Friday

It's Friday, with a bit of a break in people time. I have a couple social commitments today, but they are one-on-one and mellow, amidst a week filled with clerking, family gatherings, and a memorial. Today I get to take time in the garden and with my writing and artwork, to sooth my nerves.

Agenda:

1. Read "First Things First"

2. Vision and goals

Transforming Power

Transforming Power is a term coined by the Alternatives to Violence Project, which was started by Quakers and inmates at the Greenhaven Prison in New York in the 1970's, at a time of great unrest and violence. Together the inmates and the Quakers developed non-violence workshops inside prisons, which continue to this day, with town and inmate students, and town and inmate leaders.

In a nutshell, Transforming Power is a river of energy at your core, made up of your essential wisdom, strength, and goodness, which you can touch in with in order to experience a shift. It might be a shift from anger or resentment to peace; it might be a shift from fear and powerlessness to strength; it might be a shift from sadness or worry to joy.

The shift you experience might be slow and steady or like a lightning bolt, but it will contain an element of love: You become part of the whole, no longer isolated. You will experience a self-acceptance and a sense of peace that allows you to connect with others without hesitation. It's this connection that transforms you: Your view of the world is transformed, everything is different. You see people and situations in a new light, are able let go of whatever was holding you back and act - one small step at a time.

Agenda:

1. Read "First Things First"

2. Define my goals for First Things

3. Seek accountability for progress

4. Use OM

Simple Synergy

Synergy is all about teamwork, but I only have control over myself. This fall I'm approaching synergy like a dance, and I'm making up the steps as I go along. What do we need from our teams and how do I ask for the best kind of help? And what are the top priority projects I'm called to work on?

I continue to build my inner wisdom, and take persistent right action on the work I'm called to. For this, I need discernment (insight and clarity), equanimity, and centering in chaos.

 Agenda:

1. Read "The Power of Less"

2. Simple goals for earthcare

3. The Simple Project List

4. Fall cleaning and gardening

5. Inner synergy for birds and fish

First Things First

First Things First is my mantra this fall and winter. No matter what happens going forward, we are going to be under enormous stress, and I need to get a grip. 

That first week after the revelation of my partner's illness, I was able to extract myself from a few responsibilities, but, as the initial shock wore off, some have crept back - because I feel guilty for not helping where help is needed, and also I feel out-of-the-loop and cut off from my familiar inner circle. I need to re-focus each week on my top priorities - Serving my Family, and Leading on Earthcare, and find ways to gracefully release most everything else.

Agenda:

1. Simple goals for earthcare

2. The Simple Project List

3. Read "The Power of Less"
4. Fall cleaning and gardening

Simple Goals

I've focused this month on paring down for fall and building my strength of letting go: Less on my schedule, less clutter, less spending, less clinging to control - and more of choosing the essentials in my life. 

Now, as I'm choosing goals for the new month, and I want to consider how much I can manage this fall and winter - How can I pare down? What are my essential priorities? Am I capable of setting aside some of the important work I've begun?

Agenda:

1. Read "The Power of Less"
2. Simple goals

3. The Simple Project List
4. Fall cleaning and gardening

Generous Love

Earlier this month I wrote about opening the door to love. I want to practice the habits that allow love to shine in my life: Compassion, respect, patience and equanimity, gratitude, forgiveness, generosity, kindness and care. At the start of the year, I set some goals for growth in this area of my life, and it's time to review them.

Also, I want to start a better set of practices that brings me to love and receptivity every month after the full moon, in the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon.

Agenda:

1. Love Journal
2. Review and add to love goals
3. Love meditation

4. Monthly receptivity practices

Sixth Day of Christmas

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.

Agenda today:

1. Christmas retreat

2. Kwanzaa principles

3. Read from Root and Ritual

4. Service and activism goals

Fifth Day of Christmas

This is the fifth day of the twelve-day festal tide - a sacred, festive season. I have a day to myself, but lots of activity on my schedule, followed by a train trip north, so I plan to be present in the moment and take it one thing at a time.

Agenda today:

1. Christmas retreat

2. Kwanzaa principles

3. Light a candle for unity with nature
4. Read "The Comfort of Crows"
5. Earth care goals

6. Make end-of-year donations

Final Days of Christmas

We have two days of Christmas left! By now, most people are fed up with holidays and ready to get back to "normalcy" - but I'm holding on for my full 12-days-worth.

Agenda:

1. Christmas retreat

2. Health goals for 2022

3. Year of Awareness

4. Winter walking meditation

Kakizome Day and New Bitter Moon

The last new moon of the Chinese calendar rose this morning; The Chinese call this twelfth new moon the Bitter Moon, because it brings the bitter cold and unforgiving darkness. 

The new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time of high energy and clear thinking. Historically, the new moon is when women took time to be alone; it's a time to retreat, shine a light on your path, and set some intentions.

Since this is also the start of the year, I've got a jumble of thoughts, goals, plans, and vague ideas floating in my head. Today I will take some time to shine light on my path for January, and also for the year.

Today is also Kakizome Day; kakizome means "first writing". Today people all over Japan will take time to use a brush and sumi ink to write out a favorite quote or phrase - the first calligraphy of the new year. Kakizome is a way to express your positive wishes for the New Year. 

Agenda:

1. Discern a year theme

2. Christmas retreat

3. January journal brainstorm

4. January theme - Stillness 

5. Set goals and intentions

6. New moon altar and meditation

7. Practice my calligraphy

Fifth Day of Christmas

This is the fifth day of Christmas and the fourth day of Kwanzaa. My retreat today will embrace the disposition of a toddler... a busy kind of retreat, with lots of short projects and (hopefully) a long nap!

Agenda:
1. Kwanzaa principles

2. Christmas retreat

3. Becoming Rooted reading

4. Service and activism goals for 2022

5. 

Make end-of-year donations

Fourth Day of Christmas

This is the fourth day of Christmas and the third day of Kwanzaa. Today I will enjoy the peace of a day at home with my hubby, doing home projects and sewing, and maybe venture out into the snow for a short walk. Being a retired person is sometimes pretty sweet!

Agenda today:
1. Kwanzaa principles

2. Christmas retreat

3. Sanctuary Reading

4. Sanctuary goals for 2021

5. House of Belief

Third Day of Christmas

This is the third day of Christmas and the second day of Kwanzaa. It sometimes gets harder on the third day to maintain a Sabbath mentality, but a blanket of snow and freezing temperatures has helped! I am enjoying this extended time of retreat from the norm. Today I continue to rest, reflect, and find peace within.

Agenda:
1. Kwanzaa principles

2. Christmas retreat

3. Creativity reading

4. Creativity goals for 2022

5. End of year work list

Kwanzaa and Second Day of Christmas

Kwanzaa is 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.

This is also 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 the Third Quarter Moon - now the Moon is waning and light is decreasing again. The Third Quarter 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.

Agenda:

1. Kwanzaa principles

2. Christmas retreat

3. Unity Reading

4. Community goals for 2022

5. Practice unity

6. Map and plan renewal habits

First Day of Christmas

 Today is Christmas, but only the first day of Christmas (what Norwegians would call 1. juledag, or "First Christmas Day"). 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 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.

Agenda:
1. Christmas retreat

2. Love reading

3. Love goals for 2022

4. Open Gifts

5. Put Baby Jesus in the manger
6. Have a feast
7. Christmas pudding