A Practice of Devotion for Times of Collective Change

A potent energy of change is in the air. Astrologically, 2026 promises to be an intense year of rapid movement: old structures and systems that do not honor our personal sovereignty will collapse, ushering us into higher frequencies and a new level of consciousness.

January may feel like an emotional rollercoaster as we move through dense energy asking to be alchemized and transformed. We must first honor what is dying in order to create space for the next phase of rebirth to begin. In Chinese Astrology, we are coming to the end of a year ruled by the Wood Snake-a time of completion, shedding old beliefs and letting go of the past. These same themes are mirrored in the cosmos by the journey of the outer planets Neptune and Saturn, both now in the final degrees of Pisces. Pisces is the sign of completion, inviting us to surrender, release control and trust in the unseen.

When we focus our attention upon our outer world, it may appear that everything is falling apart. Within the collective, there is an increased sense of tension and polarization. Yet when we look to the cosmos, a higher perspective unfolds. We are in the final days of Capricorn season, a sign connected to structure, institutions and hierarchy. Two days after today's new moon, the sun enters Aquarius, a key energy that will shape 2026.

Ruled by Uranus, the planet of revolution and change, Aquarius is the rebel, the visionary. It illuminates future timelines and brings power back into the hands of the collective, focusing our attention upon how we can live in greater service to humanity. As we now begin our descent into the eclipse portal, the key themes of 2026 start to reveal themselves. We’ve already seen a preview through recent world events-from the revolution in Iran to major ICE protests in the US. On February 17th, we enter the Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse, an energy illuminating personal freedom, independence and transformation. That same week, Neptune and Saturn will come together at 0 degrees of Aries, a powerful “world point” in astrology, activating an important new cycle.

So much instability and change in our external world can be quite jarring to the nervous system. On a personal note, the past few weeks have carried a heightened emotional intensity. In addition to experiencing the weight of both global and local events, I’ve been in a profound personal process of shedding, moving through deep emotions as my soul reveals what in my life is coming to completion. If you too are navigating the heaviness of these energies, whether on a personal or collective level, I’d like to share a simple practice that has helped me return to center. It is an anchor that I feel will become increasingly important as the polarity, division and noise of our external world continue to rise in the year ahead.

It is the practice of devotion.

I experience devotion through focusing my attention upon and offering reverence towards the presence of something greater than myself, a deeper essence that permeates all of life. Devotion allows me to pierce through the illusion of separation, returning to a felt sense of oneness and helping me to embody my truest essence, that of love and creation.

Devotion carries a beautiful simplicity at its core and can take many forms: I will share with you one of my daily devotional practices. I live in a city where there is an absence of nature, making it easy to get caught up in external noise and distraction. Yet behind my house, residing in an alleyway full of wild weeds, there is a lone tree. At times, its branches tap upon my window, and whenever I look out at this tree, I feel a sense of inner peace. Its name is Bartholomew.

Each morning, directly after waking up and feeding my cats, I step outside and greet Bartholomew. It's difficult to reach him without wading through the weeds, so I hold my hands up and connect through prayer, followed by channeled light language. I then leave an offering of loose tea leaves, sharing whatever tea I’ve chosen to drink that day. This practice is simple, yet deeply grounding; when my thoughts have spiraled into negativity or fear, it brings me out of my head and back into my body. Often when I connect to Bartholomew, the neighborhood squirrels appear and run up his branches, as if they too seek to acknowledge this exchange. In these moments, I am reminded of the beauty and awe of creation: the "I" of the ego dissolves, moving me back into the “we” of interconnection and love.

Devotion lives in the small, everyday rituals. It could be leaving a daily offering of sunflower seeds for the birds. Perhaps it is blessing your water and food before eating. You might consider experimenting with a devotional practice, feeling into what resonates best for you.

If the idea of connecting to trees, nature and the magic of the earth sparks something within, I invite you to join me in Portugal for my retreat “Return to Wholeness”. Our time together will focus on both individual and land healing, working in sacred communion with the earth through ceremony, ritual and intentional presence. We will stay in the sacred site of Sintra, a land holding ancient wisdom. When we meet the land with reverence, it mirrors back profound healing and remembrance, activating deeper soul codes. Learn more about the journey to Portugal here.