Before you can sit with others, you must first sit with yourself. Take a moment to tune in—what are you seeing, sensing, knowing, and feeling? What is most important to you at this time? Your own heart holds the answers.

As we prepare to turn the calendar to a new year, it’s a time not only to reflect on the past year but also to envision what you want to create in the year ahead. While many people set resolutions for what they hope to achieve, the Ancestors are encouraging you to go deeper.

When I was sitting in my morning meditation, the Ancestors brought the word inspiration to me. They encouraged me to reflect on what inspires me. As I sat with this, my mind turned to everyday sources of inspiration—my children, grandchildren, and even nature. But the Ancestors urged me to go deeper.

Often, when we talk about gratitude, we think of it as something we give or receive. However, the ancestors speak of gratitude as something to embody. They teach that to truly experience gratitude, you must first embody it within yourself.