Happy new year, friends!!
I wish you a 2026 where you feel present and aligned with what your heart and body need, OR at peace with whatever this season is offering you.
I know that in my previous article, I left you with a cliffhanger last quarter about turning data attributes into data visualizations. We'll get there soon. But first, I want to introduce the themes for this year.
A quick note: I find it hard to stick to themes if they don't align with what I'm actually curious about in the moment. So if you want to break out and follow a different thread entirely, do it. Alignment with what's alive for you right now matters more than sticking to a plan.
My friend Miriam Morrill suggested using the classical elements as a framing device: Air, Water, Fire, Earth. Four elements. Four quarters. Each offering a lens to notice what's already happening—outside and inside.
The Elements
Q1 (January–March): Water
Snow melting, rain falling, fog settling. There's heaviness now: earth holding moisture, bodies moving slower, needing more rest. Joints might feel stiffer, emotions closer to the surface. Notice water wherever it shows up — outside and inside.
Q2 (April–June): Air
Wind carrying seeds or pollen, temperature shifts, sound traveling differently. Inside, you might feel lighter, more active, or perhaps more scattered, or restless. Notice what moves, what carries, what you're breathing in.
Q3 (July–September): Fire
Sun at its peak, plants conserving energy, animals seeking shade. Inside, you might feel sharp - focused or irritable, hungry or without appetite. Notice what's too hot to touch, what's thriving, and what needs rest.
Q4 (October–December): Earth
Things falling, breaking down. Bodies wanting more weight, stability, routine. You might crave warmth, grounding foods, early / excessive sleep. Notice what's composting, what's taking root, and what endures.
I'm drawn to these themes because they echo something I grew up with. In India, I heard my elders speak about emotions and patterns in nature as reflections of natural rhythms, ideas rooted in Ayurveda and older ways of understanding the world. I'm curious about how universal those patterns actually are. Gathering data feels like a way to see what holds true for me, here, now.
Coming Up Next
In the next article, I'll share specific questions you might explore during this Water quarter. But you don't need to wait. Start right now. This week, if it rains where you are, notice what happens right before: the clouds, the smell, how birds or insects behave. Then notice what shifts after the rain starts, and how long those changes persist. If it's not raining, notice other water behaviors: what thrives in fresh water versus salt or brackish water, moisture content in the air, water retention strategies in plants, where dew collects, your own water intake, etc
For now, just notice where water shows up in your world this quarter, and what it's doing inside you.