Twefth Night

The evening of January 5th is called Twelfth Night, the Eve of the Epiphany, the night that the three Magi traveled to Bethlehem to see the newborn baby Jesus.

In Italy, the story goes, the Befana (short for Epiphania) was busy sweeping her floor that night, when the Magi stopped at her house. They invited her to come along with them on their trip to see Jesus but she said she was too busy.

Later she changed her mind and decided to follow, but she couldn’t find them. She continues her search each year on Twelfth Night, flying on a broom, going from house to house and leaving gifts.

Agenda:

1. Christmas retreat

2. Read "Writing and Being"

3. Discern a theme for 2024

4. Sweeping

5. Make Focaccia della Befana

6. Leave gifts

1. Christmas retreat: 

Today is the last day of Christmas, and I am wrapping up my mini-retreat. I'll give attention today to my inner Befana, the God-Spirit as Grandmother, aged and full of wisdom. She reminds me to pay attention to the path that lies before me, keep my priorities straight, and stay open to what each day offers. 

I've brainstormed some goals and resolutions for 2024, and today I'll indulge in discernment. Truth is a continual revelation, a constantly unfolding series of insights about how my mind works, how the world works, how other people view the world, and my role in all of that. The Light of Truth is what guides me, one step at a time, down my path.

If I listen for the voice of Truth in the midst of my daily work and in my relationships, then I will see the road I need to travel.

Where is the road leading me in 2024? 

What do I need to gather and pack for the trip? 

What distractions and potholes do I face?

How will I remember to stay open to new leadings, rather than bulldoze my way down the road?

It's a little unsettling that my ground is always unfolding before me, like a foggy pathway, but also liberating because it means I don't need to have all the answers right now. I have faith that New Light will be given to me, because that has been my experience.

2. Read Writing and Being:

I'm reading again from "Writing and Being: Embracing Your Life Through Creative Journaling," by G. Lynn Nelson (2004).

I'm reading chapter two: Entering the River, which is what the author calls it when you write from your heart and feelings. "...feeling is, always, our first experience of the world so we must begin with our feelings. Feelings are where our words become flesh; they are the grounding of our writing and being."

He goes on to say, "Personal writing in our journals is the heart of all our writing. There our words become tools for our psychological, intellectual, and spiritual growth. There, too, our individual insights, feelings, memories, and stories become the source of all meaningful and effective public writing -- gifts from our hearts to share with others".

One of the journal exploration for chapter two is called Fists into Flowers. This is my paraphrased version:

1. Breathe deeply. Relax. Just give attention to my breath for about 5 minutes.
2. Look within for what feels like a fist, something tight and clenched, a worry, or anger, frustration, or any holding on of pain.
3. Write about it: No analyzing, but just pouring it out on the page, anything that comes to me about this particular fist, for about 5 minutes.
4. Breathe again for about 5 minutes, and notice how the fist feels - is it tighter or looser?
5. Write again, steadily and freely, for another 5 minutes.

Keep repeating this alternating process as many times as I need for this particular fist, in order to eventually loosen its hold.

3. Discern a theme for 2024:

As soon as I am able in the New Year, I discern a theme for the year: 2019 was my "Year of Virtue", 2020 was my "Year of Gestation". 2021 was my "Year of Discovery", 2022 was the "Year of Awareness", and 2023 was my "Year of Being Rooted". I generally choose something poetic that embraces the overall trend of my goals and resolutions for the year.

Today I'll collect some more information:

• I will start with practical wisdom-- do some research, reflect, and weigh the possibilities.
• Next I will seek a leading of the spirit with an open mind and heart - listen for insight and intuitions - my felt sense - and then patiently labor to understand.
• Finally, I will seek clearness by inviting thoughtful questioning (not advise) from some people I trust. 

4. Sweeping: 

Twelfth Night is when we take down all the decorations and clean up all the dry greenery. Today I will dismantle my wreath, clear off the mantle shelf, and put all the dried greens in a paper bag in the garage, to save for the Imbalc fire on February 1st. I will stow away the last of the Christmas decorations - I do a thorough search because anything left out is supposed to stay up all year!

Next I will carefully sweep up all the needles, dirt, and dog hair, working my way slowly through the house, sweeping each room, getting into the corners and under the furniture.
When I sweep on this day, I give attention to the feel of the broom in my hand and the sound it makes on the floor. 

Some people focus on “sweeping away negative energy” but I think about gathering my resources - past, present, future.

This attentive sweeping is how I honor Befana, and all my Grandmothers through the ages, who kept houses clean; and also it's how I remind myself to give full attention to the ordinary work of my life.

5. Make Focaccia della Befana:

This traditional Italian sweet bread is studded with candied orange rind. The tradition is to put a little coin wrapped in aluminum foil inside the bread, and the lucky one who finds the coin will be fortunate in the New Year!

Ingredients:

• 3-1/2 c. flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 pack dry yeast
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 eggs
• zest of 1 lemon, minced
• 1/4-c. unsalted butter
• 1/3 c. milk
• 1/2 c. candied orange rind
• 1 egg + 1 tbsp milk, for egg wash
• coin wrapped in foil
• sugar pearls, to garnish
  

Makes 1 large or 3 small loaves

1- Mix the yeast with 1/4 cup of lukewarm water and let it dissolve for 10 minutes.

2- While that happens, combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl (I used my Kitchen Aid), mince the lemon rind, melt the butter, chop up the candied orange peel, and warm up the milk to just lukewarm.

3-Stir the proofed yeast into the bowl with the flour, then add sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and melted butter. Mix, adding the milk little by little until all the liquid is absorbed.

4- Knead on a floured board (I used my Kitchen Aid) until an elastic dough forms. (It's supposed to be a soft dough, but I should have maybe put in a little less milk because I needed to add a spoonful of flour.)

5- Add the candied orange peel and shape the dough into a ball. Put it into a clean bowl that is lightly floured, cover with cling wrap, and allow to rest in a warm place for 1 hour.

 6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and pour the dough onto it (I divided mine into 3 small loaves). Pat flat, and form a flower: Covering the center with a mug, and cut the outside into 12 petals with a knife, leaving the center intact. Hide a coin in one of the petals. 

7- Twist each petal once or twice. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar pearls. Allow to rest for 30 minutes.

8- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Bake for 15 minutes.

6. Leave gifts:

Traditionally I used to leave gifts tonight for my children, from Befana. It's the last special gift of the Christmas season; but now I deliver each family a loaf of fresh Focaccia della Befana instead.