The power of attention can not be denied. All over the planet people celebrate today as the first day of the new year. I enjoy the positive feelings all the attention to this day enlivens. It is beautiful, bringing a wave of positivity, renewal, and fresh beginning to everyone. I find it to be so marvelous that the attention of all the people can have such a lovely influence upon particular days of the year. Understanding the power of attention speaks to how we can influence our world through the power of attention. The power of group consciousness is not to be underestimated!
At the same time, it is interesting to note that designating January 1 as New Years Day is rather arbitrary; or at least has little to do with the actual celestial dynamics of our planet. For a date to be a natural holiday, it would have to have something to do with nature. Right? It is interesting to ponder what effect it would have if we in fact did celebrate New Years on the date prescribed by nature. According to Vedic tradition that day is call Ugadi.
The new Vedic lunar calendar with the change of the moon’s orbit is marked by Ugadi. It is a festival which occurs on the first day (prathipad) of the bright half (Shukla) of the Vedic month of Chaitra, which generally falls between mid-March and mid-April. Lunar calendars have a sixty year cycle and start every New Year on Yugadi (era).
Ugadi is also the day on which Lord Krishna gave up his mortal body in a sacred place of pilgrimage called Dwaraka.
Having said that, we can all be confident that January 1 will remain the official New Years Day well into the future. With the power of attention being what it is, I for one certainly enjoy riding the wave it brings. This is a wonderful time of year!
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Very inspiring blog for New Year’s Day! Especially this Michael Mamas quote: “I find it to be so marvelous that the attention of all the people can have such a lovely influence upon particular days of the year.” I also found the Ugadi information interesting as well. Thank you.
Happy New Year!!
Great blog, the feelings of New Year’s day are as you described. It also illustrates the power of the group consciousnesses. We needed this day to loosen the power of negativity and fear that dominates our world right now, even if it is only for a day.
Happy New Year! Every year the group consciousness at Mount Soma–and the world’s awareness OF Mount Soma–strengthens and develops. Every year I can look back and see progress from the year before. I wonder what this year will bring! I enjoy having… well, not quite a front-row seat, but a back-stage pass… to watch, participate, discover and create our global future! Given the state of the world today, I am grateful to be somewhere where I feel both safe and relevant… I celebrate waking to a new year here at Mount Soma. 🙂
A little history from Wash post on how the calendar came to be:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/12/31/why-the-new-year-starts-on-january-1-a-terrible-time-for-renewal/:
Happy new Year. What a great positive blog.
People were almost more delighted today than the other previous holidays–filled with good will and high hopes.
I love what JoyAnna said about the back-stage pass! All of the us residents here at Mount Soma certainly get to enjoy the BSP but so do all the students and visitors as well!
Happy New Year and wishing everyone the best to come!
I had a busy and happy NYD. Now I look forward to next Ugadi. Wishing everyone a joyful 2016!
This is a lovely example of the power of group consciousness. I spent most of the day quietly, working on projects to get ready for a new year. But I went to my local bakery in the afternoon and was amazed by the feeling of joyful camaraderie which filled the building. And there was no “reason” for it except a shared idea!
Thank you kindly for your thought provoking words.
Happy New Year to everyone at Mt. Soma. Just like Christmas and many other celebrations throughout the year..I enjoy them greatly while I ponder why and who in history picked the day to celebrate.
Thank you for the accurate history lesson.
joy Anna
I really enjoyed your comment
Fascinating blog !!
Happy New Year! I appreciate the insight into the eternal knowledge of the Vedas.
What is the “word” for this year?
Happy New Year!
One thing I am willing to bet is that the word for this year is not “aum.” Michael Mamas has an article in Elephant Journal about that … I think it is in his blogs
Or at http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/12/our-2nd-nervous-system-3-points-of-caution-regarding-yoga/
Happy New Year!