New Moon - New Beginnings - Take Stock Before You Start

Today February 9th is a New Moon. A time for new beginnings. I am delighted to welcome you to our first new moon newsletter.

We are now in the beginnings of a new season - for us in the northern hemisphere, Spring begins. For the Southern hemisphere the Fall is underway. Our different experiences depending on where we live, how we live, and our environment, greatly influences our experiences day by day. So how do we shape our life in the future with the seeds we sow today?

For every new beginning is a great opportunity to take stock of our current environment - what is working, what is outstanding, how we are right now, to help us identify how, who, and where we want to be in our future. What do you want to harvest in the future, and how will you prepare the ground for the seeds to be sown? 

in Ireland from January 31st to February 5th we celebrated our female patron, Brigid, an indigenous pagan goddess (and adopted Christian saint) that allows us honour the beginning of Spring, with the ritual and tradition of Brigid blessing the land, the family, creativity, fertility and the creative spirit. We can honour this within our intentions for the future. Each spring I sow new seeds, whether vegetable, fruit or flowers, so considering what I want to bloom both in my garden and in my life in the future, helps me consider the work that I need to do now.

With this in mind, n this our New Moon newsletter, we are setting out two considerations below to help you get started in your advanced planning, by first taking stock:

1. Swedish Death Cleaning

2. Digital Legacy

I'd love to learn your insights into these areas, and also invite you to let us know your questions and requests for inclusion in future 'moon' letters.

Whether you are interested in end-of-life or succession planning, or simply taking stock of where you are now, I now have openings in my schedule for one-to-one coaching sessions and consulting work for businesses. Book a call to learn more at  https://lnkd.in/ghz2BnSv

In the meantime, Jennifer, Happy New Moon. Enjoy our tips below to help you take stock.

We look forward to helping you navigate the journey.

Jennifer McConnell (Founder)

To Make Space for What You Want, Clear Out What No Longer Serves You.

If you have ever, or never, heard of the term 'Swedish Death Cleaning' the book Döstädning is a must read (https://www.dubraybooks.ie/product/dostadning-9781786891105).

Over the weekend, here in Ireland, there was an interesting radio interview with two women who offer this service to help people carry out their own death clean - https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22351010/

Having done a detailed death clean on all of my belongings when I was relocating at the end of last year, the freedom in reducing the load of belongings and memorabilia is both fulfilling and motivating to declutter all aspects of my life.

I am appreciating the opportunity to now get stuck in to my parents home, and my family embracing the process. Yesterday we went through food cupboards removed lots of outdated staples and transferred in date to my beloved Kilner jars, labelled and dating so we don't fall foul of expiry dates again. I then sorted through decades worth of CDs, filing them into large CD folders.

Each step in decluttering is so therapeutic and also clarifying in reconnecting with long forgotten belongings, memorabilia, and knowingly letting go of what is no longer used, needed, or wanted.

Whether a spring clean, a deep clean, a declutter, or indeed a death clean, the best way to start is:

1. Food cupboards - check expiry dates, packaging, and give the cupboards a good clean. Check herbs, spices, baking products, and oils, as these tend to get overlooked.

2. Cleaning materials - check expiry dates, packaging, and review alternative, more environmentally healthy (and less toxic) options for cleaning (baking soda, lemon, vinegar, lemongrass, lavender, mint).

3. Toiletries and make-up - check expiry dates, packaging, and review use. Make-up should ideally not be kept beyond 6 months.

4. Prescriptions, supplements, and painkillers - remove expired and unused items by returning them to your nearest chemist/pharmacy so they can safely dispose.

5. Electronics for disposal or recycling can be brought to your local electronics store or recycle centre. Unused computers and screens can be brought to www.camara.org or contact your local VEC/TEC that may be seeking used equipment for training purposes.

6. Mattresses - in Ireland there is Bounce Back Recycling or your local County Council. Internationally check your local recycle centre.

7. Duvet's (non feather), bedding, dog toys and clothing maybe accepted from you local animal shelter.

8. Unused cutlery, delf, cooking utensils - check your local refugee centres, charity shops, or homeless services.

9. Unread books or those taking up space can be donated to your local library, charity shop, nursing homes, or adult literacy programme.

10. Unused machinery, equipment & tools - contact your local MenSheds or housing service.

There is a lot more to a #deathclean and spring clean, and we will share some more tips in future moonletters but for now the above steps are a great start.

May the coming weeks be an opportunity for you to take stock and get organised for you to get started with your advanced plans and preparing for your life yet to live.

We will share more tips in the coming moonletters so let us know any requests or areas you would like us to cover.