He was so cute, it was such a guy thing to imagine for the coming new year, I really loved it.

However, the more I started to think about it, something didn't resonate with me. The image of moving forward turned me on, but being a girl, the sword made me think of the future as a fight, and I don't think any of us are really all that interested in going into battle anymore. Being a person who believes that imagining something is the birth of manifesting it, I replaced the sword in my hand with a beacon of light, just like the statue of Liberty.

What could be a better symbol of inner freedom?

We don't need to fight personal battles anymore. In fact, we need now more than ever, to find our light, and help lead the way for others who are struggling to find theirs.

We find our light when we put down our grievances, and replace them with forgiveness. Forgiving restores our sanity, and puts us in the mind-set of wiping the slate clean, starting over from the point of where we are, right here and right now. It gives us peace. The minute we commit ourselves to letting go of worn out illusions that we have allowed to define us, we will find that we're no longer searching for the light, but that we become the light.

We're all in this together. Life isn't a competition, but a celebration. We don't need to worry each other to the finish line; we can put our hand out and champion each other to it.

Let this coming year be the year that you let go of fear, and doubt. Let this New Year be the year you create your dreams, and see them to reality. Let this year be the year that you find faith, love, and insight, because there is a wise person in each of us.

I promise that you are not alone. Commit yourself to this New Year as a lover of life, let go of the things that clutter your beautiful mind, and watch what happens.

Friends, have a beautiful, restored, renewed, loving, and powerful 2009.

Let?s put down our swords, and pick up our lights, shall we?

Shine On, Cat