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

1. Kwanzaa principles:

The second day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principle of kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah), which is self-determination: Thinking for yourself, and deciding what you will say and do with your life. All of us can benefit and grow by celebrating these principles, and I like to journal and plan each year, using these principles as a focus.

Self-determination requires me to understand who I am- personally, historically, and culturally. I need to know the history of my people and where I come from, so that I can live grounded in my past. My English, German, Swiss, French, and Dutch ancestors have much wisdom and insight to offer me.

Who am I, and how do I define myself- personally, historically, and culturally? 
How do I express my individuality?
What might I do in the New Year to better define myself?

From my journal: I'm working on stepping firmly into the role of wise-woman-teacher, and so teaching in as many ways as I can find is one possible resolution for the New Year.

2. Christmas retreat brainstorm:

I am again making the 12 Days of Christmas into a mini-retreat for myself - I've completed my renewal ideas ad am turning now to my priorities and what I'm called to do (or not do) next in my life. My plan is to contemplate, honor, and practice a different one of my life priorities each day, and set some goals and resolutions for 2025, based on guidance from God.

Today I am honoring my priority of

sanctuary. 

A sanctuary is a sanctum, a sacred and protected place of beauty, grace and refuge; it embraces us and brings us back to center. When we take sanctuary, even for brief moments, we are re-created, recharged, healed, soothed, comforted and at peace.

My home (in a perfect world) is the calm center of the storm; it

 shapes childhood memories and adult experiences. 

Our home is cozy and fairly clean and tidy, but it has room for improvement: Our peace is upset by cluttered storage spaces and a few too many sharp words. I want to consider how to improve my home and garden spaces.

What rooms and outdoor spaces in our home and garden need the most work to become a true sanctuary: safe, comfortable, and welcoming? What are my home space priorities? How can I put my creativity into form to serve a sense of sanctuary?

 

How can I tend my home in a way that pleases and feeds my soul? How can I improve on my cleaning routine, and clean our home with joy and intention? How can I invite synergistic help around larger maintenance tasks?

 

What physical clutter am I more than ready to let go of? What clutter am I clinging to? How do I balance simplicity and order in my home with abundance and creativity?

 

How can I better create sanctuary for the natural world, that lets me share its space? How can I remember to think of our home and land as kin, as a place with a soul of its own, and  listen to what it wants?

3. Sanctuary reading:

Today I'm reviewing Outer Order, Inner Calm, by Gretchen Rubin. She wrote a helpful manifesto and I've selected a few that speak to me this year:

• Outer order contributes to inner calm.
• It’s easier to keep up than to catch up.
• If you can’t retrieve it, you won’t use it.
• Creating outer order isn’t a matter of having less, or having more; it’s a matter of wanting what you have.
• Nothing is more exhausting than the task that is never started.

4. Sanctuary plans:

This week I'm setting goals and resolutions for the New Year. My theme for today is Sanctuary. My ideas so far for sanctuary goals next year:

• Continue to recycle possessions I no longer need, especially fabric, paper, and art supplies; plan some art projects to use my stockpile.
• This is the year that I will find and store each thing in its place, so I can find it when I need it! Focus especially on order in my office and studio as I attempt to BE a teacher again.
• Deal with the mold on the walls: Clean, seal, and repaint.
• Renew my connection to my home and the seasons with a comprehensive seasonal maintenance calendar, and by tending to it with intention and integrity.

5. Tying loose ends:

This week is the traditional time to complete and tie the old year closed, and allow the New Year to start fresh: Finish old projects and old business, pay debts, make apologies, call neglected friends, and return borrowed items. I have a few of these kinds of things to do! I'd like to do them in the spirit of Sabbath - that is, with reverence and attention.

Today I will make a list of tasks and symbolic acts I can do in these last few days, before we catch a train north, and put them on my calendar. My list this year:

1. Friday - Finish mending, feed the birds, and bake leftover cookie dough
2. Saturday - Finish and bind new calendars, clear refrigerator and freezer, and write my advance directive.
3. Sunday - Clean duck yard (put down wood shavings), turn the compost, and change bedding.

6. Make cookies:

I've got some cookie dough left over, and as a ceremonial way to honor sanctuary, I will bake it today!