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

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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

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

Third Day of Christmas

This is the third day of the twelve-day festal tide - a sacred, festive season. As the week goes on it gets harder to maintain a Sabbath mentality, especially since we are caring for two grandsons. But maintaining a peaceful and joyful attitude in the midst of chaos is a valuable practice!

Agenda:

1. Christmas retreat
2. Kwanza principle

3. Light a candle for learning
4. Read "It's a Meaningful Life"

5. Plan learning habits

6. End of year work list

New Bitter Moon and Soyal

Tonight is the new moon. This last new moon of the Chinese year is called the Bitter Moon, because we are into the month of the bitterest cold.

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, set intentions, and initiate something new.

Soyal is 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. Read a novena

2. Settle into the Soyal Way of Being

3. Choose a month theme

4. Map and plan mental nurturance habits

5. New moon altar

6. Prayer Candle ceremony

Navratri and October First Quarter Moon

Navratri continues for three more nights, with the arrival of Saraswati. 

2021 Navratri altar

The word navratri means nine nights; on each set of three nights we meditate on a different aspect of Shakti, the universal principle of energy and creativity, Mother Earth, and the feminine power in each of us. Each of the three goddesses signifies a stage of the spiritual journey we all go through: Durga’s strength and energy creates an opening, Lakshmi’s success and fortune nurtures growth, and Saraswati’s wisdom and knowledge leads to enlightenment, happiness, and peace. For these final three nights we honor and thank the Divine Mother as Saraswati, who is "the essence of self".

And this is the First Quarter Moon; we are one-quarter of the way through the moon cycle. The moon is waxing - getting larger - until it's full again. Now is the time to remain flexible, use my obstacles as fuel for growth, and show full effort for priorities.

Agenda Today:
1. Morning meditation and mantra

2. Journal queries

3. Make a full effort plan

4. Write a mission haiku

5. Fall cleaning

6. Add to my altar

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