Tuesday

Tuesday is my day to look at my social and emotional self, make an effort to shift my perspectives around how I view and treat the people in my life, and get ready for a week of fun activities with my grandsons (and, mostly, get ready to be a nurse!)

Agenda:

1. Read "Discover Inner Peace"

2. Expressing Needs in the World

3. New narrative for Tenderness

4. Synergy and hope plans

New Year Perspective

We're a week into the New Year, and a lot has already happened. I've studied and talked and written about positivity and a new perspective, and then Ice Agents shot a Mom in her car.

My neighbor asked me, what do we do? I said, we do what we can - write letters, work at legislation, talk to people, but I understand how she feels. The events are too heavy for us to carry. How often can we rise up in grief and protest, and put our own lives at risk? 

Agenda:

1. Read "Perspective"

2. Identify a past failure

3. Inner peace practice

4. Kitchen blessing

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

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Light a candle for peace and equanimity

3. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

4. Soyal retreat practices for equanimity

5. Equanimity brainstorm

Third Quarter Moon of Advent, for Inner Peace

Today is the third Quarter moon. This waning 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, renewal, and self-care. This isn’t a moment for starting new projects but for finishing up old ones, making peace with the past, and preparing for a fresh start at the next new moon.

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world". One way I do that is to create and retain inner peace. Right about now, as the holiday energy builds and social demands increase, I need to review practices that help me to maintain an even-temper, patience, and grounded-ness.

Agenda:

1. Prayer for the light

2. Read "Perspective" 

3. Inner peace practice

4. Ritual for Release and Realignment

5. Meditation and Evaluation Journal

6. Monthly journal brainstorm

Christmas in Bethlehem

My theme for this week of Advent is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world".

One way I love to do that is by learning about the traditions and beliefs of people throughout the world. In years past I've studied Ireland, Germany and Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, and Mexico.

This year I've decided to look at Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus.

Agenda:

1- Read "Present Moment Awareness"

2- Research Bethlehem

3- A Prayer for Peace and Forgiveness

5- Make soft Irish ginger cookies
6- Make a piñata for Las Posadas

Second Sunday of Advent

Today starts the second week of advent. Advent is a time of vigilant waiting; I wait for something mysterious and unscheduled, with quiet excitement, and expectation. If I fall asleep to this awareness I risk missing the moment of joy, courage, or insight; the gift of grace that has the potential to feed me in ways I need.

Agenda Today:

1. Love Meditation

2. Read "It's a Meaningful Life"

3. Grace notes

4. Plan activities for unity and peace

5. Advent wreath ceremony

International Day of Peace and New Harvest Moon

Today is the International Day of Peace, established in 1981 by a resolution of the UN General Assembly. In 2001 the date was fixed on September 21, and declared as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says, "Around the world lives are being ripped apart, childhoods extinguished, and basic human dignity discarded, amidst the cruelty and degradations of war."

Tonight is also the new moon. The Chinese call this eighth new moon the Harvest Moon, for obvious reasons. 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.

Peace Day Agenda:

1. Journal queries

2. Choose a month theme

3. Set intentions

4. Raise awareness

5. Make peace stones

6. Peace vigil

7. Retreat Day plans

Creativity in the New Year

Creativity is one of my leadings: I’m always hungry to get to work on a project. I feel restless, anxious, and eager to make something- a painting, or embroidery, or anything- just to have busy hands and feel productive and creative. 

And I want to express myself, though that which I want to express is often a mystery- it’s the shadowy and bright life inside me; it’s the big truths and the fleeting feelings of the moment.

I want to be more attentive and intentional about my art-making process and my product; more devoted, thoughtful, open, real, original, and honest. And so I hush and wait for ideas. I hold my heart like an empty bowl, waiting for it to be filled. I let the need to create grow and become an obsession, let myself be anxious, and feel happy for this ravenous feeling! As Eric Maisel says, "Both creating and not creating make me anxious, and I choose the anxiety of creating." I choose to have the anxiety of wanting so badly to make art that I must do it every day.

Agenda Today:
1. Review the Divine Laws
2. Prayer candle ceremony
3. Read "The Creativity Book"
4. Brainstorm and simple project list

6. Practice visualization
7. Kitchen blessing

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice occurred this morning at 1:19 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice happens during the coldest season of the year, when the sun is at its lowest angle and is seen for its shortest period. This is the turning point, the moment of new beginnings - the darkest time, with the brightest hope.

The Winter Solstice was never a one day festival - three days seems to be the minimum. The sun appears to stand still for three days, then days begin to noticeably increase in length (and we all sigh in relief). 

We need to believe in these little myths - that the sun is returning and hope is reborn - so that we can continue to believe in the Big Myths, like justice, mercy, democracy, freedom - "That sort of thing".

“Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.” ~Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

 

Alban Arthan is the Celtic and Druidic name for the Winter Solstice, a celebration of the strengthening sun - and the central theme is renewal; we leave the past behind and greet the new. The world is undergoing constant change and we must change and adjust, too, in order to be able to survive.

From A Druid Way: "One link between the objective and the subjective is awen, inspiration, the flow of spirit, which lets us evoke in others an echo of our original experience. Let the echo be strong enough, let our understanding of this thing called being human, and our skill in working with it, run equal to the task, and music, image, voice, story, object of craft can all serve to unite us in the experience of mystery. An echo from outside awakens a resonance within us." 

Agenda today:

1. Druid peace prayer 

2. Read a novena

3. Make candles

4. Make Irish Shortbread

Create Inner Peace

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world". One way I do that is to create and retain inner peace. Right about now, as the holiday energy builds and social demands increase, I need to review practices that help me to maintain an even-temper, patience, and grounded-ness.

Agenda:

1. Prayer for the light

2. Read the "Emotional Balance Workbook"

3. Recognizing Mindful Moments exercise

4. Inner peace practices

5. Daily love journal

Unity with All People

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world". Each year I look at issues that are relevant to human rights in the world at this time, and challenge myself to work to create the conditions of peace (justice, equality, and freedom) in my family and my community.

As I get deeper and deeper into Earth Care as a way of life, it is valuable to return once in a while to think about People Care.

Agenda:

1. Read "Soulful Simplicity"

2. Journal queries

3. Choose next steps

4. Make a piñata for Las Posadas

New White Moon (and Prepare for Advent)

Tonight is the new moon. The Chinese call the eleventh new moon the White Moon, perhaps because it brings the snow, or perhaps because it's a yin time of year.

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.

And tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of expectant waiting, and today I will actively prepare to wait. I will get my house and my heart ready for this complicated winter season of holidays.

The darkness of winter puts limits on our lives. Chinese philosophy says winter is a time of conservation and storage; the night, the feminine, water, and cold is dominant. We slow down, go inward, and spend more time on quiet, yin activities.

Luckily, advent is four weeks long, allowing us to grow slowly and steadily towards the light: Let yourself go inward now - be like the bear in her cave, saving your strength and relishing the darkness. Don't celebrate Christmas too soon; allow yourself to experience the darkness of winter, against which it shines.

Agenda Today:

1. Retreat Day

2. Journal queries

3. Choose a month theme

4. New moon altar

5. Open-Heart meditation

6. Space clearing

7. Make an Advent Wreath

Day of Peace

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a resolution of the UN General Assembly. In 2001 the date was fixed on September 21, and declared as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

The 2024 theme is Cultivating a Culture of Peace. A culture of peace is a set of values, attitudes, traditions and ways of life based on:

• Respect for life, ending of violence and promotion and practice of non-violence through education, dialogue and cooperation;
• Respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States and non-intervention in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State;
• Respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• Commitment to peaceful settlement of conflicts;
• Efforts to meet the developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations;
• Respect for and promotion of the right to development;
• Respect for and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women and men;
• Respect for and promotion of the right of everyone to freedom of expression, opinion and information;
• Adherence to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation, pluralism, cultural diversity, dialogue and understanding at all levels of society and among nations; and fostered by an enabling national and international environment conducive to peace.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres says, "Cultivating a culture of peace means replacing division, disempowerment, and despair with justice, equality and hope for all."

Peace Day Agenda:

1. Journal queries

2. Raise awareness

3. Make Peace Stones

4. Peace vigil

First Week of Summer

This is the first full week of summer, when the days are long and time slows just a little. Even though we've been having summer-like days, it's full on us now! This transition is a big deal: I've found that if I celebrate the start of summer with enthusiasm, the rest of the summer becomes richer and more wonderful.

Agenda:

1. Read "Discover Inner Peace"

2. Plan a fun first week of summer

3. Harvest raspberries

World Day of Prayer

The World Day of Prayer takes place every year on the first Friday in March. Women in the United States and Canada first formed this event after the devastation of World War I, when they were convinced that world peace was tied to world mission. Each year, Christian women from all over the world join together to plan and organize events, and suggest a theme and focus.

This year the theme was set by the women of Palestine:

“I Beg You… Bear With One Another in Love”

Ephesians 4:1-3

This program calls us to bear with each other in love, despite all difficulties and oppression. The program was written by a group of ecumenical Christian Palestinian women, who hope to inspire other women around the world to bear with one another in love during troubled times. 

Agenda today:

1. Read Ephesians 4:1-7

2. Eleonor's story

3. Prayer for Palestine

4. Prayerful Action

Create Inner Peace

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world". One way I do that is to create and retain inner peace. Right about now, as the holiday energy builds and social demands increase, I need to review practices that help me to maintain an even-temper, patience, and grounded-ness.

Agenda:

1. Prayer for the light

2. Read "Discover Inner Peace"

3. Light a candle for Peace and Equanimity

4. Daily equanimity practice

5. Daily love journal

Witness for Peace

Quakers are led by Divine guidance to cherish peace, and to testify against all wars and the use of violence.

Our Faith and Practice says: 

"Our peace testimony begins with opposition to war and is a positive affirmation of the power of good to overcome evil. ... We work to change those elements which violate our conviction that there is that of God in everyone."

By testimony we mean a call to bear witness, by our words and actions, to our ideals.

Agenda
1. Journal queries

2. Light a candle for Witness

3. Plan a Quaker Christmas celebration

4. A minute on the Conflict in Gaza

5. Set out more candles

Unity with All People

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world". Each year I look at issues that are relevant to human rights in the world at this time, and challenge myself to work to create the conditions of peace (justice, equality, and freedom) in my family and my community.

Agenda:

1. Read "The Simpler Life"

2. Journal queries

3. Choose next steps

4. Make a piñata for Las Posadas

Second Sunday of Advent and Human Rights Day

Today starts the second week of advent. Advent is a time of vigilant waiting; I wait for something mysterious and unscheduled, with quiet excitement, and expectation. If I fall asleep to this awareness I risk missing the moment of joy, courage, or insight; the gift of grace that has the potential to feed me in ways I need.

Today is also Human Rights Day: The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948. The 75th anniversary of the UDHR will be celebrated today, the culmination of a year-long campaign to showcase and increase knowledge of the UDHR as a foundational blueprint for taking concrete actions to stand up for human rights and tackle pressing global issues today.

Agenda today:

1. Mennonite advent prayer

2. Look at Human Rights Day topics

3. Journal queries

4. Advent wreath ceremony

5. Plan activities for unity and peace

6. Take the human rights pledge

New Kindly Moon and Diwali

Tonight is the night of the new moon. The Chinese call this tenth new moon the Kindly Moon. In China, this is the season for winter crop planting, and this month brings the first “little snow” which gently (and kindly) moistens the winter wheat seedlings. We don't have snow yet, but we've had quite a it of rain!

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.

This is also the start of the five day Hindu Festival of Diwali, which falls on the new moon of late October or early November. Diwali is the festival of good luck and prosperity- one of the most important festivals of the year for Hindus. On Diwali, people wear new clothes, clean and decorate their homes, go to fairs with music, dancing, fireworks, jugglers and snake charmers, and give gifts to each other.

1. Retreat Day

2. Choose a month theme

3. Read "The Simpler Life"

4. Set intentions

5. New moon altar and puja for prosperity

6. Make almond katli