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
1. Read a novena:I've been reading this Creation Novena from the Indian Catholic Matters site, and today is the last:Day 9: A Prayer of Thanks for the Creator
Creator God, we give thanks for You—for your coming among us, and among all that you have created.Thank You for the magnanimous gift of creation itself, which heralded the birth of Your Son, and to which You joined in the water, minerals, and living flesh of Jesus Christ. Thank You for every aspect of creation, as every bit of its goodness and order reveals You.
Thank You for the love that You manifest in creation. Pope Francis has said that “creation is of the order of love.” We thank You for the gift of Your love beyond measure, and we thank You for bestowing on us the gift to love in return.
Thank You for the sustenance, strength, and peace that Your creation gives us. Thank You for our place within the fabric You have woven. Thank You for the unique gifts bestowed on each of us, and especially for the gifts of resilience and beauty in our poorest sisters and brothers.
We ask that You increase our capacity to love, that You give us the resolve to love in deeds and not simply in words.
We pray this through the newborn Christ, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Read a novena:
I've been reading this Creation Novena from the Indian Catholic Matters site, and today is the last:
Day 9: A Prayer of Thanks for the Creator
Thank You for the magnanimous gift of creation itself, which heralded the birth of Your Son, and to which You joined in the water, minerals, and living flesh of Jesus Christ. Thank You for every aspect of creation, as every bit of its goodness and order reveals You.
Thank You for the love that You manifest in creation. Pope Francis has said that “creation is of the order of love.” We thank You for the gift of Your love beyond measure, and we thank You for bestowing on us the gift to love in return.
Thank You for the sustenance, strength, and peace that Your creation gives us. Thank You for our place within the fabric You have woven. Thank You for the unique gifts bestowed on each of us, and especially for the gifts of resilience and beauty in our poorest sisters and brothers.
We ask that You increase our capacity to love, that You give us the resolve to love in deeds and not simply in words.
We pray this through the newborn Christ, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
2. Light a candle for Love:At Soyal, I review the Divine Laws, as I see them, meditate and write about my priorities, and make plans for the coming year based on guidance from the Spirits. Today I will take a deep look at my love habits and practices.
Love: Practice habits of listening, generosity, patience, care, and kindness with my community, my family, and the earth.
Today I light a red candle for Love, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world. I ask:
What is the condition of my marriage, family, and friend relationships? What do they need of me this next year? How can I grow as a grandma, mother, wife, and friend?
With whom am I struggling or feeling distant, and how can I open to healing our relationship? When problems and conflicts arise, do I try to resolve them in a timely fashion?Do I keep my word, follow through with my responsibilities, speak truth, listen well, and show loyalty? What can I improve? How and when can I be kinder, more patient, and less reactive?
Where in my life do I need to be more generous - giving freely of my time, energy, love, possessions, encouragement, laughter, hospitality, service, and forgiveness? How can I better love and care for myself? Can I manage my personality quirks with love and respect?
How can I better show my love for the earth, for creation, and for God?
What is the condition of my marriage, family, and friend relationships? What do they need of me this next year? How can I grow as a grandma, mother, wife, and friend?
With whom am I struggling or feeling distant, and how can I open to healing our relationship? When problems and conflicts arise, do I try to resolve them in a timely fashion?Do I keep my word, follow through with my responsibilities, speak truth, listen well, and show loyalty? What can I improve? How and when can I be kinder, more patient, and less reactive?
Where in my life do I need to be more generous - giving freely of my time, energy, love, possessions, encouragement, laughter, hospitality, service, and forgiveness?How can I better love and care for myself? Can I manage my personality quirks with love and respect?
How can I better show my love for the earth, for creation, and for God?
3. Read "Present Moment Awareness":
I'm reading this book by Shannon Duncan (2001) that takes awareness one step at a time: First, body and senses; then beliefs and limitations; then emotions; and finally, reactivity. It seems like a straightforward plan!
I'm starting the final section: Reactivity Roller Coaster. "When we lose our sense of self, we lose touch with a genuine feeling of who we are and our place in life."
She is saying that when we cling to an idea of how things should be going, and live outside the present moment, we bury our true self under all these expectations and worries. Letting go of control reduces reactivity, and gets us back to our authentic self, and all the peace and openness that comes with that.
The first part is all about how children before age 7 develop a sense of self-worth, and how care-givers support or erode that. And how the memory of moments of childhood distress can resurface to cause reactivity your whole life. It's crucial to know that when we react out of anxiety, frustration, or anger to what a child does, we are reacting to our own memories of pain and projecting something outside the moment onto the child.
4. Soyal retreat practices for love:This Christmas I am 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. Each day I will fit in some reading and writing, some focused walking, and some order-creation. At the end of the day I will brainstorm some goals and resolutions for 2026, based on guidance from God.
My practices today are:- Reorder my day to take advantage of having both boys, and plan a wonderful adventure together.
- Waltz Walk to the bus (using the mantra Moth-er Earth), and use movement and mindfulness to connect to creative energy and nature.
- Grub just a bit to gently connect to Mother Nature; move leaves to the west side path.
5. Love Brainstorm:Today I am considering love and my receptive nature, all those yin qualities of being open, soft, gentle, nurturing, and trusting.Love requires that I be open and available, and also requires that I do the work to care for what I receive.
Journal: I'm making a shift in perspective this year, seeing my reactivity in a new light, and maybe getting a handle on it. I've noticed a new ability to breathe with my tension and see it as the protection I needed long ago, but which I have no need for now. I am the adult now and I can be calm.
Growing in love and receptivity is a process of practicing love habits. My ideas so far:
- Continue to care for and nurture my grandsons, and their self-discovery; nurture also my relationship with them and practice being in the moment, releasing the need to control time or focus. Work on co-regulation skills together.
- Work through the Ongo book again; study and practice empathy, perspective, equanimity, patience, and communication habits; learn how to witness from love.
- Continue to nurture my deepest friendships with monthly moon gatherings, and walks.
- Be generous with my time; say yes to community service.
- Find new ways to show my deep love for the earth.
- Set some intentions for self-nurturance and building resilience.
3. Read "Present Moment Awareness":
I'm starting the final section: Reactivity Roller Coaster. "When we lose our sense of self, we lose touch with a genuine feeling of who we are and our place in life."
She is saying that when we cling to an idea of how things should be going, and live outside the present moment, we bury our true self under all these expectations and worries. Letting go of control reduces reactivity, and gets us back to our authentic self, and all the peace and openness that comes with that.
The first part is all about how children before age 7 develop a sense of self-worth, and how care-givers support or erode that. And how the memory of moments of childhood distress can resurface to cause reactivity your whole life. It's crucial to know that when we react out of anxiety, frustration, or anger to what a child does, we are reacting to our own memories of pain and projecting something outside the moment onto the child.
4. Soyal retreat practices for love:
This Christmas I am 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. Each day I will fit in some reading and writing, some focused walking, and some order-creation. At the end of the day I will brainstorm some goals and resolutions for 2026, based on guidance from God.
My practices today are:
- Reorder my day to take advantage of having both boys, and plan a wonderful adventure together.
- Waltz Walk to the bus (using the mantra Moth-er Earth), and use movement and mindfulness to connect to creative energy and nature.
- Grub just a bit to gently connect to Mother Nature; move leaves to the west side path.
5. Love Brainstorm:
Today I am considering love and my receptive nature, all those yin qualities of being open, soft, gentle, nurturing, and trusting.
Love requires that I be open and available, and also requires that I do the work to care for what I receive.
Journal: I'm making a shift in perspective this year, seeing my reactivity in a new light, and maybe getting a handle on it. I've noticed a new ability to breathe with my tension and see it as the protection I needed long ago, but which I have no need for now. I am the adult now and I can be calm.
Growing in love and receptivity is a process of practicing love habits.
My ideas so far:- Continue to care for and nurture my grandsons, and their self-discovery; nurture also my relationship with them and practice being in the moment, releasing the need to control time or focus. Work on co-regulation skills together.
- Work through the Ongo book again; study and practice empathy, perspective, equanimity, patience, and communication habits; learn how to witness from love.
- Continue to nurture my deepest friendships with monthly moon gatherings, and walks.
- Be generous with my time; say yes to community service.
- Find new ways to show my deep love for the earth.
- Set some intentions for self-nurturance and building resilience.
6. Make Danish Prune Bread:
Christmas sweet bread is a tradition in most every country. Since I grew up in a Scandinavian-American town, I’m partial to this bread from Denmark. You can easily make the dough and the filling in advance and shape it to bake fresh on Christmas morning.
Ingredients:
- 3/4-c. chilled unsalted butter
- 1-3/4 c. flour
- 1 tsp. active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/4 c. warm water (105-115ºF)
- 1/4 c. heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 egg
- 1/8 c. sugar
- 1/2-c. pitted prunes, packed
- 1/2-c. sugar
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/4-tsp. vanilla
- 1/4-tsp. cinnamon
Yield: 1 loaf-
Christmas sweet bread is a tradition in most every country. Since I grew up in a Scandinavian-American town, I’m partial to this bread from Denmark. You can easily make the dough and the filling in advance and shape it to bake fresh on Christmas morning.- 3/4-c. chilled unsalted butter
- 1-3/4 c. flour
- 1 tsp. active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/4 c. warm water (105-115ºF)
- 1/4 c. heavy cream
- 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 egg
- 1/8 c. sugar
- 1/2-c. pitted prunes, packed
- 1/2-c. sugar
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1/4-tsp. vanilla
- 1/4-tsp. cinnamon
1- Cut cold butter into chunks; combine with flour, and cut with a pastry blender until the butter is the size of kidney beans.
2- In another large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in the cream, cardamom, salt, eggs, and 1/8 c. sugar. Mix very lightly with a fork.
3- Turn flour and butter mixture into the yeast mixture and mix lightly with a fork or spatula just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 4 days).
4- Filling: Put prunes, 1/2 c. sugar, and 1/8 c. of water into a saucepan. Heat and simmer until prunes are soft and plumped, and have absorbed most of the liquid. 
5- Puree in a blender, transfer to a bowl and stir in lemon juice, vanilla and cinnamon. Cool and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
6- You can finish this tonight, or on Christmas morning: Prepare a baking sheet with lightly buttered and floured parchment paper. Take dough out of the refrigerator. On a floured surface, roll dough into a 12 x 6-inch rectangle. Place on the baking sheet.
7- Spread the prune filling down the length of the center of the dough. Cut strips along both sides with kitchen scissors. Fold strips over the filling in a crisscross manner.
8- Let rise 1 hour or more, just until the pastry appears puffy (it will not double.)
9- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Bake about 20 to 25 minutes, until golden.
1- Cut cold butter into chunks; combine with flour, and cut with a pastry blender until the butter is the size of kidney beans.
3- Turn flour and butter mixture into the yeast mixture and mix lightly with a fork or spatula just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 4 days).4- Filling: Put prunes, 1/2 c. sugar, and 1/8 c. of water into a saucepan. Heat and simmer until prunes are soft and plumped, and have absorbed most of the liquid. 5- Puree in a blender, transfer to a bowl and stir in lemon juice, vanilla and cinnamon. Cool and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake.6- You can finish this tonight, or on Christmas morning: Prepare a baking sheet with lightly buttered and floured parchment paper. Take dough out of the refrigerator. On a floured surface, roll dough into a 12 x 6-inch rectangle. Place on the baking sheet.7- Spread the prune filling down the length of the center of the dough. Cut strips along both sides with kitchen scissors. Fold strips over the filling in a crisscross manner.8- Let rise 1 hour or more, just until the pastry appears puffy (it will not double.)
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