St. Nicholas Day

My grandson's first St. Nicholas Day, 2020!

Today is St. Nicholas Day, and we are nearing the end of the first week of advent. My theme this first week is to "Cherish and care for the earth". I aim to celebrate simply, and consume less, so that I have a gentle impact on the planet.

The modern way of observing the winter holidays supports an increase in waste; one statistic says that Americans throw away 25% more trash – an additional 5 million tons – between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. A fun holiday season doesn't have to be a wasteful one!

Agenda Today:
1. Advent Prayer
2. Love meditation

3. Journal queries
4. Read "Perspective" 
5. Decorate our outdoor tree

St. Nicholas Eve

Tonight is the eve of St. Nicholas Day. Nicholas was born in Lycia, which is now part of Turkey. Legend says he was a kind and generous man, who protected the poor and did many great deeds.

In Holland St. Nicholas is called Sinter Klaas (he is the original Santa Claus). Children in Holland leave their shoes by the fireplace on this night, and in the morning they are filled with marzipan and small toys. The Dutch give simple gifts tonight, but they are often accompanied with riddles, or wrapped in deceiving ways, such as a small box nested inside larger boxes, or something hollowed out with a gift inside.

Agenda today:

1. Joy of Giving meditation

2. Journal queries

3. Days of passion

4. Donate to Toys for Tots

5. Make small gifts

6. Make pfeffernüsse

7. Deliver gifts

Full Cold Moon

photo by Alan Gillespie

Tonight is the Full Moon of December, sometimes called the Cold Moon (for obvious reasons), but it is also called the "Not Bad Weather Moon" by the Kalapuya of my area, and that's generally pretty accurate. We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon. But today it's time to CELEBRATE!

Agenda:

1. Take a vision walk

2. Celebrate Grace

3. Read "The Creativity Book"

4. Craftivism plans

5. Full effort for gift-making

6. Preschool plans

7. Do the smallest thing

Advent Earth Care

My theme for this first week of advent is to cherish and care for the earth. I have further refined it to add: Creating sanctuary for nature because nature is our sanctuary. 

My goal this week is to reaffirm my unity with nature, and continue to create a welcoming yard.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

2. Journal queries
3. Redefine my work for earth care

4. Proaction and reciprocity plans

5. Make bird feeder pine cones

A Natural Christmas

My theme for this first week of Advent is "Cherish and care for the earth". I express my unity with nature at Advent in many ways:

• by offering small gifts of love and attention in recognition of all I receive from the earth;
• by learning the names of my neighbors- the birds, bugs, trees, and plants;
• by advocating for earthcare with my community;
• and by finding joy and fulfillment in simply being alive, instead of in an excess of buying, eating, using, and wasting.

Each year, this first week, I bring nature indoors, by collecting greens, pine cones, straw, and other natural materials to use for decorations, and for making gifts.

I've been collecting fallen branches of evergreens for the last weeks, and now I will bring them inside to deck my halls.

Greens are the first decorations I put up around the house, along with a few candles, to open the door to a little light, and to connect with the earth. Evergreens are a symbol of eternal life, and also symbolic protection against trouble. Today I bring the protective spirit of nature inside.

Agenda:

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

2. Holiday Mindset

3. Advent school plans

4. Stick tree hanging

5. Twig ornaments

6. Make sweet, salty, or spicy nuts

Nativity Fast

The Nativity Fast is the Orthodox Christian way to experience the waiting which is Advent. Instead of “pre-celebrating” Christmas, they have a 40-day period of fasting, beginning on November 15th (but I wait until sometime AFTER Thanksgiving!)

The Orthodox Church teaches that Advent represents the time before Jesus‚ when the people were disconnected from God. Advent is our chance to experience this loss and disconnection in order to embrace and celebrate the joy of Jesus’ birth in its fullness. During the fast, Orthodox Christians eat less than normal, and avoid meat‚ cheese‚ eggs‚ fish and wine on most days. 

During the Nativity fast, Orthodox Christians keep a primarily vegan diet, without being strict about it - the spirit of the practice is more important than what is actually eaten. Besides fasting, the practice includes also prayer, alms-giving, and love. 

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health, home, holiday, and prepare for Grandson fun. Today I'll also make plans for a nativity fast.

Agenda Today:
1. My Nativity fast

2. Prayer for the fast

3. Read "The Sweet Spot"

4. Love

5. Alms-giving

6. Set fast intentions

7. Fall order and Home projects

8. Make Revithia Soupa (Chickpea Soup)