The Reason For the Season

     Yule, Hanukkah, Christmas, or Winter Solstice, there are so many ways to celebrate this time of year. Houses fill with tradition and merriment.  The excitement of the season crackles in the the air as thoughts of loved ones fill our hearts and minds.  In almost every culture around the world, people gather in some way to celebrate the miracles that this season offers.
      In ancient times, tribes and communities gathered to celebrate the longest night of the year.  To some it seemed that the sun was drifting away from the Earth.  The people would gather and hold all night drumming and dancing vigils hoping to call the Sun back.  Often, a great feast was prepared from any foods that were not able to be kept over the winter months that were yet to come.  Fearing for their survival, winter rations were meted out in the hope that no one would go without.  Even though, the winter months were a lean time, survival of the tribe came first. In later times, as humanity's survival became less threatened by bleak winters, the celebrations continued.  Some well known examples of this are the observances of Saturnalia by the Romans, The 12 Nights of Yule by some Germanic tribes, and Christmas by the Christians.
     During Saturnalia, a sacrifice was made at the Temple of Saturn and a public feast was held.  Private gift-giving took place.  Masters reversed roles with the slaves allowing them to be "king for a day".  Eventually, this observance became a week long, almost carnival-like celebration.  Lucian, in The Saturnalia, has one of the priests of Saturn declare,

" During, my week, the serious is barred; no business allowed.

Drinking, noise and games and dice, appointing of kings and 

feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of frenzied hands,

an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water--such

are the functions over which I preside."

   Thus we can see, cloaked in all of the merriment and festivities the remnants of the ancient tradition of reaching out to others and sharing what we have.  

     The Germanic tribes also had a similar practice.  In his book, Teutonic Religion, Kveldulf Gundarsson writes,

" Twelfth Night should be, as is traditional everywhere,

marked by feasting, partying, and making lots and

lots of noise at midnight."

   The final act of celebrating this festival actually falls in the first week of January and is a feast known as the Feast of Thunar.  With the coldest parts of winter yet to come, this feast honors Thunar (also known as Thor).  Gundarsson explains, " Thus, at the Feast of Thunar, we hail the Thunderer for driving back the darkness..."

     This also speaks to the ancient tradition of calling the Sun back as the days will begin to grow longer.  Also, it is from this tradition that we draw many of our modern symbols.  The use of evergreens as wreaths and the yule log come from this tradition.  Many believe that the use of a tree is an extension of the yule log practice. Many of these practices were adopted later by Christians and a have remained in use to this day.

    Moreover, according to some Christian traditions,  Christ was born at this time.  Upon his birth, tradition holds that three wise men arrived bearing gifts. Thus, perpetuating the tradition of giving to the less fortunate.  As the story goes, Christ was born in a manger to "common" parents who didn't have money or hold a high station in society.  So, only a few people recognized the significance of this birth. Thus, there is some conflict surrounding the actual time of Christ's birth.

     Furthermore, some historians have suggested that the date of December 25th was assimilated by Christian writes during the reign of emperor Constantine.  This date had previously been associated with a Winter Solstice festival celebrating the sun god.  The writers of the time associating Jesus with the Sun as mentioned in Malachi 4:2 as the "sun of righteousness" replacing the previous solar deity with Christ.  Thus, assimilating all the associated festivities into Christianity which included feasting and gift-giving.  Again, carrying on the most ancient traditions of caring one for another.  The act of community sharing it's abundance to best serve the people.  So, it is in modern society that we see some of these same traditions being carried out.  All of these rooted deeply within humanity's beginnings.

     So often, I hear people say "remember the reason for the season."  I say the reason for the season goes far beyond any one religion or any one tradition.  The Reason for the Season lies within our humanity and our ability to care for one another.  As this season celebrates one of humanity's oldest characteristics--compassion.  

  

 

The Law of Withdraw

  Ah, relationships!  In his book, Spiritual Reliability, Richard Seaman reminds us of a teaching taken from A Course In Miracles.  He says," One of the most profound quotes in my opinion is: ' The relationship is the classroom of the Holy Spirit.' "  I certainly have to agree.  If we take a moment to reflect on relationships that we have, we can see that others reflect back to us as we reflect back to them.  This happens on many levels obviously.  Sometimes, it's very overt.  For example, a close friend may point out things about your character--both good and bad.  A parent might teach you about handling your finances.  The list could go on.
  However, there is another level to this learning that we aren't always privy to.  That level is the intuitive or energetic level.  Within the scheme of the Universe, we are all connected.  So, when we enter into relationship with someone our energies become even more connected.  Have you ever had the experience of thinking about a friend and suddenly they call or you run into them somewhere?  I know that I have.  I have also noticed that the closer my relationship is with the person the more this happens.
  Recently, I have been trying to explain this and the words have failed me.  Today, what I realized is: I was trying to explain the "energy" of relationship and what I call the Law of Withdraw.  Simply, we all know when a friend or partner is distracted or distant.  However, what we don't often realize is that this knowing starts on an energetic level first.  I, also, realized that this has to do with presence in the relationship.  If one or both partners aren't being present with one another then the other partner will feel that.
  Life is full of distractions.  Distractions erode our ability to be present.  We can't fully be in the moment.  We can't fully give our all.  Perhaps, one partner is "married" to his job and can't leave that behind.  Maybe, one partner is constantly worried about money.  So, she can't give her full presence to the relationship.  Whatever the distraction, it will create a barrier within the relationship.  Now, that DOES NOT mean that the relationship is doomed.  It simply means that you are giving away some of your energy to other things.  This diminishes our spirit.  A partner will feel that.  Believe it or not.
  This is where the Law of Withdraw comes in.  If you are withholding energy from your relationship, they will feel it.  They may ask questions like: "what's wrong? You seem distracted."  Even though, you may not have done anything physically to signal this.  The true challenge of handling the Law of Withdraw comes when there are underlying issues in the relationship.  One partner may have become dissatisfied for whatever reason.  This dissatisfaction may lead them to begin an emotional bonding with another person. Rather than taking up the issue with their partner. In some cases it may lead to having an affair or a couple just drifting apart. No matter how innocent the action; because the other partner will feel that lack of connection.  And, when that connection is missing, your partner WILL feel it.
  So, this feeling may manifest in many ways.  Couples may begin arguing and fighting.  One partner may simply withdraw into an emotional shell.  Yet, in many cases, this feeling of withdraw results in jealousy.  I have had a few friends over the years come to me with suspicions that their partner was cheating on them.  In some instances, they were wrong.  When confronted, the other partner would confess that their job was the problem. Or, they were concerned about finances.  However, there have been times when the friend was right.  In both instances, one partner was feeling the energetic withdraw from the other person.  Now, once the withdraw is noticed and dealt with, the reasons for it have to be handled. (Which is another topic for another time.)
  Furthermore, to me this begs the question, "so how do I prevent this."  Remember earlier, when I mentioned presence?  I believe that is fundamental.  Learning to cultivate presence takes practice.  Since, the art of being present is, also, a spiritual principle, there are a great many books written on the subject.  So, I will refer again to Mr. Seaman's book, Spiritual Reliability.  He talks about and explains the four levels of "present-ness" as he calls them.  He, also, gives some advice on how to attain them using some very practical tools.
  For me, the long and short of it is this:  Listen to your Self.  Stay focused on the task at hand. Don't get lost in the past or worry about the future.  Give ALL of your energy to the dreams and desires that you hold dear--even your relationships.  Cultivate couples dreams as well as your own.  Check-in with your partner about their dreams.  We can all dream a great many things--both in relationship and individually.  Neither has to be exclusive.
  But, most importantly, BE present and BE love.  After all, you fell in love for a reason.
 





   



 

Meeting Divinity

  I've always been a spiritual person.  Growing up, I went to various churches off and on.  However, I never really found a place that I fit.  I feel that I was really fortunate to be born of parents that encouraged spiritual questioning.  In my early childhood their seeking fed my own curiosity and fulfilled my need to build a relationship with Divinity.  Yet, our family experience always seemed to lead to the same result.  We would attend a church for awhile.  Then, due to some turn of events--conflicts among the congregation, religious megalomania, or our own disagreements with the church's doctrine we would stop going.  However, my desire to know Spirit never diminished.  Somewhere inside me, I knew something about God.  Something that all of these other groups of people didn't.  Well, if they did, they never shared it with me.  This inner knowing spurred me onward.  It drove me to seek the Truth.
  So, it began--the journey of a lifetime.  One of the first things I realized was that I had some inner conflicts.  These conflicts put my mind into direct conflict with my soul.  I had been taught so many confusing things about God and my relationship to Him.  Things like, "He is merciful."  Yet, ready to smite you if you didn't follow the rules.  "God created us in His image."  Unless, you are different in some way.  Then, you are doomed to burn in hell.  This wasn't the divine being that I wanted to believe in.  Moreover, all of the teachings I had encountered made it pretty clear.  This was God and either you believed or you didn't.  I felt lost and doomed.  Yet, I held on to one question that desperately needed to be answered.  That question was:

"If God created me this way, and I love Him

so much, why would He create me to suffer

a lifetime.  Just to reject me at the end?"

None of it made sense to me.  It made my head reel and my soul scream for answers.  In her book, One Day My Soul Just Opened Up, Iyanla Vanzant says,

"The fullness of truth as related to the Divine

exists at the core of every living being."

I, of course, didn't encounter this teaching until much later in life.  Yet, even in my youth, I knew the truth of it.

  So, I kept searching.  I delved into philosophy and world religions.  All the while developing a personal relationship to Spirit.  I began to dialog with this Divine Being.  The more I opened up, the more I heard.  I began for the first time, to develop a friendship with "my God."  But, wait!  I wasn't "supposed" to do that.  Well, that's what I was lead to believe anyway.  So, I didn't talk about it.  I didn't stop.  I just didn't talk about it. I was already harboring secrets.  What was one more?  As this friendship developed, I began to see things change in my life.  I began to feel joy and see the beauty in things around me. Then, in my early teens, I encountered a 12 step program.  I learned many things in that time.

  However, the single most important thing I took away from that learning was that I COULD have a relationship with Divinity.  Furthermore, that relationship could be defined by me.  For the first time, someone said to me, "you can have a Higher Power of your choosing.  Whoa! Wait! What?  Suddenly, I felt that my inner knowing was affirmed.  The Universe, in the blink of an eye, became much more than what I had been taught.  I could reframe my beliefs about God and I didn't even have to call Him God?  It was a whole new ball game.  

  In retrospect, I realize that this was the movement of Spirit in my life.  My prayers and pondering were getting answers.  I still had a lot to reconcile.  But, it was a beginning.  

  

Samhain/Halloween Week

  Wow! What a week! It's really seemed to just fly by.  It always seems like the time surrounding a holiday goes so quickly.  This week seems to be no different.  However, I want to slow down a minute. Catch my breath and open to the blessings of the day.

  Today, is Samhain Eve or Halloween.  I love this day!  When I was younger, like all kids, I loved dressing up and trick or treating and such.  There was always such a mystery and magic attached to this day for me.  As I grew older, I began to realize why.  The more I learned about the traditions and history of this mystical day, the more I realized the importance of it.  

  For me, Samhain is the time of year to give thanks and prepare for the winter months that lay ahead.  In ancient times, it was time for the last harvest.  The livestock was brought in from the fields and the last of the harvested goods were prepared for keeping for the winter.  What couldn't be kept was typically used in celebration of the final harvest and for giving thanks for all that the harvest had brought.  So, this day reminds me of that gratitude.  

  grat·i·tude

ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

1. the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

  So, much has been said and taught about gratitude and what it means to live in gratitude.  I have certainly learned that living in gratitude doesn't mean just one or two days a year.  It means everyday.  Waking up every morning and being thankful for all that you have.  You see.  Gratitude is a cycle--a flow.  It is not static.  In being grateful, we create more of those things for which we are grateful.  In creating that flow of abundance, we find that we have not only enough for us. But, enough to share with rest of the world.  So, we pay it forward.  We share our abundance with the rest of the world.  Lo and behold, look what happens! More abundance!  So, by learning to live in this cycle daily, we set up a constant flow.  That is an amazing space in which to be.  But, it all starts with saying Thank you! "Thank you, Spirit, for all of the amazing things in my life." And Samhain is a great time to give that thanks voice and celebrate!

  Another great thing about Samhain is that it's a time to celebrate the Ancestors and all of those who have gone before.  Those who have blazed the trails.  Those who have contributed to our growth both literally and figuratively.  

  Some people believe that there is a veil that separates this world, our physical world, from the world of Spirit.  At Samhain, this veil thins and it becomes easier for these energies to make themselves known.  So, this is considered a great time to honor the spirits of the Ancestral Dead.  In many latin countries, like Mexico and South America, there a festivals and celebrations that happen at this time of year. Dia De Los Muertos has also gained popularity in the U.S. as a way to celebrate those who have not only contributed physically to our being here but spiritually as well.  This tradition,of course, is not limited to Latin America.  For many ancient cultures it was a common practice to honor the Ancestors.

  Furthermore, not only do we honor our direct ancestors, we can also honor great teachers, ascended master and those who have taught and influenced us from the other side of the veil.  Buddha, Jesus, Einstein, whoever you look to for guidance when are looking for inspiration.  We all have our heroes.  The energy of those heroes can move us forward.  One phrase that seems to have gained popularity in the last few years is "WWJD".  "What would Jesus do?"  I have seen the phrase used with other names substituted for Jesus.  So, regardless of the names used, it is the inspiration or guidance that one is seeking that matters. So, celebrate your heroes.  Even if you didn't know them personally, their energies are all around you. Those inspiring stories you read about your heroes or the movies you watch. The knowledge of their accomplishments.  All serve to inspire you.  So, I invite you to celebrate that.  Thank Buddha for his guidance.  Thank Einstein for his genius.  Thank Jesus for his peace and calm.  Whatever your heroes give you.  Thank them for it. 

  So, when we look around at our life and do an honest personal survey.  We see that we have a lot for which we can be thankful.  So, give thanks everyday! But today, maybe say or do something a little extra. Celebrate the Harvest of all the great work you have done over the last year and get those new seeds ready for planting. 

  Happy Samhain to all on both sides of the Veil! 

Into the Cave

  At the ripe ol' age of 13, I found myself in the midst of a mess.  A mess I wasn't sure how to handle.  A mess I was too scared to handle.  I felt alone--isolated. I was certain that no one could possibly understand me.  Even worse, I felt paralyzed.   I was stuck. Stuck in fear.  Now, I don't know if you've ever been paralyzed by fear.  It's a horrible place to be.  So, I did the only thing my young mind could figure out.  I hid. I hid in what I refer to now as the cave.
  The cave is a place deep within and everyone has one.  Each one is different.  The way we act.  How we behave in the world.  What we do inside and outside of the cave are all different.  Yet, one thing remains the same.  The cave hides who we truly are.  It covers our light--our divine spark.  That part of us that is eternal and connected to all that is.  We may run into the cave to let our light shine.  However, the darkness of the cave is such that no one else can see how bright we really are.  It's not easy to see that reality.  The cave tricks us.  All we can see is that when we are in the cave, we are secure and comfortable.  Our light can shine as brilliantly as it wants.  The problem is that inside the cave no one else can see our amazing light.  So, we become angry and self-loathing.
  This sense of contempt comes from being stuck in a place surrounded by fear.  You see.  In the depths of this cave, there was darkness.  This darkness was made of secrets.  Secrets that I kept from the world.  After all, from what I had seen, the world was a scary place.  So, the secret that I was different from others.  The secret that I wasn't perfect.  The secret that I felt like a disappointment to my family and friends. All those secrets made up that ever existing and encroaching darkness.  That darkness was fed by, not only, my fears but the fears and expectations of others.  The more I learned about the world, the more I didn't want to be a part of it.  Eventually, the cave became a prison.  The darkness growing until, I felt like my light was gone.  All that was left was darkness.  Yet, I stayed right there.
  I stayed in that cave surrounded by fear and self-hatred.  I learned to navigate the world. I reflected back to the world what I thought everyone wanted to see.  Now, one of the great things about sending out a reflection is that they are often returned.  As we reflect to others, they reflect back to us.  In those reflections, I could glimpsed nuggets or flashes of Spirit and Truth. Divine Truth.  The kind of truth that remains no matter what is happening around you.  It began to feel like I had some good qualities.  In spite of the fact that I was living in a cave of secrets.  So, I carried on seeking validation and love from others.  I felt I had to, really.  Obviously, my own way of loving, especially myself, was broken.  However, I began to see that I could be loved.  I just had to keep my secrets and keep my light hidden.  Then I could be perfect and loved by everyone.  Wow! What a flawed logic that was.
  As it turns out, secrets have a way of eating away at a person.  I didn't know it at the time. But, those little "personality traits" that I called secrets were actually gifts.  They were gifts from Spirit.  Yes, indeed.  I was armed with divine gifts and I didn't even know it.  So, in the depths of this cave, my secrets were being transformed.  The hand of the Divine shaping them into gifts.
  One of those gifts was the gift of Stillness.  In that cave, I had plenty of time.  So, without knowing, I cultivated stillness because it was pretty quite in there.  Eventually, I began to realize that when I was still I could hear.  I could hear the voice of Divinity.   Then, I began to realize that when I listened to that voice.  I felt joy.  When I felt joy, my light began to return.  As my light returned, the darkness of my fears and secrets was pushed back.
  Then, something miraculous happened.  The Voice said to me, " You were created to be perfect and divine.  Why would I not love everything about you?"  Upon hearing this, and sensing the Truth in it.  I connected to something greater than the Voice.  I connected to Love--perfect, divine love.  In the light of that divine Love I had one thought.  "If God can love me just the way I am. Everyone else, including myself, should be able to as well."  Then I thought, " God, what if they don't?"  The Voice answered, "Does it matter? I will always and forever love you."  In that moment, in the depths of the cave.  Amidst the darkness and despair,  I glimpsed my Self as reflected to me by the Divine.  I, also, glimpsed an infinity of possibilities.  I was reborn. I was reborn with a new understanding of Spirit and myself.  I had glimpsed my own Divine Nature.  And, man! I liked it! I was ready for more.

Finding the Message in Music

Let it be the joy of each new sunrise

Or the moment when a day dies

I surrender without reservation

No explanations

No questions why

I take it to me and let it pass through me

Yes, I let the music speak

I let the music speak

--ABBA,

I Let the Music Speak

  Music has always been a big part of my life.  It speaks to me.  It's like guidance and light to my soul.  It connects me to the parts of me that are creative and growing.  Music strengthens the parts of me that need support.  The knowing that others resonate with my deepest parts, fills me with joy.  Music always seems to call me out.  Driving home the messages that are echoed in my soul.  When I hear a song that touches me, I can seemingly listen to it endlessly.  Until, it seeps into my psyche and I have integrated the lessons it has for me.  

  Music is teaching.  It is empowering.  Even music that is popculture oriented, such as Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Michael Buble, can hold an empowering message.  Have you ever listened to your favorite song and actually thought about why you like it?  How does it speak to you? Which of your parts is it addressing? 

  I feel that when I know which of my Selves is being addressed, I can then find opportunities for growth and reflection.  I remember the first time I heard Born This Way, by Lady Gaga.  It really made me stop and think about all of the ways I talk to myself.  All of the things that society or other people say about who I am or how I should be in the world.  The empowering part of that song for me is the thought that we are created perfect.  That there is nothing wrong with loving all the parts of yourself because we are all beautiful in our own way.

"There's nothing wrong with loving who you are"

she said, "Cause he made you perfect, Babe"

That made me think.  No matter how you believe you came to be, you get what you are born with.  Don't let others define you. That is a powerful message that resonates not only with me but with countless others.  So, through this one song we can all come together and celebrate and honor who we are and how we BE in the world.  

  So no matter what you are experiencing at any given moment in your life, remember there are others out there who feel and have felt it too.  I never feel alone when I have music.  It always teaches me something.

  So, I say let the music speak.  It might just be the message your soul needs.

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly, Dragonfly

wandering by

my dreams become clear

when you are nigh.

Dragonfly, Dragonfly

whisper to me

your dreamtime tales

and set me free.

Open the gate

to my heart and mind.

Let me enter your realm

one more time.

Dragonfly, Dragonfly

passing so near

show me my Self.

Let the veil disappear.

Dragonfly, Dragonfly

now I see.

The beauty I sought

was always within ME!