It's a way of clearing your head, clearing "the energy" of the year just past, and opening a new door to the year to come. I always find it necessary, inspiring and enlightening.
Deep in meditation the words "FORMIDABLE JOY" popped into my head, and I was sort overwhelmed with emotion.
Formidable is an interesting word...
for·mi·da·ble (fôrm-d-bl, fôr-md-)
adj.
1. Arousing fear, dread, or alarm: the formidable prospect of major surgery.
2. Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder: "Though a true hero, he was also a thoroughgoing bureaucrat and politician, a formidable combination" (Mario Puzo).
3. Difficult to undertake, surmount, or defeat: a formidable challenge; a formidable opponent.
Seems the world is awash in fear, confusion, dread, uncertainty. Things are moving. Fast. It is a formidable time - arousing dread or alarm and inspiring awe and wonder.
Love the dichotomy! And despite it all, or maybe because of it, there is this deep and profound well of unbounded JOY. I plan to ride that wave for as long as I can!