Intentions and reflections
Yesterday, through the Society of Wine Educators, I passed my Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam!!!
At the beginning of the year I had set an intention to 1. study for the CSW exam for my personal and professional growth, and intellectual stimulation, and 2. foster Cosmic Vines as my passion project and a channel for creative stimulation. For the first 6 months of the year, I was enrolled in an online prep class that covered the materials of the exam study guide with weekly modules and wines of the week. Winter and Spring moved quickly and by May the growing season had officially started, resulting in an on/off commitment to continue my studying. By the time harvest rolled around, and I was knee deep in grapes, I realized I still hadn’t signed up for my exam date. I had been selected as a recipient of the SWE scholarship for the Certified Specialist of Wine program, which entitled me to one (1) CSW exam credit and a 1-year SWE Professional Membership. At that point, it was October. My exam credit expired in December and there were only three or four available dates left. So, to help make my decision, I looked at the moon calendar.
The Taurus Full Moon fell on Wednesday, November 5th and my exam date would be the following Saturday, November 8th. The day after my 25th birthday.
After spending the last week and a half of manic studying, I noticed the days leading up to the full moon felt overloaded with nervous energy and an internal frenzy of thoughts and emotions. Then, in the days following the full moon, I felt my body begin to relax. Worry turned to calm, and I felt a confidence in the information that I had obtained and retained, and an acceptance in whatever the outcome may be.
With a little less than 2 months left in the year, I reflect on this certification as the apex of this year: this cosmic cycle, the beaver supermoon, the manifestation and release, the yin year, the year of the snake. 2025 was, and is, the year of creativity, growth, intuition, expansion, wisdom, and transformation.
