2024 was brutal… but beautiful

reflections from the black new moon

As 2024 draws to a close, with the Black New Moon of Capricorn upon us, it feels like a redemptive moment - a chance to rest after the cluster f*ck that was 2024. This year stretched me in ways I didn’t know were possible, teaching me that growth doesn’t stop after adolescence. Growing up can be messy. Painful. Glorious. And it never truly ends—there’s no final destination except, perhaps, death. Life makes you stronger—but not without trembling under the weight of new challenges. And sometimes, strength comes in knowing when to rest, as I wrote in my last essay.

As the wise poet Lizzo once said, 'I'm way too fine to be here stressed.' Ain't that the truth! If there’s one thing 2024 has hammered into me, it’s that this relentless pressure to always do more, be more, and achieve more is a one-way ticket to burnout. And honestly? It’s exhausting.

Let’s be real: 2024 owes us all an apology—and maybe some therapy vouchers. If this year were a person, it’d be the lover who ghosted you, only to reappear six months later with a 'U up?' text. Spoiler: No. I’m not up. I’m done.

Reflecting on the Curveballs

Every December, I revisit my journals from the past year. When I cracked open 2024’s pages today, my first reaction was a visceral “OUCH.” This year felt like a relentless game of dodgeball, but I was the only player—and life just kept pelting me with unexpected curveballs.

If you’ve been part of The Antidote Women’s Collective, you’ve witnessed my fair share of messy endings, heartaches, and unexpected twists. And I’ve seen you navigating your own storms with resilience and grace. Through it all, I’ve learned something remarkable: even as the hits kept coming, the capacity to let go of untruths and hold ourselves with compassion deepened.

Proud Moments in the Mess

I’m deeply proud of what this year has brought to life. Last winter, I took time to reflect on my values and envisioned a way forward that felt aligned and authentic. I wanted to teach feminine healing by fostering community through in person gatherings, retreats, women circles, meditation classes and embodiment playshops. My goal was to support my clients in making big moves with their work and lives while cultivating confidence, joy, loving their bodies and aligning with nature’s rhythms. Most importantly, I yearned to approach this work with ease—letting go of the need to “perform” and instead embracing my raw, unfiltered self. This included honoring the grief of my mother’s long goodbye while stepping into a profound new chapter of life, navigating the transition from maiden to mother.

The connections I’ve cultivated through my private coaching practice and the transformations I’ve supported, alongside the growth and sisterhood within The Antidote Women’s Collective, fill me with profound gratitude. But as proud as I am of what we’ve created, I’m also taking my own medicine: pausing. Instead of asking, What did I achieve? I’m asking, What did I release? What if this year wasn’t about building but unbuilding—letting go of commitments, habits, and mindsets that no longer serve?

Art by Autumn Skye

The Rare Energy of the Black Moon

A Black Moon—the second New Moon in a calendar month—is rare, much like the moments of deep reflection we create when we truly pause. Capricorn’s energy, with its discipline and long-term vision, feels like a nudge to ground all the lessons 2024 has offered.

Clarity doesn’t come from wishing—it comes from committing to what matters. This lunar cycle mirrors the work I’ve been doing all year: showing up for hard questions, trusting the process, and building a life that feels both expansive and rooted.

One pivotal lesson of 2024 was understanding that structure isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s the foundation it needs to thrive. I used to associate discipline with restriction, but I’ve come to see it differently: creating intentional systems—whether in work, relationships, or rituals—is an act of self-love. These structures carve out space for what truly matters.

Introducing Reflect & Intend

Making 2025 from a Rested, Nourished Soul

As I prepare to welcome 2025, I’m holding questions central to my journey:

• What beliefs have I outgrown?

• Where can I trust myself to take bold, aligned action?

• How can I create systems that support my intentions—without overcomplicating the process or burning out?

These reflections have shaped Reflect & Intend, my upcoming program beginning January 18th designed to guide you and others through this same process. This isn’t about New Year’s resolutions that fizzle out by February. It’s about aligning with your truth through cyclical wisdom and heart-centered manifestation.

Here’s the best part: the incredible women of The Antidote Women’s Collective will also be doing this transformative work together. This is a unique opportunity to align with an inspiring group of women who already know the power of regenerative living by syncing with nature’s cycles. Through Reflect & Intend, you’ll not only gain clarity for 2025 but also learn how to harmonize your life with these cycles—deepening your connection to yourself and the rhythms of the world around you.

Winter’s patient energy teaches us that rest is as vital as growth—that intention comes before action. Together, we’ll pause, reflect, and gently plant the seeds for a year rooted in clarity and purpose.

If 2024 stretched you, challenged you, or left you searching for alignment, I hope you’ll join me. Let’s create a foundation for a year that feels expansive, grounded, and uniquely yours.

With love,
Christina

P.S. The energy of this Black New Moon will linger for the next several days. If you’re feeling called to create a ritual to honor the year’s end, I invite you to download my free year-end meditation and guide.

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