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Well I’m surrounded by flat pack furniture boxes and an assortment of suitcases and carrier bags. I’ve just moved yesterday into a new apartment. My move coincided with my parents arriving here, so a couple days ago, all my nearest and dearest rallied together to ferry me into the new space. My Dad, who’s been serving as a Hindu priest for the last 35 years, true to form, pulled a paper out of his pocket and ushered us all into a circle to offer what’s known as a sankalpa. It’s a Sanskrit word for a something like a promise and a prayer combined - like planting a seed of commitment and resolve before God, with the idea that – as Bryan Adams once said ‘Everything I do, I do it for you’. 

After reciting the Sanskrit words for the day of the month, the rising star in the sky and the phase of the moon, we prayed together that this space will be a place of health and happiness, but most of all, love and service, come what may. A handful of bright red threads had been blessed, and I tied one to the wrist of everyone present – as a sign that we’d all witnessed this small but special moment. The next day when I arrived alone, to enter the front door, the supportive, hopeful energy of the sankalpa seemed to echo in the space. I thought about how different it would’ve felt if I’d just moved in without even a teensy bit of ceremony. 

When anything new begins, I’ve found that offering a sankalpa, really helps to move into it with consciousness and purpose. With the new year coming, I’ve been asking myself what seed I’m planting for 2022?’ Intentions and plans can get a bit noisy and cluttered together around December, I find, so lately I’ve tried just choosing one word, like courage, or humility, to keep it simple. I try to remember it; I write it on a post-it and put it places I’ll see it every day. Trying to bring it into my thoughts, words and actions, is my way of watering and nurturing a seed that might become a great tree. But right now, with patience and humility, and a trusty allen key – it’s back to assembling bedframes.