I first took my vows December 21, 2020.

This year, I am renewing my Vows for the 5th time.

And I’m changing them dramatically this year.

This last year, my Vows were:

Study
Structure
Simplicity
Stewardship
Stability
Sustainability
Service
Sanctuary

There’s only so many S-words you can use for single word vows, so this year, when I felt like I needed to make some changes, I dropped the strong alliteration and really changed things up.

For the next year, my Vows will be:

Intention
Curiosity
Creativity
Connection
Integrity
Liberation
Stewardship
Reflection

I choose single word Vows because they leave room for interpretation and changing needs throughout the year.

Those changing needs are also why I revisit the Vows yearly, making changes as my life changes.

And the Vows are a big part of driving that change in my life.

They’re a focal point. They’re what I want to develop more of in my life.

They’re not necessarily “weak” areas, they’re what I want my life to demonstrate.

While I will keep all the Vows in mind throughout the year, each is given a special focus for a “season” - the seasons being those of the neopagan wheel of the year. About 6-7 weeks each Vow.

This gives me a chance to really work with the Vow, create projects centered around it, and do lots of journaling and ritual work for integrating the Vow more deeply into my life and psyche.

This year, I’m shifting from a sort of “novice” framework for my monastic practices where I was dipping my toes in to see if this is really the lifestyle for me, into an “adept” sort of framework, which calls for a deepening of practices, and that’s another reason I decided to completely overhaul my Vows.

I’ll also be develop my “novice guide” for the Order of Paradox now that I’ve got a good grasp on how to discern this path, how to create and work with Vows - and other cyclical focus words - for personal and spiritual growth, and all the various ways one can weave monasticism into an everyday lifestyle without having to move to a monastery.

2024 was a rough year, but I learned a lot about myself. Broke my leg and my life made it through that really trying time because I’d been setting the foundation for stability through the monastic practices.

I continue this path as long as it’s working for me, and it is most definitely working for me.

<3 Gwynne