Ecdysis.

(Written on 31 December 2014. Dedicated to the memory of my beautiful 'cousin' and friend, Dean Lal.)

Yesterday, whilst discussing with a colleague what each of our low-key New Year’s Eve plans were, I said to her “it’s just another day.”

She agreed.

Indeed it is 'just another day'. But unless you live alone on a desolate island, the common traditions of wishing one another a “Happy New Year”; celebrating under fireworks with friends and family; reflecting on the highs and lows of the year that’s about to end; and setting new goals and resolutions for ourselves in the new calendar year to come, are all somewhat hard to ignore.

So I decided to take this hype for what it is, and analyse the positivity of the momentum.

The beginning of a new calendar year - whether it be the Gregorian, Julian, Burmese, Islamic, Ethiopian, Chinese, or Hebrew – any calendar that you choose to follow, can be used to signify both counting the days of your life, as well as a stimulus for re-birthing it.

Think of yourself like a cicada with its life-cycle on repeat.

In order to develop, this insect undergoes the process of ‘ecdysis’, in which it sheds off its old exoskeleton, in order to grow a new one.

Its protective, hard, strong exoskeleton is what carries its boneless body together. When the cicada is ready to moult, its exoskeleton splits open, allowing the insect to expand to a larger size before its new exoskeleton hardens. The cicada still carries its same being underneath both its old and new exoskeletons, but its natural ecdysis process is an opportunity for growth, redevelopment, and a new beginning… a rebirth of itself.

So in light of tomorrow, which opens a new calendar year for myself and anyone else applying the Gregorian calendar to their respective lifecycles, I would like to (ironically) share this image of one of the most well-known Hindu deities, ‘Ganesha’.

In Hinduism, Ganesha is believed to represent as the Lord of New Beginnings, Good Fortune, and the Remover of Obstacles.

Happy Ecdysis to all. ©

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(Image Source: http://pocula.tumblr.com/image/40813047201)