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!

© Michael Mamas. All rights reserved.