Round Up & Reflections

Perseverance Bay, a sketch for a 2026 project

The month of December arrived silently through the back door, while November didn't want to leave the party. This melding of months, holidays and family, I don't remember it always being so atilt. It has felt like a perpetual Monday and today is Friday, I think. Maybe it was the big push to get the house finished, the workers out, and everything set up from furniture to books to paintings, beds made and bathroom towels hung to spices and pots put away before the kids got home. Maybe it was the delicious feeling of having everyone home for a week and attempting to freeze time, or, perhaps, the consistent food shopping, multi meal making, late night game playing or big and small boat tripping. Needless to say, it's the first week of December and I feel a bit behind the 8 ball, a bit off kilter with what just happened and where I'm actually going. Can any of you relate?

In regards to the astrology, there's been a good deal of planetary transits and lunations inspiring big feels: grand water trines, many planets being retrograde (Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter), some planets just turning direct (Saturn, Mercury) and powerful new (Scorpio) and full (Gemini) moons. But without getting too deep into that, there's a lot to work with, both in the cosmos and in the season.

I do recall that December often feels like a sprint, but this year I seem to have forgotten my training. It's like the returning nightmare when you show up to school one morning not realizing you have exams and you haven't studied. SO, what I've decided to do in this vortex of holidays, gatherings, birthdays, traveling and mental unraveling, is I am going to use this space, my St. Sunshine alter-ego, to rinse myself off (thank you water signs), cool things down and break things down (hello Mercury). What better time to hit the pause button, even for just an afternoon, and take a moment of reflection (thank you retrogrades). I mean, 2025 is soon coming to an end, the winter solstice is fast approaching, the darkest day of the year that invites rebirthing and renewal, and life simply never stops. It's on us to do so.

As I take a beat, I'm invited to remember what 2025 involved and do my best to honor my accomplishments. (This practice doesn't come easily. While I'm good at reflecting, I tend to look at what still needs work rather than what actually worked.) To give you an idea of how hard this practice is for many, I was at a friend's house this week where a handful of women were making Christmas ornaments and each of us was asked to name 3 things we are good at... Queue record skip, mic drop, itchy crawly skin. You'd have thought we were asked to tell our deepest, darkest secrets! And, in fact, maybe that's exactly what we were being asked. Why is it so dang hard to identify and share something we're proud of? Anyways, it got me thinking that it IS important to speak/write/share/even boast when reflecting, be it a year in review for yourself or for your job (or for a blog post). So, even though its feels like the wheels are coming off and I've done a sh*t job as an artist/writer/creative this year, I'm going to share a top 10 list covering what I'm proud of and am hoping this exercise spurs you to do the same.

1) I'm still married and in love with my husband

2) We've rebuilt a beautiful home on a tropical island

3) I'm still writing my book (if at a snail's pace) and posting monthly on St. Sunshine

4) My children love to come home, wherever it is, and so do turtles, hummingbirds & herons

5) I've handled all of the transitions/change/grief in the last year pretty well

6) Turning 50 was/has been pretty f*cking fabulous, and I called it in!

7) I still love and teach yoga, even if I've changed the way I practice

8) I'm still curious, playful, kind and grateful

9) I make many of my dreams come true, even if Pluto is wreaking havoc over my natal sun

10) I have strong relationships with some incredible, supportive and inspiring friends

Okay, that was tough, but rewarding. Thank you for being my witness and playing along. I'd be delighted if you shared your top 10 reflections/accomplishments with me, or just with yourself.

Until we meet again in 2026, may the spirit of the season help your heart be light and open, may happiness and confidence reign, even if the chaos wants to pull you down, and may we all feel worthy of making our dreams come true.

With love, gratitude and proud peacock feathers,

St. Sunshine