Final Days of Christmas

We have three days of Christmas left! By now, most people are fed up with holidays and ready to get back to "normalcy" - but I'm holding on for my full 12-days-worth.

Agenda:

1. Christmas retreat

2. Integrity reading

3. Clarify my motivations

4. Prayer candle ceremony

5. Clean and clear the kitchen

1. Christmas retreat:

I will continue to start each day with a time of reflection on themes and values to support the new year. 

Today I am honoring my testimony of integrity: 

Integrity is the quality of being whole and undivided, and acting promptly on my beliefs. When I am honest and loyal, my integrity lights the dark places of life, and like the farmer, I know that the Light brings my harvest.

2. Integrity reading:

I've been re-reading "It's a Meaningful Life; It Just Takes Practice," by Bo Lozoff (2000). The first section is on The Inner Journey of Communion. Chapter one is Waking Up from the American Dream. He begins by talking about the consumer model of life's purpose, that if we can just get the things we desire, and avoid the things we fear, we will be satisfied and happy. But Bo points out that desire and fear are "the two great shackles of human existence, the two biggest barriers to our natural joy". 

Bo reminds me that even though I may lead a comparatively simple life, I must acknowledge that I'm influenced every day by the American Dream. "Keeping our heads on straight in this day and age requires conscious and persistent effort. One way to look at our pursuit of an appropriate state of happiness is to break it down into two parts:

1. What is my biggest view of life and my place in it? That is, what are my primary values?
2. What steps or behaviors are necessary to bring my daily existence into harmony with that view?

The gap between our sincere values and our actual behavior is the source of all self-hatred".

He goes on to suggest that we ask ourselves these questions daily, and use "scrupulous self-honesty" when answering.

3. Clarify my motivations:

Bo Loboff suggests that we clarify our motivations every day, just to remind ourselves of who we are, what we believe in, and what we intend to accomplish on this particular day. He suggests we start each day by saying something like this (these are my word):

"I am a seeker of truth, and I know my life has a purpose. Today may I meet each being with equanimity and loving-kindness, and approach each task with integrity and care."

And he also suggests that we seek small clarifications all day long, asking, "What is my reason for saying what I'm about to say? Why am I reaching for a snack? Why am I feeling tense?" and so on, not to psycho-analyze, but just to observe and put words to my motivations.

4. Prayer candle ceremony:

I'm enjoying a daily prayer candle ceremony throughout my extended Christmas retreat, using small candles and candle ends, and will choose a new candle to add each day.

Today I light another red  candle for integrity, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.

5. Integrity goals for 2023:

Integrity goals might have to do with how to improve my level of honesty and loyalty, raise energy for responsible action, increase my self-confidence and self-respect, and how to get more recognition for the work I do. 

My integrity intentions for 2023 are:

1. Care for my land with discipline and ritual, and create a home that is a peaceful and well-ordered sanctuary for those I love, because maintaining my land in good order is the honorable and sustainable thing to do, and is one way that I show reverence for the Earth and for God.
2. Finish things I start - a baby quilt, the book I'm writing, some new artwork - because my brilliant ideas won’t have any impact on the world unless I put them into form.
3. Complete End of Life preparations - forms and simplification - not because I feel death is imminent, but because integrity calls me to be prepared.
4. Get a better handle on my budget and savings, because having greater awareness and integrity with my money will help me to speak truthfully and be a force for equity.

7. Clean and clear the kitchen:

In January I kick off a month of deep cleaning. My house has certain mold-related issues that are best done before we get any deeper into winter. Also, this year I am compelled to clear out my storage areas, to symbolically make room for a new grandson.

A note about mold: I used to use bleach against mold, but I've been experimenting with safer approaches. The Home Healthy Homes site has a complete list. Today I'm using borax solution - 1 cup borax to 1 gallon water.

I take it one room at a time, and this week I'll clean and clear the kitchen:

• Shine the Sink: Clean the guck off the drainer tray with detergent, then make a solution of 1 cup of borax and a gallon of water in the sink, and let it soak for 1 hour. Use the borax solution to scrub around the rim of the sink and the faucets until they sparkle. Rinse well. (I also have a plastic cup of borax with a toothbrush sitting by my kitchen sink, to apply to the metal sink rim every day.)
• Scrub the mold from the windows with detergent and warm water, then wipe with the borax solution. Wait 20 minutes and repeat, and do not rinse because borax will help prevent mold from growing again. When it's dry, touch up the paint on the windows (moisture often leaves areas of bare paint around my panes).
• Clean the refrigerator: Remove all the food and the shelves, and clean with a mild detergent.
• Clear the pantry cupboard: Take everything out of one side at a time, and clean the shelves then replace some items, leaving a couple of shelves to hold our emergency food rations. (Use up or toss all old preserves this month.)