While I lean towards woo-woo, crunchy, hippy, self-helpy stuff, I always thought the whole “word of the year” thing was lame. However, some people I really like choose one each year, and then last year we did it at work as a staff activity (because, of course). I kind of got into it. Like everything in this vein, I take it all with a little levity and in context of the situations and questions at hand. Do I love being a Cancer and learning everyone’s zodiac signs? Yes. Do I regularly do some tarot pulls and pay attention to moon phases? For sure. Do I make medical or financial choices based on this information? No.
The thing is, I view myself as a witchy soul connected to our earth and to nature, and as a science educator, and as a technically minded person – I’ve had to reckon with my crunchy tendencies and the whole, “this is harmful, fake garbage” argument for decades.
Science is rooted in human curiosity, and particularly for biology and medical science, in the work of women. Ask me, if I was in labor in 1750, if I’d rather have had an experienced but not formally educated midwife by my side or a male doctor from the church if things went sideways. Anyway, over time, the work of science and study was torn away from lower classes, women, and other marginalized populations, and rebranded as “NOT HOOEY DEVIL WITCH STUFF FOR DUMB PEOPLE, BUT REAL SERIOUS STUFF YOU WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND” (I’m paraphrasing), and then commodified and monetized. While much work and effort has been done to rectify that, to this day I think we feel an abstract pressure to choose. Do you “believe” in science or in holistic practices? Well, both exist regardless of anyone’s beliefs, so stuff-it modern society. I’ll strap on my quartz watch, take life-saving medicines when I need them, meditate, and choose both. It doesn’t have to be either-or.
Scientific method, double blind studies, peer review: yes, these are things I look for in research validity and in my decision making. I look to experts and to those doing the work. Modern medicine, the deeply problematic healthcare system aside, is a champion of human intelligence and creativity.
Do I also look to the power of self-reflection, imagination, and an openness to the notion that maybe we don’t know every last detail about this great big universe: YES, PLEASE. Goodness, how boring and pointless would it all be if we understood everything happening around us? I love the feeling of connectedness to the mysteries of the universe, my purpose, my potential lack of purpose, all of it.
My witchy, earth-centric, habits bring me peace – like rituals, introspection, and belief systems have done for people since the beginning of humans. Mantras, prayers, words – they bring us focus and peace.
So, then I’ve theoretically justified selecting a word of the year to myself. In 2023 I choose “Slow”. It actually helped. My goal in selecting “slow” was to remind myself to move carefully, slowly, and with intention. The email can sit another day so I can give it the full attention it needs. I can spend a few days considering that conference invite. So much of my career has been pedal to the metal. In 2023 I pumped the breaks and I loved it.
Word of year helped me!
In 2024 I’ve selected a word that maybe feels a bit salacious. Pleasure. Pleasure is good for us. I feel time speeding by so quickly and aging has happened more rapidly than I thought possible. I can’t keep myself or my family young (nor would I want to), but I can focus on feeling good while we experience life.
I do mean pleasure in all its forms. Yes, in the salacious connotations (a major perk of being a human, if you ask me), but also in good food eaten slowly, the hyper focus creativity that comes on when working on a piece of art or when writing, the high experienced in the middle of an aerobic workout.
I want to seek activities not because they are “good for me,” I want seek things that feel good to me. The purpose should never be punish myself or hold myself accountable for some assumed moral failing – I want to do stuff because it feels good.
Yes, yes, this has the potential to slide into gluttony and addiction. Calm down and let me explain. For example, I’m doing the whole dry January thing right now – not drinking any alcohol in the month of January. I’m working to reframe this month from, “alcohol is bad and thus you’re bad for drinking it; you pathetic drunk with no self-control; you need a cheesy monthly challenge to make good choices” to, “notice how deep your sleep feels when you do not have wine before bed; see how much more aware you are of how things feel on your skin; notice how dewey your skin looks; you’re not a damaged person who needs a challenge to not drink for 4 weeks, you’re a sexy, dewey skinned woman paying attention to what her body enjoys this month; next month you can spend a few evenings rediscovering and savoring the joy of feeling fuzzy and warm with your favorite wine.”
With every task I approach I want to ask myself, “how can I make this more pleasurable?” How can I bring more fun, joy, and pleasure into the lives of others and my own? Life shouldn’t have to feel like a slog that also somehow speeds by.
I have the extremely good fortune to be aging. I’ve hit middle-age, nearing 40, and damnit I want it to be pleasurable.
Break out the crystals, the good silverware, the nice paints you were saving, the little indulgences, the songs on repeat, the gray hairs, the fancy vanilla for baking, the joy.
Bring on the pleasure.
Elsbeth Magilton 