Another month begins … February 1st … and this year, it’s a day and month with a number of things to mark … St. Brigid’s Day (more about her, below) … Imbolc/Imbolg, a Gaelic festival which celebrates the arrival in longer, warmer days and early signs of spring in some places … Candlemas (the Presentation of Christ in the Temple) … Groundhog Day … the beginning of Black History Month (well, after recent news events, it’s unlikely there will be any/much official mention of that. … the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the United States (1865) – that, too. … the day the president of the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on Canada and he and his minions inflicted even more frightening decisions on the American public.
Clearly, what is needed is some calm – some sense of hope – some reminder that joy, love, light are still here.
When I took this photo, I was reminded of a lovely Celtic prayer based on the Caim (Gaelic – meaning a ‘circling’ / ‘enfolding’) used by early Celtic Christians, based on a prayer found in the Gethsemane Chapel, Wells Cathedral, England.
Still used by those who value its benefits of ‘protection’ or ‘sanctuary’), I remembered St. Brigid – one of Ireland’s patron saints. Presumed to have been an early Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several monasteries of nuns, it said that she often visited homes and farms to offer blessings of protection … “enfolding/circling” of homes and livestock.
This is the Celtic prayer known as the “Enfolding Prayer.”
“Encircle me this night with your presence. Keep joy within. Keep bitterness out. Keep generosity within. Keep greed out. Keep love within. Keep self-seeking out. Keep light within. Keep darkness out.”
I am praying this prayer each night and do a second verse … replacing “me” with specific focus: Americans, refugees, the world, etc..
May each of us do what we can to keep bitterness, greed, self-seeking, darkness “out” so that joy, generosity, love, and light may be kept “within”.
It’s difficult to be grateful ~ when going through a difficult time personally; ~ when politics seem to occupy the attention of news and social media; ~ when phones become a barrier to conversations between parents and children, between friends and are even a safety hazard as people walk across streets texting, eyes focused down rather than up and looking around to make certain it is safe to cross the street; ~ when health issues are frightening and compounded by financial costs for the medical care; ~ when you believed what someone told you only to realize the words and promises were lies and you/your family/country will pay dearly for believing in that person.
But when gratitude fills our hearts and minds, it fills our souls and we are changed. How?
Look closely at the this lovely piece of art by calligrapher and teacher Gerry Jackson Kerdok. When I saw this particular work of hers, it deeply touched my spirit. Look at the creative interplay of the “U” and “D” which form the shape of a heart … a gentle reminder of the importance of gratitude in our lives.
The artist – often overlooked, unappreciated, forgotten. May we join in gratitude for the artists in our world artists who can create magic with pen and ink, watercolour or acrylic or oil, wood carving knife, video camera, cell phone camera, flowers, fabric, food, music, dance, digital camera, writing, drama and the list goes on.
How impoverished our world would be without artists and without the finest Artist of all – the Creator of the Universe.
Today, January 27th, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp at Auschwitz. And we must remember. We must remember the horrors that happened when good people did not believe what was happening.
We must remember the hatred and lust for power which resulted in intimidation, intolerance, corruption, horrifying violence against Jews, Roma (gypsies), homosexuals, political activists, the disabled (physically and mentally).
Exact numbers of those who died in concentration camps in the Holocaust are unknown, but it is estimated that six million Jews, 15,000 homosexuals, unknown political prisoners, the disabled, and about 1.5 million out of an estimated 2 million Gypsies (Roma) were murdered in the Gypsy Holocaust – Porajmos).
Records of one concentration camp (Auschwitz) show unbelievable facts: 1.1 million died … 960,000 Jews (865,000 of whom were gassed on arrival), 74,000 non-Jewish Poles, 21,000 Roma, 15,000 prisoners of war, and up to 15,000 other Europeans.
Many try to forget the reality of what happened in Europe to these people, including clergy who also died while doing their best to support and protect the vulnerable.
Many denied the reality of the Holocaust then.
Many deny the reality of the Holocaust now.
But we must remember these words of Martin Niemöller “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
What gave rise to the Holocaust then – anger, hatred, fear – is happening now and growing.
If Niemöller’s words are not taken seriously … if history is not remembered … if action is not taken … if people do not speak up there will be no one left to speak.
Democracy will no longer be the reality.
We must remember.
Remember that “It didn’t start with gas chambers. It started with politicians dividing the people with ‘us vs them’. It started with intolerance and hate speech, and when people stopped caring, became desensitized and turned a blind eye.” <Auschwitz Memorial>
We must remember and become educated about the atrocities of the past. We must educate today’s children so they know the truth. We must do our part in speaking up and speaking out.
Fear. It’s palpable. And it’s growing and growing and growing.
Fuelled by conversations and social media and political actions it is a word that resonates and leaves little space for anything other than fear.
What to do? We could let the fear grow and grow until physical, emotional and spiritual paralysis sets in.
Or, we could transform our understanding of fear and our approach to it. into hope and F ace E verything that is A gainst R eason
with
H ealing O penness and P ossibilities of peaceful action and response, by and for E veryone
Will changing our approach to a single word bring about change? change in our actions, our attitudes, our abilities to cope?
How will we know if we don’t try?
When fear attacks may we Face Everythingthat is Against Reason with Healing, Openness and Possibilities of peaceful action and response by and for Everyone.
I will never forget the conversation. “You are so lucky to be a Canadian and living in Canada. We are terrified of what will happen with our country if Obama doesn’t get into the White House.”
The fear expressed at the time was palpable. I could feel it!
That was then. This is now. And today, another Presidential Inauguration.
This time, the fear is beyond palpable in the United States. It has spread far beyond the borders of the United States.
The world is watching and hopefully remembering a man who swayed the masses into believing that he … and only he … could make their country great again. He didn’t the first time. He won’t this time.
While the world seemed void of hope – then and the world seems void of hope – now nature and history provide Conduits of Hope: flowers growing in the desert … in cement … along a wooden fence Rosa Parks … Malala … Barack Obama and his election – twice! … Bishop Budde …
Strong reminders of tenacity, courage and hope.
Conduits of hope ARE around us.
May we look for Conduits of Hope.
May we see Conduits of Hope.
May we believe in Conduits of Hope.
May we be Conduits of Hope.
Photo: Laura Hope – Unsplash – used with permission
I love the word ‘epiphany.’Epiphanies are those “ah-hah!” moments in life when we suddenly ‘understand’ … ‘get it’ … ‘gain insight’ into the nature or meaning of something (or someone) we hadn’t grasped or understood previously.
Many around the world are celebrating the Season of Epiphany beginning today, January 6th. Its origin began long ago, when it is said that a star guided three Magi to travel great distance to pay homage to the baby Jesus.Not surprisingly, the image of a star is often seen as a metaphor for bringing light in the midst of darkness … a darkness of any kind: physical, emotional, spiritual, political, financial, vocational etc..
In the western and northern parts of the world, it is winter – a time of darkness. Throughout the world, with the growing rise of ‘strongman leaders’, the light of democracy is slowly being extinguished. Welcoming the Epiphany through images helps to bring light to ourselves.
I’ve been enjoying “light” since the beginning of the Season of Advent: …. Royal blue lights appeared four weeks before Christmas (for the Season of Advent). … Red and green lights were added for the Season of Christmas and its Twelve Days of Christmas. … And just before heading off to bed last night (Twelfth Night), the coloured lights were removed and white tiny lights for the Season of Epiphany took their place. In this part of the world, which is usually dark, rainy and gloomy, I find that this ‘tradition’ helps me dispel some of the dreary-weather and dreary-politics of the world.
What about you? How can you encourage Epiphany to make a difference in your life this year? Perhaps you could
… Choose aS.E.W. to guide you in the coming year. During the Season of Epiphany, I choose a S.E.W. (Star Epiphany Word) which I hope will guide me in some way to a transformative self-growth epiphany. Last year, my S.E.W. was the word “create.“ I wanted to *create* … create more Soulistry reflections … create special handmade cards for friends and shut-in’s … create change in my health … create more opportunities to play … create ways to bring light into the world around me in terms of kindness, compassion, social justice. This coming year, my S.E.W. word is “open.”A separate Soulistry reflection about the S.E.W. can be found at https://www.soulistry.com/blog and search for “S.E.W.” … Weave tiny white lights around your home as a gentle reminder to welcome the Light that comes into the world through ordinary people who bring kindness, caring, gentleness, peace, patience, goodness, compassion, love, hope. The tiny white lights encourage me to give thanks for the ‘bearers of light’ especially the ‘bearers of light’ in hospitals, care facilities, ambulances, paramedics, fire and police stations.
… Make handmade origami stars. They’re easy to make (YouTube has easy-to-follow videos), are a creative outlet, simple to do, and remind me of the Star the Magi decided to follow. Over the years, as I have worked on and strung the paper stars in various places – across windows, across mirrors, suspended from leaves of large indoor plants – I invite them to be a metaphor that I be guided in making wise decisions.
… Light some white candles and bring light into the darkness of the winter evenings. A gentle, contemplative act and invites a gentle peace in my home and within my soul. ... Think of ways you couldbe the light in the world around you and bring the light of patience, generosity, forgiveness, gentleness, self-control, thoughtfulness, goodness, compassion, kindness to others and your self so that work of Christmas doesn’t stop with Christmas. As educator, theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman wrote: “When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart.”
While the Season of Epiphany can last anywhere from 40 to 63 days (because the date of Easter changes each year), for however long the Season of Epiphany lasts, may it be a Season of Light in your life and this pandemic world, and in its own way, continue “the work of Christmas.” Happy Epiphany!
Every year during the Season of Epiphany (the season in Christianity that remembers the star that is said to have guided the Magi to the Christ Child), I love to choose a “Star-Epiphany Word”: SEW. My SEW is a word I hope will ‘guide’ me (as a star) in the coming year to ‘epiphanies’ and “ah-hah” moments of life.
The word I’ve chosen for this year is ‘OPEN.’ I want to be ‘open’ to what the Creator / Universe / By-Whatever-Name has for me in terms of personal growth, relationships, expansion for “Soulistry”.
I want to be ‘open’ to possibilities, learning, sharing, networking and …
What about you? What word do you choose to guide your year? What will you be SEWing? It could be anything!
Write the word down and when something happens to confirm your SEW in the coming year, make a note of it in your journal. At the end of the year, read about your SEW and see how you chose the word that was right for you because you are intentional about this choice so whatever word you choose, it will be the right word for you.
Twelfth Night is a festival for those following the Gregorian calendar that takes place on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas and marks the coming of the Epiphany tomorrow – January 6th.
What is Twelfth Night all about? Twelfth Night is a night of celebration, partying and merriment where a Twelfth Night cake with a bean or coin inside, (aka King’s Cake in both the UK and the Netherlands; Martha Washington’s Great Cake in the U.S.) is ceremoniously presented and eaten; a crowning of mock royalty happens; lots of music, plays, puppets, theatre and singing; and wassail, a toast of spiced ale or cider (or hot apple juice/cider with a cinnamon stick for flavour) is offered for good health. Yummmm!
In some homes, it’s an excuse for everyone to dress-up a la masquerade. In other words, Twelfth Night is an opportunity to feast, and play, be silly and have fun!
Historically, around 1601, William Shakespeare wrote his ‘Twelfth Night’ play, a comedy, as entertainment for the close of the Season of Christmas and set the stage for the Twelfth Night feast with Orlando’s words: “If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it.” In 1849, Queen Victoria marked Twelfth Night with an abundance of music, theatre performances and dance for her court which the populace began to imitate.
Many well-known painters depicted the frivolity of Twelfth Night: … Peter Brueghel the Younger painted “The King Drinks” showing the King drinking to himself, a costume procession, general feasting and merry making … Jan Steen, (known as the most prolific of Twelfth Night artists – six on that theme!), focused on the role of music, symbolism of the Epiphany star and the waffles that are served royalty on Twelfth Night, and even included eggshells littered on the floor in one of his paintings. And poets like Robert Herrick’s 1660 “Twelfth Night: Or, King and Queen”): “Now, now the mirth comes” got into the celebration of the festival.
Let’s re-discover the Twelfth Night, bring some celebration and festive merrymaking into our lives, and welcome the light of the Epiphany when dawn breaks in the morning … in spite of the political tension in many countries.
Or maybe, let’s re-discover Twelfth Night because of it all. … pick up the phone and call a friend … let social media be the bridge for you to celebrate Twelfth Night. … or simply put some apple juice in a pot on the stove, add a cinnamon stick and when it’s been cooking for a while and has “cooked down”, pour yourself a cuppa and as you gently sip from the cup, consider celebrations in your life in the past that brought you joy and dream of celebrations in the future. … get dressed up – make a crown and put it on your head and crown yourself king/queen for the night. 😉
Soulistry-Artistry of the Soul offers reflections throughout the calendar year. If you are looking for a particular subject, theme, holiday – whatever – type the word into the Search bar https://www.soulistry.com/blog
Tomorrow – we welcome the Season of Epiphany and its themes of light and images of stars. And yes, “Soulistry” will offer reflections throughout Epiphany. Stay tuned. 🙂
Have you ever noticed a mysterious series of letters and numbers which looked like a math equation, inscribed in chalk over a doorway (or at your church, or at the home of a friend) at/around January 6th – Epiphany – and wondered “What is that?”
It’s called “Chalking the Door.” And as some ‘chalk the door’ on the eve of Epiphany, on Epiphany itself or sometime during the Season of Epiphany, thought it might be interesting to explore its origin, what it means and why it could be a fun ritual for individuals/families to do. So, here goes. 🙂
Some “chalk the door” (literally write on or above the entrance of their home in chalk) with a particular inscription of specific numbers/letters which changes each year. This year, the inscription is: 20 + C + M + B + 25 Here’s a quick ‘translation’. The letters “C, M, B” can represent yhe initials of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) who were reported to visit the baby Jesus on January 6th, or they can represent abbreviation of the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat which means “May Christ bless this house.”
The “plus” “+” signs are said to represent the Cross of Jesus. The “numbers” change every year.- The “20” at the beginning and the “25” at the end represent this current year: 20 (2000) plus 25 (+ 2025). Next year the inscription will be “20 + C + M + B + 26”.
“Chalking of the door” is a centuries-old ritual throughout many parts of the world and can be a wonderful family activity and spiritual practice, invoking the Creator’s blessing and protection on all who live/work/visit the home. In some respect, it is similar to what Jewish people have done for centuries when they attach a mezuzah to the front door/doorpost in response to a mitzvah (a commandment) believing in protection for those who pass through the door.
When to do the “chalking of the door”? Some do it on New Year’s Day. Some do it on Twelfth Night. Some do it on a day of their own choosing between New Year’s Day and Epiphany. And some do it on Epiphany (January 6th). The actual date of the “Chalking of the Door” isn’t the important thing. Being intentional, making the time to invite and welcome the Creator’s presence and protection, is the focus. How does the Chalking of the Door ritual unfold? – You’ll need a chalk (and a board/cardboard if you don’t want to do it on the actual door). – Write the inscription on the door (or board if you’d prefer but chalk washes off so write it on the actual door if you can. 🙂 – Let others in the home know about it so they can be there. – And, you’ll need a hammer and nails/tacks to put the inscription on/over the door
The ritual (writing the inscription on/above the door and offering a short prayer) can be done by one person who lives in the home; it can be shared by people living in the home; and an ordained person can be invited to preside at the ritual. There really is no formal way of “chalking the door” and no particular date when it’s done other than ‘sometime in the Season of Epiphany.’ It’s a custom, a ritual, which we make our own. So – “Do your own thing.”
Chalking of the Door Prayer It can be informal (use your own words) such as “May all who enter this door be welcomed with peace and lovingkindness. May all who leave this door be blessed and manifest the peace and lovingkindness wherever they go. So be it. Yes. So be it.”
It can be semi-formal (something similar to the following) “Holy One, Creator, God, (I/we) ask your blessing on this entrance and home and upon all who live here (work / visit here). May they may be blessed in ways that will be nourishing to their body, mind and spirit. May peace dwell in this home. May laughter and joy be experienced. May kindness, patience, thoughtfulness, and respect be present in conversations and actions. And may All That Is Good be present in the waking and sleeping of all who dwell herein. Amen“
It can be formal, based on an ancient Celtic prayer (below): “God who is Three, God who is One, give blessing to the house that is here. Bless it from roof to floor, from wall to wall, from end to end. May your Spirit alone dwell within these walls to bring joy and laughter. We call upon the Sacred Three to save, to shield and surround this home. The circle of God around it. The peace of Christ within it. The life of the Spirit above it this day and night and every night. May the Triune God be the protector of this place. Peace be here in the name of the God of love. Welcome be here in the name of the Christ of peace. Joy be here in the name of the Spirit of life. God who is one. God who is three, bring light for the day and rest for the night. We call upon the Sacred Three to welcome, guide and nurture all who enter here; the Circle of God around friend and stranger; the Peace of Christ within it; the life of the Spirit above all who stand at the door this day, this night and evermore. Amen.” <adaptation of Celtic prayer by Christine Sine, used with permission):
May the “Chalking of the Door” be a blessing to all who read it on a front door and a blessing to all who decide to “chalk the door” this year.
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