January is called Uki-Ague within the Benin Kingdom's lunar calendar. This is the month where we fast. Instead of rushing head first into the New Year, do your best to abstain from the material world. Becoming as quiet—as still as you can—often leads to greater spiritual fortification. In this month, there’s potential to experience interesting developments and encounters with your own ancestral lineage and spirits in your own environment—so long as you go within. Can you allow yourself to become empty? Can you allow yourself to let go?
Uki-Ague would be traditionally celebrated in the Kingdom with an echoing quiet. Marriages or burials would not be conducted during this time. Sexual abstinence was observed throughout. Little food would be eaten, especially yams, as this time would be reserved for speaking blessings into new yam seeds as slow preparations for spring begun. The quiet of this Kingdom would even extend to its festivities; no guns would be fired and the drums wouldn't even be played. Every one was in a deep state of meditation--of purification. The physical fasting would be doubled with spiritual cleansing, making this the ultimate time to build your spiritual strength.
Do your best to incorporate purifying rituals this month for the physical and spiritual body. Perhaps instead of overwhelming yourself with a full year resolution, let January be the month where you knuckle down on your clean eating, your exercise regiment, your phone detox, your meditation and slow mornings, your spiritual hygiene. This month naturally supports the development of devotion. Moving in alignment with our ancestors lunar calendar can magnify blessings and move you into a flow of progress. Perhaps you'll notice these goals being easier to sustain when you set January as the container.
For those born in January, happy birthday! Naturally, you may be very sensitive to external stimuli. You could come off more serious than intended and people could look to you as a source of wisdom and order. Those born in this month could benefit from living in a way that nourishes their spirit beyond superficial means. This doesn't necessarily mean to become a monk, but focus on doing things that has depth. It would benefit you from not partaking in things that can be half-assed, as it will drain you of energy. Always take excellent care of your auric and physical body. Regular retreats to go within yourself and quiet the noise from your environment would do you wonders!