In the deepest winter, among the harshness of the snow-covered forest, a new year sneaks up and over the horizon. The light bounces off the freshly fallen snow, reflecting off thousands of icicles dangling from frozen branches, and casts a blinding white radiance across the quiet landscape.
For a moment, she can’t see. For a moment, she’s blinded to everything and everyone and the silence and stillness of the forest is oppressive.
Just like last year.
The darkness of the old year gives way to a momentary brilliance, so bright and blinding that the little fairy stumbles backward, reaching for her tiny oaken staff. She feels the smoothness of the wood in her hand, and her heart settles. Her wings beat slower. She smiles.
“And so it begins,” she whispers to herself. “Again.”
Her eyes adjust to the new light, the bright light, the brilliance, and slowly, slowly it becomes less new, less bright, less brilliant. The deep winter of the harsh snowy forest returns to her, same as it was just a moment ago.
But bathed in new light. The same but different. Expected change. An utterly common magic so few can master.
The fairy shivers, pulls her woolen cloak tighter about her shoulders. She crouches down, scoops up one of the dozens of crystal orbs at her feet. She holds it up, admiring it.
It radiates a vibrant white light—and warmth. The fairy smiles.
She grasps the orb in both hands, closes her eyes. “I resolve… I resolve to share this light,” she whispers. Same as every year.
The orb fades but the space around the little fairy grows brighter, nearby icicles glimmering, the snow itself throwing off a sudden burst of white radiance. The magic swirls around the little fairy—light and energy and magical resolve—and then dissipates into the fabric of the forest.
An infusion of good energy and kindness and cheer.
The little fairy opens her eyes, nods to herself. Carefully, carefully she picks up the remaining orbs, places them in her satchel, throws it over her shoulder. She picks up her staff, adjusts her cloak and takes to the icy air.
A solitary pinprick of light lost in the radiance of the new sun. But she knows others will join her, her people, each entrusted with satchels of new year light.
To bask in. To share. To release back into the universe.
It’s their mission, each and every year: the fairies of new year resolve.
And another thing…
The turn of the calendar years means we’re getting closer and closer to the launch of my next book, “My Life with the Jedi: The Spirituality of Star Wars,” on February 27, 2024! Don’t forget: You can pre-order now! Spread the word!