ad•vent (ad’ vent) n. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important.
The advent season is a time of expectant waiting. I wait for the return of longer days after the solstice; I look forward with excitement to our celebration of Christmas; and I wait expectantly for the arrival of grace in my heart.
Grace is a state of being- at peace, free, filled with love & light. Advent is a time set aside each year to come into intimate contact with my own need for grace. I ask "What is it I long for now? For what am I waiting?" The more I carry these questions and let them penetrate through the layers of distraction and self-protection, the more powerfully I will experience Advent.
I fill the days of advent with decorating, baking, buying gifts, and singing songs, but enfolding the busyness is simple, deep peace. I wait, anticipate, and learn again that transformation is a slow process.
1. Journal:
What am I waiting for this advent?
What is my biggest need for grace?
What is this emptiness I am trying to feed?
Where do I need balance and greater peace?
2. Advent wreath ceremony:
When my kids were young, I wrote short advent prayers for each week- with themes that were meaningful for us- to say as we lit the candles. We have used these same prayers ever since.
Tonight we will light the first advent candle (the green one, for the earth) before dinner and say the first prayer:
“We light the first candle for the earth, which sustains us. May we cherish and care for it.”
Each night this week, we will let this first candle burn while we eat dinner.
3. Plan activities:
My theme for this first week of advent is to cherish and care for the earth, and I have planned activities throughout the week to reaffirm my unity with nature. Generally, I do this by giving attention to nature, and by remembering to find joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, using, and wasting.
Things to do this week to express unity with nature:
- Spend time outdoors to get in touch with the season and climate. Walk or bike to get places. Visit a wild area. Rake leaves, or turn the compost.
- Pay attention to the weather, the outdoor temperature, the birds, the sky, the leaves, the moon cycle.
- Learn more about the wildlife that lives in our area in the winter; find out what they eat. Learn the names of the trees in the neighborhood. Learn the names of the clouds.
- Give care to the plants and animals. Feed the wild birds.
- Bring nature indoors- collect greens, pine cones, straw, and other natural materials. Use natural materials to make gifts and decorations.
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