This is the sixth day of Christmas, and time to wrap things up for this old year! Today I have time to myself, and the energy to sink into revery, and begin to bring thoughts of the New Year into focus.
Tonight is also the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. Now is the time to remain flexible, use obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities.
Agenda today:
1. Christmas retreat
2. Kwanzaa principles
1. Christmas retreat:
I am again celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with 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.
Two days left of 2022; it's time to see it out, and welcome in the New Year! This is an introspective time- standing at the door of the year, looking backward and forward. It's my habit to reflect on the past and also to ponder the year ahead- consider my true purpose and envision hopes for myself and my world.
Today I am honoring my life purpose and career:
What are my most important reasons for living? What are my priorities? What would my best life look like? What actions give me the feeling of a meaningful life, and best support my beliefs and values?
Describe my life path now - Is it clear or foggy? What are my next steps in life? Do I have any well-defined missions?
What dreams do I have for the New Year? What might I do in the New Year to better express myself? How do I want to grow? Imagine accomplishing my goals; how do they benefit my family and community?
As I move into retirement, what work do I cling to, and why? Is this the work I'm called to do? How do I discern the next chapter in my life?
2. Kwanzaa principles:
The fifth day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of nia (NEE-ah), which is purpose. Purpose allows me to dream of the best future, to look within and set personal goals that are beneficial to me, my family, and my community.
3. Purpose reading:
To continue my recent practice of re-reading some favorite books, I picked up a book I first read 20 years ago: "It's a Meaningful Life; It Just Takes Practice," by Bo Lozoff (2000). When I first read this book I was in my mid-40's, and I now realize how foundational it was for me. The book is divided into two sections, and I've started section one, The Inner Journey of Communion.
The introduction is Creating a Personal Spiritual Practice. He starts off by quoting texts from different traditions that indicate. that God knows everything and cares about everything; this is the hinge of his belief that life has meaning.
"If God knows and cares about everything then it stands to reason that everything counts. Our lives do have meaning. Life is basically good under all the struggle or confusion we may face. Everything fits."
This first chapter is all about how to remember that life is good, and that requires "serious, diligent spiritual practice ... 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.
4. Purpose, depth, and career goals for 2023:
I'm finishing up the work of setting goals and resolutions for the New Year, and my theme for today is my life purpose and depth - following the true course of my life, like a river flowing through a deep ravine. Staying on my path requires courage, honesty, and persistence. The path is always mysterious, and leads to unexpected challenges and changes. I’m directed back at every turn into the deep waters within myself, to discern the best route. Like water, I am persistent and sincere, and I keep flowing. Goals for this area might be to find my true purpose in life, gain greater courage or persistence, make a change in my job or career, or discern my “natural” course.
My ideas for purpose and career goals so far:
- Develop, practice, and share my Medicine Art process.
- Continue to work on a Ducks in a Row book.
- Continue to explore mixed-media and modern color theory with my painting class.
- Connect to my lineage and my community with ritual and service; host Medicine Art gatherings.
5. Prayer candle ceremony:
I'm enjoying a daily prayer candle ceremony throughout my extended Christmas retreat, using small candles and candle ends, and will choose a new candle to add each day.6. Make a full effort plan:
Full effort (sometimes called exertion) is one of the steps of mental discipline on Buddha’s eightfold path. Buddha was urging full effort for awakening the mind; a first step is to practice full effort for whatever is most important in your life right now - for your priorities.
Today I made a full effort plan for creating New Year seed charms, small fabric tokens that contain actual seeds, images, and words. I've finished one for my sister, and I want to begin three more. My intention is to create these beautiful pieces of art that gives us each a New Year blessing, and connects us to nature and to each other, because being rooted in earth and family will make us invincible.
My plan:- Visualize and draw each seed charm.
- Gather the bits I need for each charm: Seeds, fabrics, threads, and beads.
- Stamp the words on different bits of fabric - experiment with colors until they look right.
- Pack the bits for each charm into bags so I can take them on my travels this weekend.
7. Practice purpose with New Year's resolutions:
I've got lots of missions and goals, but resolutions are a little different; they usually involve self-improvement, improving habits or chronic behaviors.
Still, I want my New Year's resolutions to speak to my purpose in life. Looking back to last week when I set some goals for renewal, quite a few pop out as possible resolutions.
- Grow in equanimity skills, and loving kindness.
- Daily and weekly journal queries, awareness practices, and devotions that are both earth-focused and Quakerly, and bring mindfulness to my days.
- Walk more than I have been - rain or shine - to get in touch with my climate and to move my muscles.
- Try a new habit app to stay on track with daily self-care, including stretches.
- Use a Pomodoro timer to remind myself to take movement breaks every hour, all day long.
- Continue to try out new veggie recipes, and cook healthier meals.
Tips:
- Start early: If I wait until the last minute, my resolutions will be based only on my mind-set that particular day.
- Be realistic. Set small, clearly defined goals that will be possible to accomplish.
- Also, limit the number to two or three at the most.
- Make a plan: Consider how I will stick to it. Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of my personality.
- Talk about it: Don't keep my resolutions a secret. Tell at least a couple people what I am planning, and ask if they will check up on my progress.
- Write about my motivations: A few weeks in to the New Year it will be very helpful to read and remember why I thought these resolutions were such a good idea.
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