A quiet magic of November can be found everywhere. As boisterous as 2020 has been, as an influx of illusions continue to ensue, mind your reaction, and instead reclaim your stillness within your body and on this Earth. Most of us are encountering the reverse of our previous norm…these are the ripples of 2020. Recognize they are ripples. They will ebb and flow. You will change and when you do, it will be fundamental to do things differently than to restore it to what it was. Surrender and let go into the identity shift, things will transpire anyway for it no longer befits us to flutter about how we previously did, it never did. You may be surprised by how much you gain. Diwali, the festival celebrated by lighting candles to symbolize the awareness of the inner light, could not have come at a more opportune time. It’s a time to turn inward and light the lamps of knowledge and truth in our hearts and minds so that we can dispel the forces of darkness and ignorance within us and allow our innate brilliance and goodness to shine forth. Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is the principle deity associated with this festival. During Diwali we ask her for assistance in cultivating and accumulating spiritual wealth, such as compassion, forgiveness, and loving-kindness. Diwali is a time to reflect on and evaluate our thoughts, words, and actions over the past year. It is a time to acknowledge and better understand our prejudices, negative behaviors, and unhealthy habits so that we may begin the process of transforming ourselves. It’s a time to discover how we can be more loving, kind, respectful and skillful towards ourselves and others. It’s also a time to reflect on the various ways we can assist others and shine our light out into the world. Always choose to shine.