Agenda:
2. Kwanza principle
3. Light a candle for learning
4. Read "It's a Meaningful Life"
2. Kwanzaa principles:
I'm enjoying a daily prayer candle ceremony throughout my extended Christmas retreat, using small candles and candle ends, and choosing a new candle to add each day.
At the end of each year I take a deep look at my self-renewal practices - how I nurture the physical, mental, and spiritual parts of myself - and set some goals for the new year. Today I will make a plan for my mental nurturance in the next year.
4. Read "It's a Meaningful Life"
5. Plan learning habits
6. End of year work list
1. Christmas retreat:
I am again making the 12 Days of Christmas into a mini-retreat for myself, and using the Soyal Way of Being as a guide for my days; that is, I'm keeping Mother Earth in my thoughts as I move quietly and respectfully about my days, in order to establish the right mood for the coming year, and reach a unity of everything in the universe.
I'm also doing some reading and writing every day, focusing on my priorities and what I'm called to do (or not do) next in my life. My plan is to contemplate, honor, and practice a different one of my life priorities on each of the 12 days, and set some goals and resolutions for 2024, based on guidance from God.
Today I am honoring Mental nurturance, which comes in the form of life-long learning - the process of acquiring and expanding knowledge and skills throughout my life. Learning is just as nurturing as is eating good food; if you give your brain something fascinating and challenging to digest, in small bites, you will be amazed at the insights and ideas that will bubble up, and the new mental strength and clarity you will gain.
Today I ask myself:
How can I foster my curiosity? What is my Inner Guide leading me to learn?
What new skills might be useful in the new year? What specific new skills do I need, to complete my goals and leadings?
What areas of study will lead me to my mission in life? What topics are of interest to me now? What topics will be a challenge to my usual way of thinking? What do I want to learn so I can teach it?
What study will help me to understand myself better, and help me to grow? What social skills do I still need to work on? What will make me more resilient?
What are some current events or issues I should understand better?
What kinds of resources can I use (books, videos, podcasts, workshops, etc.) and what is my timeline?
The second day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah), which is self-determination: Thinking for yourself, and deciding what you will say and do with your life.
3. Light a candle for learning:
Today I light a blue candle for life-long-learning, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.
4. Read "It's a Meaningful Life":
Last winter I began to re-read "It's a Meaningful Life; It Just Takes Practice," by Bo Lozoff (2000), and I'm picking it up again now.
Chapter eight is Take off the Bumper Stickers, about humility. He starts by saying, "No spiritual tradition has cautioned us against feeling the quiet self-confidence and self-respect that arise form living morally and being capable human beings." Then goes on to blast the American ideal of personal pride, aggressiveness, competitiveness, and self-obsession that are imparted to children on TV and in movies, and which leads to angry, pushy adults.
Bo says our children need to be appreciated rather than praised (with a bumper sticker that says, "My kid's on the honor roll"). Appreciation takes more time and commitment; we need to show it with our actions. We build self-esteem in children by teaching them how to live virtuously and behave decently, and by encouraging them to reach to be their best selves.
"Human beings are not going to feel good about themselves if they are lazy, spoiled, self-centered, greedy, and apathetic. ... Rising to meet challenges is built into the code of all life forms. ... One of the most fundamental inner incentives is the feeling, 'I could have done better'." And children lose that if everyone rushes in to say, "You did fine".
Also, since our primary task on earth is to move beyond ego altogether - to merge into God - teaching children humility is helpful for their spiritual journey.
5. Plan learning habits:
My ideas for learning goals so far in 2024 are:
- Weekly work on seasonal themes for my earth care blog: Study the science, permaculture, eco-justice, and Quaker perspectives; and how to share about climate change with hope.
- Learn more about permaculture practices that fit into the wheel of my year, and practical "unity arts" that bring me into unity with nature.
- Research the Native People who my ancestors impacted, and where they are today. Also, dig back further in time to understand my own indigenous roots better.
- Grow in equanimity and communication skills, and how to be resilient.
- Gather preschooler art ideas, and insights on teaching.
- Learn how to use water-based media, pastels, mixed media and collage in my paintings.
6. End of year work list:
This week is the traditional time to complete and tie the old year closed, and allow the New Year to start fresh: Finish old projects and old business, pay debts, make apologies, call neglected friends, and return borrowed items. I have a few of these kinds of things to do! I'd like to do them in the spirit of Sabbath - that is, with reverence and attention.
Today I will make a list of tasks and symbolic acts I can do in these last few days, and put them on my calendar. My list this year:
- Tuesday - Recycle, and set up kid's paint table
- Wednesday - Clean duck coop, and feed the birds
- Thursday - Finish and bind new calendars, send donations, and return juicer
- Friday - Finish mending, and send Nature blog
No comments:
Post a Comment