What is a Starword?
One Word. Infinite Meaning.
One Word. Infinite Meaning.
A Starword (also called a "Word of the Year" or "One Word") is a single word that guides your year. Some people carefully choose their word through reflection; others receive it as a gift, drawn randomly from a collection of cards or given to them by a spiritual leader, friend, or community. Either way, the word becomes your guiding theme for the coming twelve months.
Your Starword becomes a lens through which you view decisions, a touchstone during challenging moments, and a reminder of who you want to become. Words like courage, grace, simplify, present, or growth can transform how you approach each day when you keep them close to your heart throughout the year.
New Year's resolutions have a dismal track record. Studies suggest that over 80% of resolutions fail by February. The problem isn't a lack of willpower; it's that long lists of specific goals can feel overwhelming and disconnected from our deeper selves. A single word, by contrast, is easy to remember and flexible enough to apply to any situation.
Your Starword isn't a task to complete or a box to check. It's a compass. When faced with a decision, you can ask yourself: "Does this align with my word?" When you feel lost, your word can remind you of your true north.
Many people choose their Starword through a process of personal reflection. Some spend weeks considering options; others find their word comes in a moment of clarity. Here are some approaches that work:
For many people, the most meaningful Starwords aren't chosen at all; they're received. This tradition is especially common in faith communities, where the element of surprise transforms the practice into an act of trust and openness.
When you receive a word rather than choose it, the initial reaction is often surprise or even resistance. "This isn't the word I would have picked!" That's often the point. A received word can challenge you to grow in unexpected directions and opens you to possibilities you might not have considered on your own.
The power of a Starword comes from keeping it present throughout the year, not just in January. This is where many people struggle, and why the Starwords app exists. Here's how to make your word a living part of your daily life:
While your word should be personally meaningful to you, here are some popular choices to spark your thinking:
The practice of focusing on a single word or phrase for spiritual growth has deep roots across many traditions. In the Christian contemplative tradition, practitioners have long used single words or short phrases as anchors for prayer and meditation. The Jesus Prayer ("Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me") and the practice of lectio divina (sacred reading) both emphasize returning to a word or phrase repeatedly to deepen one's spiritual life.
Eastern traditions similarly embrace the power of a single word. In Hinduism, a mantra is often a sacred word or phrase repeated during meditation. Buddhist practice includes the use of gathas, short verses or words to bring mindfulness to everyday activities. The universality of this practice across cultures speaks to something fundamental about how humans connect with meaning through language.
The contemporary practice of choosing a "Word of the Year" began gaining popularity in the early 2000s, emerging from several sources almost simultaneously. Ali Edwards, a scrapbooker and designer, is often credited with popularizing the practice in the creative community starting around 2006 with her "One Little Word" project, encouraging people to document their journey with a chosen word throughout the year.
Around the same time, Christine Kane began teaching the practice to entrepreneurs and creative professionals, emphasizing how a single word could guide business decisions and personal development. Her work helped bring the concept into mainstream self-improvement circles.
The term "Starword" itself has special significance in many Christian communities, particularly among Presbyterian and other mainline Protestant churches. In these traditions, Starwords are often distributed during Epiphany services (January 6th, celebrating the arrival of the Magi) as part of a meaningful ritual.
In this practice, congregation members draw a word from a basket or receive one that has been prayerfully assigned. The word is seen not as randomly chosen, but as divinely guided, a gift from God for the coming year. This transforms the practice from mere self-improvement into a spiritual discipline of listening, trusting, and growing in faith.
The connection to Epiphany is significant: just as the Magi followed a star to find something meaningful, so too do practitioners follow their Starword as a guiding light through the year. The word becomes a form of ongoing revelation, showing new facets and meanings as the seasons change.
Today, the Word of the Year practice has spread far beyond its origins. It's embraced by:
Whether you approach your Starword as a spiritual practice, a psychological tool, or simply a helpful framework for intentional living, you're joining a rich tradition that spans cultures, centuries, and communities.
If you'd like to explore the Word of the Year tradition further, here are some excellent resources:
The Starwords app is designed to help you stay connected to your word all year long. With thoughtful reflection prompts, gentle reminders, and a beautiful interface that keeps your word front and center, Starwords transforms the Word of the Year practice from a January tradition into a year-round spiritual discipline.