But sometimes as we approach a New Year, it seems as if the years turn in circles, taking us back to the same place where we began. Looked at that way, it seems that we are not growing, not really getting anywhere. At other times, we can see the image of a spiral that continually expands so that we are not the same as we were the year before, even though we approach the same Holy Days, even though we perceive some of the same issues in our lives.

Honoring this expanding image, we know that we are more available this year to perceive, to receive, and to celebrate that which is in each moment. And as we grow, we find ourselves asking questions. Who are we this year? How have we changed? And, especially, how are we to let go of this year and move into the next? However we experience it, we are approaching a time to say goodbye to the year that has been and to welcome that which needs to be met.

Saying goodbye doesn't mean we forget our past. It doesn't mean denying the successes or the failures of the year. Saying goodbye means to bless both the pain and the pleasure. It means to bless the goals accomplished as well as the dreams unfulfilled. But it does require letting go. It does require the willingness to say goodbye. And that has always been a difficult process.

Our sages told this story: It happened once upon a Rosh Hashanah that a great commotion reverberated up to the Highest of Heavens. In consternation, the angels came before the throne of God. “Something is happening!” they cried. “The New Year is not starting right.”

God sent the angels down to investigate. When they returned, they told God that the Old Year would not let go. “Everything has come to a halt,” they said. “The Old Year is keeping everything from moving on.”

God sent Michael, the Angel of God's Presence who sits at God's right, to reason with the Old Year. But no matter what Michael said to her, the Old Year would not let go. “It's no good,” Michael reported to God. “She won't listen to me.”

Then God sent Gabriel, the Angel of God's strength who sits at God's left, but all Gabriel's power did not convince the Old Year to let go. So God sent the Angel of God's vision, Uriel, who stands in front of the throne. Though Uriel sees very clearly, the Old Year still would not let go, and Uriel returned in failure like the others. Finally, God sent Raphael, the Angel of healing who stands behind the throne, to reason with the Old Year.

Raphael, finding the Old Year holding on so tightly, asked, “Why won't you let go? Aren't you tired?” “I'm very tired,” the Old Year replied, “but I can't let go. I'm not done yet. When I began, I had all kinds of dreams about the things I was going to accomplish. I had wonderful images and ideas about the kind of year I wanted to be and the things I wanted to do. I have not finished them. And, I am not proud of some of the things I did do. I don't want to let go until I can fix them. So you see,” the Old Year repeated, “I am not done. I can't let go.”

Raphael replied with compassion. “Dear Old Year,” he said. “You don't understand. That's how it is with every year. When a year begins, it dreams big dreams about the kind of year that it wants to be. But no year can do everything it dreams of doing. In fact, if a year completed those dreams, then it didn't dream big enough! And no year can do everything right. That's just how it is for a year. You've done great. You've done exactly what you were supposed to do. Your year is now a year of blessing.”

At this, the Old Year smiled. With a breath of relief, she let go.

Then Raphael turned to the New Year and said, “Now you can begin.” To which the New Year replied, “If that's what I have to look forward to, then I don't think I want to start. If that's the way I'm going to feel at the end, why would I even want to begin?”

Raphael smiled at the reluctant New Year, saying, “Yes, that's part of what you have to look forward to. The fact is, I'll meet you in a year and there will be many unfulfilled dreams and unmet goals. But think of the things you will be able to learn, and think of the things you will be able to share! Think of the things you will be able to celebrate. And at the end of the year, when you forget, just like this past Old Year, I will return to remind you that your year was also a year of blessing.” And so it was that the New Year began.

How is it then that we, like the Old Year, will finally let go? Letting go for us, as for the Old Year, begins with awareness. We become aware of the celebrations as well as the disappointments. We become aware of the pleasures and the pains. We become aware of all that our year has been without needing to deny any of it.

We continue the process of letting go by saying, “Amen,” to that awareness. Amen to the positives and the negatives. Amen to the celebrations and the disappointments. Amen to the pleasures and the pains. We let go of the resistance and the clinging, and we trust that as we release we become available for the wonders that the universe seeks to reveal. We become available to the wonders that arise within each of us. And so we let go of a year.