Second Sunday of Advent

Today starts the second week of advent. Advent is a time of vigilant waiting; I wait for something mysterious and unscheduled, but I wait with quiet excitement, and expectation. If I fall asleep to this awareness I risk missing the moment of joy, courage, or insight; the gift of grace that has the potential to feed me in ways I need.

Agenda today:
1. Journal queries
2. Advent wreath ceremony
3. Plan activities for unity and peace

Rohatsu and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Rohatsu is Japanese for "eighth day of the twelfth month," so it always falls on December 8th. It's also known as Bodhi Day.

Today Japanese Buddhists observe the enlightenment of the Buddha. 

And today is also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (L'Immacolata Concezione), a day to honor Mary because she was conceived and born free from original sin. Spanish and Italian Christmas celebrations start today, with street fairs, bonfires, and processions. Most people attend mass today, and lights and decorations go up on the streets and in homes.

Agenda today:
1. Zazen Meditation
2. Make rice kheer
3. Put up lights
4. Honor Mary

Advent Simplicity

My theme for this first week of Advent is to "Cherish and care for the earth". My aim is to celebrate simply, and consume less, so I have a gentle impact on the planet.

The modern way of observing the winter holidays supports an increase in waste; one statistic says that Americans throw away 25% more trash– an additional 5 million tons– between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. A fun holiday season doesn't have to be a wasteful one!

Agenda Today:
1. Journal queries
2. Make fabric bags
3. Make golden pine cone decorations
4. Make sweet, salty, or spicy nuts

St. Nicholas Day and New White Moon

Today is St. Nicholas Day, and tonight is the new moon. The Chinese call the eleventh new moon the White Moon, perhaps because it brings the snow, or perhaps because it's a yin time of year. 

This season puts limits on our lives. Chinese philosophy says the winter season is a time of conservation and storage; the night, the feminine, water, and cold is dominant. We slow down, go inward, and spend more time on quiet, yin activities.

Luckily, advent is four weeks long, allowing us to grow slowly and steadily towards the light. Let yourself go inward now, at the start of advent; be like the bear in her cave, saving your strength and relishing the darkness. Don't celebrate Christmas too soon; allow yourself to experience the darkness of winter, against which it shines.

Agenda Today:
1. Advent Prayer

2. Journal queries
3. Kindness meditation
4. Make luminaries

St. Nicholas Eve

Tonight is the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Nicholas was born in Lycia, which is now part of Turkey. Legend says he was a kind and generous man, who protected the poor and did many great deeds.

In Holland St. Nicholas is called Sinter Klaas (he is the original Santa Claus). Children in Holland leave their shoes by the fireplace on this night, and in the morning they are filled with marzipan and small toys. Also, Sinter Claus often leaves larger gifts tonight or during the next day.

Agenda today:

A fox for Toys for Tots

1. Joy of Giving meditation
2. Journal queries
3. Donate to Toys for Tots
4. Make pfeffernüsse
5. Make recycled block signs
6. Fill shoes

Advent Earth Care

Exploring the Amazon, looking for birds.

My theme for this first week of Advent is to "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in two basic ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Agenda Today:
1. Go for longer walks
2. Study climate change
3. Work outside
4. Deck the halls
5. Make bird feeder pine cones