11/01/2026
Why do we celebrate a new year in January?
Insightful and interesting article from SUBSTACK (see link in comments) exploring the historical significance of the man made construction of the Gregorian calendar; āthe March vs. January New Year debate was real, vehement, and ongoing for at least eighteen centuriesā
What stands out most is how this historical debate mirrors what I see in psycho sensory health; January is a liminal month, biologically and psychologically.
Particularly, in the northern hemisphere where circadian rhythms are deep in āwinteringā patterns, and the nervous system is still in rest and digest mode; metabolising the previous yearās stress cycles. Itās more a time for digestion, closure, and quiet reflective work beneath the surface.
Combine the historical records with our today knowledge of earth cycles, astrological data, biological timing and nervous system dynamics, the message is consistentā¦.January is a month to integrate, recalibrate, rest, and prepare vs accelerate.
So folks if in January youre feeling behind, tired, and heavier, the beginning is comingā¦ it starts in the body long before a calendar date (established centuries ago).
January through March offers us an ideal integration window thatās coherent with real beginnings; slow, internally focused, toward progressive outward movement, preparing to emergeā¦
In this, is the man made calendar flawed? because time, in the absolute sense, is a mental construct. So creating a calendar based on what doesnāt inherently exist is kind of impossible š¤ however the body is empirical. And Consciousness does not sit inside a category.
New and existing consciousness research from the British Psychological Society (BPS) January issue of āThe Psychologistā, dedicated to the evolution of consciousness, suggests consciousness reorganises itself through biology, identity, sensation, memory, belief and meaningā¦simultaneously.
To me, this is why reductionism fails, and why āone explanationā is not sufficient.
The Psychologist January issue concludes that consciousness may always resist a single definition, not because of scientific failure, but because of its complexity.
Therefore, the future of consciousness research is evolving toward pluralistic, integrative, and collaborative approaches.
Of which, is reflected in my work, and studies; the bodymind system acts as a true calendar, and self consciousness is not a paradox to solve, itās a reality to embody.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
For further reading: āThe Calendarā - written by David Euwing Duncan.
To join new consciousness research:
Jane Henry, founding Chair of the British Psychological Societyās Consciousness and Experiential Psychology Section, considers ways of developing consciousness.
Please e-mail: janeahenry@gmail.com
with 'Consciousness development project' in the subject line, and youāll be sent a simple open ended questionnaire to complete at your leisure.
Happy new year.
