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 many years now.

This is the final day of 2025; it's time to see it out, and welcome in the New Year! 

Agenda today:

1. 

Kwanzaa principle

2

.

 

Light a pretend candle for celebration

3. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

4. Soyal retreat practices for celebration

5. Celebration brainstorm

6. Resolutions

7. Make noise!

Sixth Day of Christmas

This is the sixth day of Christmas, and time to wrap things up for this old year! Today we are packing for a train trip to visit family, so I will push myself to Get Things Done, so I can enjoy a few days of total relaxation.

This morning I will 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.

Agenda Today:

1. Kwanzaa principle

2

.

 

Light a candle for peace and equanimity

3. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

4. Soyal retreat practices for equanimity

5. Equanimity brainstorm

Fifth Day of Christmas

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.

Today we have our grandsons for half the day, so - an active retreat!

Agenda today:

1. Kwanzaa principles

2

.

 

Light a candle for simplicity

3. Read "SoulSpace"

4. Soyal retreat practices for simplicity

5. Creative visualization

6. Simplicity brainstorm

7. Plan New Year's resolutions

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.

Today is Sunday so I will be engaged with my community, and also have friends coming for dinner!

Agenda:

1. Kwanza principle

2

.

 

Light a candle for community

3. Read "The Ongo Book"

4. Soyal retreat practices for community

5. Community brainstorm

6. Have a Spirit Guide trance

7. Christmas pudding

Third Day of Christmas and First Quarter Moon

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 today I have a whole day alone!

Agenda:

1. Kwanzaa principle

2. Journal queries

3

.

 

Light a candle for Nature

4. Read "Serviceberry"

5. Soyal retreat practices for Nature

6. Nature brainstorm

7. Days of Passion and Full effort plan

Second Day of Christmas

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.

Agenda:

1. Kwanzaa principles

2

.

 

Light a candle for creativity

3. Read "Find Your Unicorn Space"

4. Soyal retreat practices for creativity

5. Creativity brainstorm

6. Projects for the week

7. Tie together loose ends

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, 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

.

 

Light a candle for sanctuary

2. Read "SoulSpace"

3. Soyal retreat practices for sanctuary

4. Sanctuary brainstorm

5. Open Gifts

6. Put Baby Jesus in the manger

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, deliver cookies, 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

.

 

Light a candle for love

3. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

4. Soyal retreat practices for love

5. Love Brainstorm

6. Make Danish Prune Bread

7. Hang our stockings

Christmas Adam

This is the day before Christmas Eve, known by some people as Christmas Adam. I am continuing my Soyal retreat for reflection and brainstorming.

Agenda:

1. Read a novena

2

.

 

Light a candle for discernment

3. Read "Sound Tracks"

4. Soyal retreat practices for discernment

5. Learning brainstorm

6. New narrative for the week

7. Piñata party