Another year is upon us, another moment of renewal and reflection. Most years, I keep a list of things I want to do and achieve personally and professionally. But I want to try something different, something to dismantle the thinking of capitalism that has told me I am only valuable when I do MORE. So, I’m invoking curiosity instead.

This time, I am switching the narrative to learning instead of achieving. By changing my focus from outcomes to the process, I want to fall in love with the doing instead of fearing failure.

Drop into Curiosity

You can start dropping into curiosity by pulling your awareness back to yourself, to the present moment. When you feel present and grounded, expand that awareness from your body, consciously thinking about what you want to know. See what pops up, what shows itself, and what you feel. Take in what is loud and a little scary. What do you want to learn? When you feel done, pull that awareness back into your body. Repeat as needed.

Find Resources and Time

My next step is to look into what learning resources are available. I use an app on my phone to learn Greek, but I also found YouTube videos and online courses. Pick a few resources or find people you know who might help. Make time for this learning each day or each week. You don’t have to spend hours learning. A few minutes here and there also counts. (It’s the process, remember?)

Choose a Deity or Symbol for Guidance

When I wanted to learn more about writing, I made an altar to Iris, a Greek goddess and messenger. I have also made altars to love and relationships to focus on learning more about communication and healing. You can go to these altars for inspiration, to share successes, and to consider new approaches.

Celebrate

Learning is something to celebrate. Even when it takes longer than you think it ‘should.’ Instead of letting those voices inside your head, remember to make this fun. You’re doing this because YOU chose to do this. And if you’re not having fun, maybe it’s time to try something else!

When you focus on the process, you learn new things and, more importantly, you learn about yourself. You might find out you have a talent for something. You might discover you don’t like something as much as you thought you would. You can meet new people, and you will undoubtedly make new memories.

I invite us all to abolish the idea of achievement and focus on curiosity this year. There is no unfinished you and no trophy for being ‘done.’ Growth is in the moments you show up and try. What is calling for you to show up? How will you answer?

Irisanya Moon (she/they) is an author, witch, international teacher, poet, and Reclaiming initiate who has practiced magick for 20+ years. She has taught in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia, bringing her blend of grounded, graceful, and radically authentic facilitation to inspire transformation and liberation at the personal and collective levels.

She has written a number of books:
Pagan Portals (Reclaiming Witchcraft – 2020, Aphrodite – 2020, Iris – 2021, Norns – 2023, Artemis – 2024, Circe – 2024, Hestia – 2025)
Earth Spirit (Honoring the Wild – 2023, Gaia – 2023)
Practically Pagan: An Alternative Guide to Health & Well-being – 2020
(With Pantheon: The Greeks and The Muses to arrive in late 2025 and early 2026, respectively.)

Plus she has written essays, articles, poems, and blogs for Moon Books, Watkins MIND BODY SPIRIT Magazine, Llewellyn, Revelore Press, Girl God Books, Witches & Pagans, Pagan Dawn, Coreopsis Journal, Epona Muse Publishing, and more.

In 2023, they self-published a book of poetry, “wrecked: the insistence of grief.”

Irisanya cultivates spaces of self-care/devotion, divine relationship (whatever that means to you), and community service as part of her heart magick and activism.

For more information: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/practically-pagan-alternative-guide-health-well-being