Sabbath for Epiphany

January 6th is Epiphany, the final day of the Christmas season. This was the day when the three Magi arrived in Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus, and recognized that he would grow up to be a great helper of people.

Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphania, meaning manifestation, or moment of recognition. The Magi had an epiphany - a moment of recognition, when the truth became clear through something simple and striking.

The one is the way to the many; the specific is the way to the spacious; the now is the way to the always; the here is the way to the everywhere; the material is the way to the spiritual; the visible is the way to the invisible. When we see contemplatively, we know that we live in a fully sacramental universe, where everything is an epiphany. 

—Richard Rohr 

Agenda for today:

1. Epiphany meditation

2. Year of Witness

3. Witness practices for January

4. Make a resolutions postcard

5. Bake a King's cake and make a crown

6. Kitchen blessing

1. Epiphany meditation: 

An epiphany is an insight that might take years to ripen, like when I suddenly understand something that has been hovering just out of my grasp; it's a brilliant feeling of clarity, a gift from Spirit, a moment of transformation. 

At the same time, it’s no big deal - Light and grace are always in the world; what is sporadic is my ability to pay attention and be present.

On New Year's Day I put the Greek Delphic injunction on my altar - Gnothi Seauton - Know Thyself. Today I will light a blue candle, for stillness, and a gray candle for the foggy path, and center on my breathing. When I am grounded, I will close my eyes and picture the path ahead of me - the whole glorious year that will unfold; the circle of the seasons; the challenges of growth; the people who will walk with me. 

After 10 minutes or so, I will stop and write down my thoughts, joys, concerns, and hopes.

Where is my intuition taking me?  

What might be the message or vision that is ripening in me this season?

What question do I want to shine greater light on?

2. Year of Witness:

I'm ready to settle on a theme for the year. I've been thinking that this is my Year of Witness, but what does that even mean?

Witness (verb): To have personal or direct cognizance of something important or amazing; to see or experience something oneself, and then to testify, make a statement based on that personal knowledge or belief.

In the Bible, “bearing witness,” is when someone sees something important or amazing, and then begins to share what they’ve seen. Quakers call it testimony - the public witness of an inward faith; the consequence of one’s relationship to God and the outworking of that relationship in one’s life. Friends have always believed that what was most important was how you live your faith in the world.

I want to be a witness this year to my understanding and experience of unity with nature, to a simple life, to hope and resilience and love. And I want to be an inspirational witness. I want to grow as a witness, with all my abilities and talents. 

3. Witness ideas for January:

Some witness practices and tasks: 

1. Set intentions for winter witness. 
2. Study and learn how to better voice my values and beliefs, and how to be inspirational with speaking and writing.
3. Plan some art and craftivism projects that might inspire the passion for change that I feel.
4. Keep a Witness Journal, to record my intentions, motivations, and plans for action each day, and how to release the clenched fist of defensiveness.
5. Make myself a Witness sign.
6. Create an earth care pamphlet and also unity arts pamphlet.
7. Enjoy a daily Inspiration Walking Meditation, to become more grounded in my body and my neighborhood.
8. Plan an abundant garden, and order seeds. Research January permaculture practices. (My garden as testimony!)
9. Clean and bless my home and land; exhibit a simple life.
10. Research new actions I can take to improve my buying habits and ecological being, and write about them.

4. Resolutions postcard:

As usual, I'm ready at the New Year to upgrade my health habits, take control of my moods, and have more discipline in general. These are not all of my high ideals and goals, but just three improvements I resolve to make in my daily routine:

Today I made this postcard to remind myself of my intentions!

5. Bake a King's Cake and make a crown:

In Mexico, Día de Reyes (Day of Kings) is the main celebration of Christmas, though Christmas Day is growing in popularity. Children get presents today from the three kings, and the family shares a special bread, called Rosca de Reyes (King's Cake), which looks like a large, delicious crown.

2022 King

A tiny clay doll (or an almond or coin) is placed inside the cake to symbolize the coming of the baby Jesus. Each guest cuts a piece, and the person whose serving contains the doll is considered king or queen of the fiesta, and is obligated to host another party on or before February 2 (Candlemas).

Since I made Focaccia della Befana yesterday, I don't plan to make King's Cake today, but here is the recipe.

6. Kitchen Blessing:

The Orthodox Church has a tradition of blessing homes within a few weeks after Epiphany. The family prepares by cleaning the house, and then a priest comes to sprinkle holy water and pray for each family member, living and dead.

So what is a blessing? The Church recognizes a blessing as a statement or prayer that invokes God’s favor and power, and prepares one to receive grace, or in the case of a house blessing, prepares the space and those within it.

My own understanding is that the act of cleaning itself is a blessing on the house, and that sitting still in a newly cleaned room is a good way to remember that we are each blessed, always and forever.

But I love a good ritual! My custom is to bless each room this month, first by cleaning it, then with a ritual, and then by remembering the blessings of life.

This week I've done the physical cleaning of my kitchen: sink, mold, woodwork, windows, and refrigerator, and I've tidied the shelves. But my house also holds emotional "dirt" that needs clearing, lingering psychic odors of angry words and melancholy thoughts, and the bad vibes of political debate heard on the TV.

For a simple house cleansing ritual, I use a twofold approach: Salt water and sage smoke.

Sea salt is an ingredient used in Christian holy water, and also in water used by Pagans for cleansing and blessing. I keep a small bottle of water with dissolved sea salt for this purpose. Sprinkling salt water is known as asperging. Salt water covers the elements of earth and water.  

 

Sage smoke is tied to the element of fire and air, and will scatter away negative vibes to the winds. I use the Old World culinary sage that my ancestor shamans may have used, and which I grow in my garden. I dry it in the fall and wrap it together with sewing thread.

1. Set the intention to clear out bad energy and invite in blessings.

2. Light a candle, and from that ignite the sage. Once it catches, blow it out so that it smolders. (Leave the candle lit, though.)

3. Walk around the room and waft the smoke into every corner. (In the kitchen, I even open the cabinets and drawers, and waft smoke inside.) As you walk, think about the intentions you set.

4. Pour a little salt water into a small bowl, dip your fingers in and lightly sprinkle it as you walk around the room a second time.

After the ritual, I'll sit quietly at the table with the lit candle, and savor the blessing of a clean kitchen. I may also say a short prayer to the Spirit of the hearth and home:

Blessed be this kitchen, the food, the herbs and spices, 

and the pots and pans used to prepare our meals.

Peace be to this house and to all who live here, 

and to all who visit.