Guiding Light

This week of advent I focus on the Guiding Light of God. My image of God is the Creator Spirit of earth and sky, and the Love and Light that lives in all people. I think of Light as Truth, with a capitol T.

I try to live always awake and listening for the message of love, and always feeling a connection to Creation, but I often get distracted. I often feel disconnected, disengaged, and detached. This week I plan to take some time to heal my relationship with my Guiding Light.

In one of my favorite books, "It's a Meaningful Life; It Just Takes Practice," by Bo Lozoff (2000), Bo describes why to create a personal spiritual practice - because "We must be willing to do the spiritual work that gradually brings us into communion with what is eternal and divine within us".

Bo says that daily spiritual practice is how we clear the slate so that bad habits can't as easily flourish, and also to become more aware of the depths of our being. We practice so that our default mode becomes generally more spiritual than worldly, and we develop an equanimity that helps us breeze through life.

Agenda:
1. Read a novena

2. Christmas Retreat Brainstorm for Renewal

3. Spiritual reading

4. Plan a spiritual practice

5. Winter Awareness Walk

Fourth Sunday of Advent and Third Quarter Moon

The fourth and final part of advent begins today. When I have observed advent well, I find that I am now mostly prepared for Christmas - my house is fairly clean, shopping is finished, and the cupboards are filled with yummy food. I need to complete only a few finishing touches. This is when I often start an intentional period of introspection: A Winter Retreat Brainstorm for the Next Year.

Today is also the Third Quarter Moon: This waning moon energy is yin - quiet, internal, heart-driven, intentional Being-ness. At this phase we can ease off a bit on actively pursuing goals, slow down, go within, and attend to inner work and self-care.

This is a good day to take a deep breath and go back to the source, back to the Spirit that brings me to this place of light and grace; back to living in Spirit, being Spirit. I remember then that happiness comes in calm simplicity, and awareness in the moment. I experience Spirit through my breath, and with each sensation, sight, sound, smell, and taste. I only need to be fully awake to the ordinary miracle of Being, and keep my focus on the Spirit of Love that guides me.

Agenda:

1. Read a novena

2. Plan ways to give attention to God

3. Spirit Guide trance

4. Evaluation House

5. Advent wreath ceremony

6. 

Surrender, rest, recuperate

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice occurred this morning at 1:19 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice happens during the coldest season of the year, when the sun is at its lowest angle and is seen for its shortest period. This is the turning point, the moment of new beginnings - the darkest time, with the brightest hope.

The Winter Solstice was never a one day festival - three days seems to be the minimum. The sun appears to stand still for three days, then days begin to noticeably increase in length (and we all sigh in relief). 

We need to believe in these little myths - that the sun is returning and hope is reborn - so that we can continue to believe in the Big Myths, like justice, mercy, democracy, freedom - "That sort of thing".

“Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.” ~Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

 

Alban Arthan is the Celtic and Druidic name for the Winter Solstice, a celebration of the strengthening sun - and the central theme is renewal; we leave the past behind and greet the new. The world is undergoing constant change and we must change and adjust, too, in order to be able to survive.

From A Druid Way: "One link between the objective and the subjective is awen, inspiration, the flow of spirit, which lets us evoke in others an echo of our original experience. Let the echo be strong enough, let our understanding of this thing called being human, and our skill in working with it, run equal to the task, and music, image, voice, story, object of craft can all serve to unite us in the experience of mystery. An echo from outside awakens a resonance within us." 

Agenda today:

1. Druid peace prayer 

2. Read a novena

3. Make candles

4. Make Irish Shortbread

Modraniht (Mothers Night)

Tonight is known as Modraniht, or Mothers Night, by Saxon Pagans - the start of Yule. My ancestors were predominantly Anglo-Saxon, that is, of English and Germanic descent, and I've done some research into modern Saxon Paganism in an attempt to reclaim some of my heritage and better connect me to my ancestral roots.

When Anglo-Saxons first began to settle in England they brought Yule with them. We don’t know too many details about what this festival entailed: They cut a Yule Log to provide fuel and gradually pushed it into the fire as it burned. They decorated homes and halls with evergreen leaves and branches. They feasted. Some records say it lasted 12 nights.

Modern Pagans celebrate the start of Yule on either December 20th or 21st. On the first night of Yule they pay tribute to the ancestral mothers who protected and watched over the family, helped with childbirth, and healed illnesses.

Agenda today:

1. Love meditation

2. Read a novena

3. Make lemon Sun biscuits

4. Mothers Night Fire and Prayer

Prepare for the Solstice

The Winter Solstice is approaching, and the start of winter. This an occasion to honor the sun, and remember that in spite of our technology, we are still dependent on the sun for life. 

Our world does revolve around the sun! 

Agenda today:

1. Love meditation

2. Read a Novena

3. Read "Active Hope"

4. Say a prayer of aspiration

5. Paint a plum tree calendar

6. Piñata Party

Advent Hope

This week of advent my theme is "family love and joy". One way I show my love is to maintain a well-ordered and peaceful sanctuary for my family and friends, and a welcome space for nature; also, maintaining my home and 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.

As I've said, my Earth-Quaker way of celebrating is to acknowledge and mark the changes of the season as they progress. The season of advent is when I celebrate the darkness, and the hope of returning light.

Darkness is not all bad; it can be cozy. Darkness leaves space for mystery, reflection, and quiet growth. But the world holds so much chaos, grief, war, famine and hunger; it's important to remember to have hope, and shine the light.

Agenda:

1. Love meditation

2. Read a novena

3. Read "Active Hope"
4. Rosy Future

5. Dawn prayer for Creation

6. Make a gingerbread house