First Day of Christmas

 

Today is Christmas, but only the first day of Christmas (what Norwegians call 1. juledag). This is the start of the twelve-day festal tide adopted by the Christian Church: In 567 C.E. church leaders proclaimed the days from December 25 to Epiphany as a sacred, festive season.

Now my preparations are finished, and I can relax with my family, do a puzzle, eat, drink, and generally wallow in joyful abandon.

In some old traditions, this whole season is seen as a sort of Sabbath: Prepare ahead of time and then spend the Twelve Days doing as little work as possible. It's a good time to rest, reflect, and find peace within.

Agenda:
1. Christmas retreat

2. Plan physical nurturance habits

3. Candle Prayer ceremony

4. Put Baby Jesus in the manger

5. Open Gifts

1. Christmas retreat:

I am again making the 12 Days of Christmas into 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. 

I'm also going to do some reading and writing every day, focusing on my priorities and what I'm called to do (or not do) next in my life. My plan for the 12 Days is to contemplate, honor, and practice a different one of my life priorities on each of the 12 days, and set some goals and resolutions for 2023.

2. Plan physical nurturance habits:

For the first three days of Soyal I've been taking a deep look at self-renewal, and making a plan for the new year for nurturance of the physical, mental, and spiritual parts of myself, looking at one part of me each day. 

Today I will plan some goals for my physical nurturance in the year of 2023. 

Physical self-care involves eating well, exercising, sleeping enough, playing, and also, because it's part of physical survival, budgeting, saving, and spending within my means. Just as I need my home to be in good repair to weather a storm, I need to be strong myself. I depend on my body strength and energy to be effective and succeed at my priorities. When I am physically and mentally strong, I thrive no matter what life throws at me, and can move forward without the baggage of fears and grudges.

Am I getting enough sleep, exercise, and am I eating the right foods? Do I need to schedule any health check-ups?

Am I showing care and kindness to my body with the little daily habits of respect, like brushing my hair and flossing?

What self-care habits do I most need to add now in my life, to give me greater energy and increase my health and well-being? What is holding me back from practicing these?

Am I getting enough time to relax and play, and how am I spending that time? 

Am I living within my budget?

As usual at the New Year, I'm ready to upgrade my health habits, strengthen my body, and improve my diet. I know I'd better start with small steps that I can easily maintain.

My ideas so far for self-care renewal in 2023 are:

• 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.

3. 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.

Today I light a green candle for health, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world.

4. Put Baby Jesus in the manger:

Of course, Baby Jesus must arrive in His crib this morning! 

I believe that we all have that of God within, and I generally picture it as Light, but the Christ Child is another wonderful image. At Advent, I am a baby again, waiting for birth into wisdom and grace.

5. Open gifts:

We are going to my daughter's home this morning to open our presents, sit by the fire, eat bagels and prune bread, fruit, and egg nog. We celebrate the birth of Jesus by giving gifts to those we love.