New Year's Eve

Tonight is New Year's Eve - a big night for many people. W and I are visiting family for the New year's weekend, as has been our tradition for a few years now.

This is the final day of 2024; it's time to see it out, and welcome in the New Year! 

Agenda today:

1. 

Kwanzaa principle

2. 

Christmas retreat brainstorm

3. Celebration plans

4. Resolutions

5. Simple steps for health and order

6. Make noise!

Sixth Day of Christmas, New White moon, and Soyal

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. It's 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.

Tonight is also 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. (I messed up the Chinese calendar this year at some point, so this is the second White moon)

And today is the start of Soyal, a Hopi ceremonial period that begins at the new moon closest to the Winter Solstice and lasts for 16 days. Soyal is short for Soyalangwul, which means Establishing Life Anew for All the World. It's a sacred time of peace and preparation for the new growing season.

Agenda Today:

1. Kwanzaa principle

2. Review the Divine Laws

3. Christmas retreat brainstorm

4. Purpose plans

5. Choose a month theme

6. New moon altar and meditation

7

. 

Settle into the Soyal Way of Being

Fifth Day of Christmas

2024

This is the fifth day of the twelve-day festal tide - a sacred, festive season. I'm in Sabbath mode, spending these Twelve Days doing as little work as possible, resting, reflecting, and finding peace within.

I have a day to myself, and since tomorrow is the new moon - and I will be visiting family by then - I've decided to take my day of retreat today: I will do less talking, less business, and more personal thought and action. I plan to be present in the moment and take it one thing at a time.

Agenda today:

1. Kwanzaa principles

2. Christmas retreat brainstorm

3. Earth reading

4. Earthcare plans

5. Pick a theme for the year

6. Turn the compost

Fourth Day of Christmas

This is the fourth day of the twelve-day festal tide - a sacred, festive season. I'm in Sabbath mode, spending these Twelve Days doing as little work as possible, resting, reflecting, and finding peace within.

Agenda:

1. Kwanza principle
2. Christmas retreat brainstorm

3. Creativity reading

4. Creativity plans

5. Start an art project

6. Plan New Year's resolutions

Third Day of Christmas

This is the third day of the twelve-day festal tide - a sacred, festive season. I'm in Sabbath mode, spending these Twelve Days doing as little work as possible, resting, reflecting, and finding peace within.

And this year I've even started a puzzle!

Agenda:

1. Kwanza principle
2. Christmas retreat brainstorm

3. Sanctuary reading

4. Sanctuary plans

5. Tying loose ends

6. Make cookies

Second Day of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa

This is the second day of the twelve-day festal tide - a sacred, festive season. In some old traditions, this whole season was 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.

And it's also the start of Kwanzaa, a seven-day African-American cultural holiday - an American holiday inspired by African traditions. The word kwanza is Swahili for “first”, as in "first fruits", because in some parts of Africa this is the season for first fruits harvest festivals. Kwanzaa is a time of thanksgiving for the earth, but also a time to honor ancestors, and a time for African-Americans to celebrate their heritage and learn about African traditions and values.

Hanukkah 2021

It's also the first night of the eight day Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is observed beginning three days before the new moon closest to the winter solstice, at the darkest part of the moon phase and the darkest part of the sun phase.

Agenda:

1. Kwanzaa principles

2. Christmas Retreat Brainstorm for Renewal

3. Make a mind map

4. Learning plans

5. Prepare for Hanukkah

6. Make potato latkes

7. Hanukia Ceremony

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 Brainstorm for Renewal

2. Love reading

3. Love plans

4. Open Gifts

5. Put Baby Jesus in the manger

6. Christmas dinner and pudding

Christmas Eve

Tonight is Christmas Eve. Advent is nearly over, and Christmas is upon us. Today I will tie together some loose ends (finish one gift, final wrapping, bake sweet bread), and settle into the grace and mystery of Christmas.

What is the grace of Christmas? It's an experiential thing. We don't need faith that the sun will rise because we have experienced it. Even in the darkest of times, this season of Light and Love will deliver its grace.

Agenda Today:

1. Read a novena

2. Christmas Retreat Brainstorm for Renewal

3. Health Reading

4. Health plans

5. Make Danish Prune Bread

6. Hang our stockings

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

Family Love and Joy

During this week of Advent my theme is "family love and joy". Of course, the joy of the season is spontaneous and un-planable, but I do these three things to create the right conditions:

My children painted these plaster houses when they were young.

• Take the time to consider what my friends and family will want most this season. In other words, I become less self-focused and more generous in all ways. 
• Be respectful, flexible, patient, and kind (no matter how stressed I feel).
• Take care of myself so I can be calm and present for the spontaneous joy when it arises.

These are obviously year-round aspirations, but I need a daily reminder now, because, somehow, everything seems more important: I have expectations (both of myself and others) about how things should go, and that never works.

Agenda this week:

1. Read a novena

2. Daily love journal

3. Read "Soulful Simplicity"

4. Self-care plans

5. Check in with my family

6. Card-writing practice

Las Posadas and the Christmas Novena

Tonight is the start of Las Posadas, a nine-day Mexican celebration that begins on December 16 each year. Posadas is Spanish for "lodging", and the nine days represent the nine months of Mary's pregnancy. In Mexico, people gather tonight and carry candles and clay figures of Mary and Joseph from house to house, reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for a room at an inn. They are turned away again and again with a rude “No!” Finally, one house allows them to enter, and everyone celebrates with food and a piñata. The procession is repeated each night through Christmas Eve, ending with a party at a different house.

Tonight is also the start of the Christmas Novena in Italy. A Novena is a Catholic ritual, a prayer repeated daily for nine days. It can take place at any time of the year, but one of the most observed is the Christmas Novena, recited or sung during the nine days leading up to Christmas day. Las Posadas comes from that same tradition.

Agenda:

1. Read a novena

2. Set out our crèche

3. Make cucidati (Italian fig cookies)

4. Plan a piñata party!

Third Sunday of Advent and Full Cold Moon

We made it through the second week of advent. It was a pretty calm and enjoyable time with the grandkids: We made cookies, set up the snow scene, and made a piñata together. This next week will be more of the same - lots of cookie making, a gingerbread house, and building excitement for a piñata party and Christmas party at the end of the week.

And tonight is the Full Moon of December, sometimes called the Cold Moon (for obvious reasons), but it is also called the "Not Bad Weather Moon" by the Kalapuya of my area, and that's generally pretty accurate. We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon. But today it's time to CELEBRATE!

Agenda:

1. Read "Active Hope"

2. Take a vision walk
3. Celebrate Grace

4. Plan activities for family fun

5. Advent wreath ceremony

Create Inner Peace

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world". One way I do that is to create and retain inner peace. Right about now, as the holiday energy builds and social demands increase, I need to review practices that help me to maintain an even-temper, patience, and grounded-ness.

Agenda:

1. Prayer for the light

2. Read the "Emotional Balance Workbook"

3. Recognizing Mindful Moments exercise

4. Inner peace practices

5. Daily love journal

Christmas in Ireland

My theme for this week of Advent is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world".

One way I love to do that is by learning about the traditions and beliefs of people throughout the world. In years past I've studied Germany and Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, and Mexico.

This year I've decided to look at Ireland, home of my Celtic ancestors.

Agenda:

1- Research Ireland

2- Irish advent prayer

3- Make soft Irish ginger cookies
4- Irish lace garden

Lussi Night and Luciadagen

Tonight is Lussi Night in Norway and in Sweden, and tomorrow is Luciadagen (pronounced LOO-sha-da-gen), or St. Lucia’s Day, or St. Lucy’s Day.

It's hard to sort out all the Lucys: We have St. Lucia, a Sicilian woman in the reign of Diocletian who became a Christian martyr. Because her name means light, she was appointed to be the patron saint for the eyes.

We also have the older Roman goddess Lucina, also the goddess of light, and of childbirth- bringing children to light.

And in Scandinavia, we have Lussi, a female demon or witch accompanied by an entourage of gnomes and spirits called Lussiferda.

Agenda:

1. Lusse-vigil

2. Make simple gifts

3. Set out more candles

4. Make Lussekatt (St. Lucia buns)

Human Rights Day

Today is Human Rights Day: The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948.

This year’s Human Rights Day slogan is: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.

"This year’s theme is a call to acknowledge the importance and relevance of human rights in our everyday lives. We have an opportunity to change perceptions by speaking up against hate speech, correcting misinformation and countering disinformation. This is the time to mobilize action to reinvigorate a global movement for human rights."

Agenda:

1. Journal queries

2. Choose next steps

3. Take the human rights pledge