An African new beginning…

In different cultures there are distinct ways of marking time and celebrating renewal. Traditionally in Africa of old, the new year was celebrated with the coming of the rains, breaking the drought. The actual date of this is usually around late September, or early October. In truth, a new beginning is on offer to us with every breath we take. Each inhale an opportunity to begin again and each exhale an opportunity to release something and let go of a past that no longer is in service to who we want to show up as. 

We have put together a wellness invitation to contemplate as you start your year. 

If change calls to you this year, begin by examining what truly nourishes you. Small daily practices create profound transformations, offering support when life feels overwhelming.

Nourish yourself

Move your body, consciously breathe, serve, and engage with your community

There is often an unreasonable amount of pressure that we tend to place on ourselves at the start of a new year. This is an invitation to release the pressure and take wisdom from the ancient trees… take a breath and indulge us here… imagine a seed.

Close your eyes. Place your feet firmly on the ground. Soften in your body as you remain upright and take a deep, slow breath in through the nose and then lengthen your exhale out through your nose. Releasing the tension in your body as you exhale. 

If you were a tree, how would you see yourself? What are you rooted in? What does your environment look like? How does your environment affect you? What is the state of your canopy? Who is finding shelter beneath your boughs, and who is depleting your resources?

 For January we would like to look at the wisdom of trees and what they can teach us about ourselves.

Our relationship with trees stretches across millennia. They appear in our most sacred stories – from the Biblical Tree of Life to Buddhism’s Bodhi Tree, from the Quran’s Tree of Immortality to the Norse World Tree connecting heaven and earth.

A squirrel sitting just outside of a cavity within a dead Leadwood tree from which it had just appeared.

This ancient partnership continues today: we breathe in their oxygen; they absorb our carbon dioxide. Like us, trees are mostly water. Our bodies, like trees, are a watershed of living motion. Water playing a crucial role in our biological processes, much like how water defines and sustains a geographical landscape. Trees innate wisdom mirrors our own journey of growth, strength, and renewal.

It all begins with a seed.  

A seed of light 

We advise a gentle approach as you enter into 2025. No resolutions here. Perhaps just a statement of resolve that you would like to carry through the year. At Londolozi we work with intention and believe in the power of the words that we speak over our own and others lives. With this we encourage you to create your own Sankalpa. 

A Sankalpa is a sacred intention planted deep within our subconscious through peaceful repetition, best nurtured when body and mind are at rest. Think of it as a seed of transformation, carefully chosen and tenderly planted. 

To create your Sankalpa:

• Craft a statement in the present tense that captures the essence of what you wish to cultivate
• Express it as if it’s already true
• Keep it simple and clear

The Sanskrit word itself carries deep meaning:

• San: “To become one with”
• Kalpa: embraces both “time” and “subconscious mind”

Unlike fleeting resolutions, a Sankulpa takes root through gentle practice. It’s whispered to the quiet mind, allowed to grow naturally, without force or pressure. Like a seed sprouting in rich soil, it unfolds in its own time, gradually becoming part of your deeper consciousness.

Begin With Stillness. 

Find a quiet moment where you won’t be disturbed. Sit or lie comfortably, allowing your breath to become slow and steady. This isn’t about forcing answers – it’s about creating space to listen deeply.

Gentle Self-Inquiry – Ask yourself these heart-centered questions:

• What brings me alive?
• What matters most deeply to me?
• What truth do I already know in my heart?
• If everything was possible, what would I wish to embody?
• What qualities do I wish to nurture within myself?

Listen to Your Inner Wisdom

• Notice what naturally rises – perhaps a feeling, an image, or a phrase
• Pay attention to what sparks energy or brings a sense of peace
• Be aware of recurring themes in your reflections

Crafting Your Sankalpa Remember these key elements:

• Use present tense (“I am” rather than “I will”)
• Keep it positive (what you want, not what you want to avoid)
• Make it simple and clear
• Choose words that resonate personally
• Focus on the being, not the doing

Examples to Inspire:

• “I am at peace with life’s flow”
• “My heart is open to joy”
• “I am grounded in wisdom and compassion”
• “My life nourishes all it touches”

Nurturing Practice:

• Repeat your Sankalpa during quiet moments
• Whisper it just before sleep or upon waking
• Let it surface naturally during meditation
• Hold it gently – avoid forcing or straining

Remember: A Sankalpa isn’t about fixing or changing yourself. It’s recognising and awakening what already lies within you, like a seed waiting for the right conditions to flourish.

The Londolozi Healing House SanKulpa is,

I am a quiet global force for good 

In the coming weeks, we will introduce you to some life-giving nourishing practices that can support you in whatever environment you find yourself in.

For now, find a place to be quiet and listen. 

What will nourish your wild self in this coming year?

The key is to remain open and observant as you live this question. Sometimes life’s calling becomes clear not in one moment but through a series of small realisations and experiences.