The Japanese have a wonderful custom of honoring the New Year's "firsts," which they call hatsu. Among the first activities they note on this day are the first day of work, the first visit to temple and the first practice session for artists. You should note your "firsts" this year, and practice kakizome or the act of "first writing." To do so, choose your favorite poem, prayer, or passage of writing. Copy the passage in your best handwriting on to a sheet of the best and whitest paper you can find. The paper sybolizes the pure New Year, a time when much is possible. This practice serves as a good luck charm for a year begun in beauty. And a year begun well, ends well.