December is here, and along with it a flurry of holidays and celebrations.
Sign in here and tell us who and where you are, and what you'll be celebrating this month. How are you feeling spiritually during this busy time? Stressed? Renewed? Confused? Something else?
Hi Ginger.Cookie -- I'm from Missouri. We've just had some really icy days here with a great deal of tree damage from the ice. Many are without electricity since Thursday. We are fortunate to have our electricity. It is interesting to see how people cope when the electricity is out. Most want to stay in their homes anyway even with inside temperatures dropping into the low 50's. My friends with pets have been particularly fixed on the idea of staying in their homes with the pets no matter how cold. I admire their strength and creative ideas to cope with the problem.
Re: your Christmas question. I'm taking it very slow this year. I hope to make some simple gifts and find some inexpensive but thoughtful gifts for others. This is somewhat of a new approach for me and I'm enjoying it. I feel it is more of an adventure than a burden and I've more joy in the spiritual purpose of the season since I don't feel pressured. There can seem to be so much pressure to buy stuff that just gets in the way of feeling God's love. My goal is to help family and friends to feel God's love not because of the quantity of presents but because I've really thought about who they are and loved who they are.
Gypsy here in Northern California. I will be celebrating both Yule and Christmas. DH is Christian, DD & I are Wiccan. Family gatherings, good company, good food, good times. ;)
I will take time for some private time with my Goddess and God on the 22nd. Light some candles, do some quiet reflection and meditation. I will be attending a Yule ritual with the Pagan group of the UU church, and attend a winter festival lunch at the church, honoring all traditions.
I don't do the whirlwind preparations bit any more. I do less each year, paring down to essentials and simplifying to what's important: my family and friends, my Goddess and God. :))
Jodi, the other one, :), from Central Pennsylvania ... oooo, it's snowing!
I'll be definitely celebrating Solstice ... I set an alarm so I can mark the actual astronomical solstice time. The wheel keeps turning and the season's keep changing. And I might celebrate Yule on Dec. 25th. DH hates presents, he tolerates the tree, he doesn't want to have anyone over or go anywhere, he abhors holiday television shows, he's basically the grinch so it doesn't ever feel like a holiday, it feels like a day off.
Spiritually I'm fluctuating between wanting to sing carols, decorate, and find another charity to work for and apathy. I really feel spiritual about the Solstice but I'm not quite there yet with the whole spirit of the season. I'm still looking for direction.
My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. - Erma Bombeck
:) I'm Aimee in Missouri, and this winter I'll be celebrating the fact that I'm around wonderful people who love me. They celebrate Christmas, and I always spend a bit of time meditating for Yule, but to me, what holidays we celebrate aren't as important as the time spent together. This will be my first Christmas/Yule spent (in person) with my boyfriend and his family and I'm happy for that. I haven't been this excited about the holiday season since I was a child.
Hi! Victoria here, from NY... I'm not really celebrating anything, particularly not in a religious sense. I will reflect on my spirituality informally, like I normally do, but that's probably the extent of it. I guess I can celebrate a renewed sense of...oh, just a pleasant feeling at this time of year. I had thought it deserted me. It's nice to feel a little bit more uplifted this year than I did last year at this time... :-) So that's definitely something to celebrate. :-D
Hi Ginger.Cookie -- I'm from Missouri. We've just had some really icy days here with a great deal of tree damage from the ice. Many are without electricity since Thursday. We are fortunate to have our electricity. It is interesting to see how people cope when the electricity is out. Most want to stay in their homes anyway even with inside temperatures dropping into the low 50's. My friends with pets have been particularly fixed on the idea of staying in their homes with the pets no matter how cold. I admire their strength and creative ideas to cope with the problem.
Re: your Christmas question. I'm taking it very slow this year. I hope to make some simple gifts and find some inexpensive but thoughtful gifts for others. This is somewhat of a new approach for me and I'm enjoying it. I feel it is more of an adventure than a burden and I've more joy in the spiritual purpose of the season since I don't feel pressured. There can seem to be so much pressure to buy stuff that just gets in the way of feeling God's love. My goal is to help family and friends to feel God's love not because of the quantity of presents but because I've really thought about who they are and loved who they are.
Warm regards,
peanuts
Gypsy here in Northern California. I will be celebrating both Yule and Christmas. DH is Christian, DD & I are Wiccan. Family gatherings, good company, good food, good times. ;)
I will take time for some private time with my Goddess and God on the 22nd. Light some candles, do some quiet reflection and meditation. I will be attending a Yule ritual with the Pagan group of the UU church, and attend a winter festival lunch at the church, honoring all traditions.
I don't do the whirlwind preparations bit any more. I do less each year, paring down to essentials and simplifying to what's important: my family and friends, my Goddess and God. :))
Gypsy
)O(
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
We will be celebrating Christmas,
Barbara in snowy, cold Michigan!
and to me traditions themselves are sacred: they are the
Cindy of Hawaii....and feeling very excited
about the season : )
Merry Christmas to all!
~*~ Don't hold back.... ~*~
~*~ Aloha to all .... ~*~
Jodi, the other one, :), from Central Pennsylvania ... oooo, it's snowing!
I'll be definitely celebrating Solstice ... I set an alarm so I can mark the actual astronomical solstice time. The wheel keeps turning and the season's keep changing. And I might celebrate Yule on Dec. 25th. DH hates presents, he tolerates the tree, he doesn't want to have anyone over or go anywhere, he abhors holiday television shows, he's basically the grinch so it doesn't ever feel like a holiday, it feels like a day off.
Spiritually I'm fluctuating between wanting to sing carols, decorate, and find another charity to work for and apathy. I really feel spiritual about the Solstice but I'm not quite there yet with the whole spirit of the season. I'm still looking for direction.
hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. - Erma Bombeck
:) I'm Aimee in Missouri, and this winter I'll be celebrating the fact that I'm around wonderful people who love me. They celebrate Christmas, and I always spend a bit of time meditating for Yule, but to me, what holidays we celebrate aren't as important as the time spent together. This will be my first Christmas/Yule spent (in person) with my boyfriend and his family and I'm happy for that. I haven't been this excited about the holiday season since I was a child.
Bright blessings to all!