiritual, physical and emotion shifts. By taking time to do a self-check you can also notice when you are going off track. By keeping a journal, making a Vision Board or simply writing down your goals you will make them more real and achievable. 

Through times of introspection we can evaluate our lives, set a new direction for our journey if need be and forge ahead. Every breath brings with it a new beginning and a chance for change, growth and happiness but it all starts within each and everyone of us to make that breath count. 

Warning - do not use this opportunity of self-examination as a means of judgment and infliction of remorse and guilt! You cannot change the past but you can learn from it. By doing so, you help yourself lay plans for the future; not with worry but positive desires and strategies. Now is the time to begin manifesting what you desire in your life.