“Meraki.” [may-rah-kee] May today be a ‘MERAKI’ day. 🙂
Modern Greeks often use the word ‘meraki’ to describe “doing something with soul” … aka – when you put something of yourself into whatever you’re doing.
Meraki is about creative, loving, soul-awakening acts. Whether preparing a meal … caring for a garden … creating something artistic … caring for someone who is ill, lonely, grieving, in pain … arranging a room … tangling … praying for a situation/person … whatever. If it’s done with soul, with passion, with love, then it’s ‘meraki’.
An ancient Chinese proverb offers a gentle reminder of ‘meraki’: “If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”
This weekend in some parts of the world, some are sharing ‘light in the soul’ … ‘meraki’ … in acts of kindness, thoughtfulness, loving gestures/actions as they mark Valentine’s Day. Expressing ‘meraki’, they are letting another know that they are ‘hearted’ – loved’.
Sadly, while of this is happening, some are alone, receiving none of the above. They are lonely, isolated because of illness, weather, grief, hurt feelings, poverty, self-hatred, fear. Oh the fear caused by politics, evil leaders, equally-evil minions.
This Valentine’s day of commercial love is anything but a day of soul, of joy, of love. Where is the meraki in the commercialism? If you are one of those people, my hope is, if only for a moment, you will consider yourself “hearted,” and loved, and receive my little ‘TULILUV’ tangled tile image at the top of this reflection.
MAY you experience the love that went into its creation. MAY this Valentine’s Day be a little brighter than it might otherwise have been, and bring a gentle flicker of light in your soul. MAY the wise Chinese proverb come to fruition, so that there will be MERAKI … “light” in each soul … “beauty” in each person … “harmony” in each home … “order” in each nation …“peace in our hearts, countries, world.” AND MAY we “be each other’s strength”: https://soulistry.com/lets-be-each-others-strength
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ P.S. If you’re into tangling and would like to have the step-out of my TuliLuv tangle (upper right corner of the heart in the image ), just let me know. Happy to share. 🙂
I keep hearing the cry … “what is hope?” and the cry … “where is hope?”
Lives – bodies, minds, spirits – will be assaulted by threats, violence, racism, sexism, broken promises, and more lies. As families are separated, the economy worsens and darkness plummets in areas of education, health, environment, personal safety and more.
Augustine died in 430. It was a time when many Romans fled for their lives to North Africa because of violence and corruption in high offices. It was a time when hope seemed to be elusive – and invisible. Terrible times.
Sound familiar? In the fifth century, he wrote these words: “Hope has two daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage … ‘anger’ at the way things are … and ‘courage’ to see that they do not remain the way they are.”
These days, many are experiencing elusive hope … invisible hope. Augustine knew that the only way through terrible times was for hope to emerge. His words guided the people at that time. Could they guide people at this time? Could we be called to hope, in spite of it all?
What if we allowed the anger at the “way things are” to surface by expressing our feelings in journalling, focusing on our breathing, artwork and sharing those feelings in conversations with trusted family, friends, colleagues, professionals?
What if we responded with courage … – by putting one foot in front of the other? – by remembering to breathe? – by inhaling Ruach? – by making time to “be” (remembering that we are human ‘be-ings’ not human ‘do-ings’)? – by sharing our fear, stress, concerns with caring people and welcoming opportunities to live … one moment at a time.
Hope has two daughters. Anger. Courage.
May we give ourselves time space to experience what we are feeling. May we give ourselves time and space to name what we are feeling as ‘anger.’ And may we be open to being siblings of Courage and Hope. In spite of it all.
“Soulistry” is a neologism combining two words: ‘soul’ and ‘artistry’ … soul-space – connecting creativity and spirituality. Sent from the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples in the Cowichan Valley, British Columbia. ***********************************************
Hope – where is it these days? For Kylene, Stuart and their children, the word ‘hope’ seemed like an empty phrase. But sometimes, a little hope, whispered, spoken, cried, shouted, becomes reality. These days, the news seems to get worse by the day. “Where is hope these days?” I asked the question this morning and one word came to me: Lewis.
Lewis, a neighbour’s family ginger cat, had gone missing. I whispered a wee prayer and hoped Lewis would be found. But he wasn’t. A ginger cat started showing up in the back yard. It was skittish and ran away within seconds. But was terribly thin and clearly hungry. One day, after feeding it, I was able to bring it indoors. “Oh please, let it be Lewis,” I whispered. I contacted the family and within minutes, the Dad, Stuart, came over.
As Stuart checked the cat, it was clear that it wasn’t Lewis and that this ginger cat was very ill. So off we went to Duncan Animal Hospital, one of our local vets who kindly cared for it and then turned it over to our local Cat Rescue for adoption. Good ending for that cat, but Lewis was still missing.
That was all before Christmas and I kept praying that Lewis would be found and the family would have a special Christmas gift this year. But that didn’t happen.
And then one morning, I received a wonderful email …“Our ginger cat, was found in Arbutus Ridge!” Thanks to Lewis’ tattoo he’d received from Cowichan Cat Rescue prior to his adoption, he was identified, and the rest, as they say, is history! Happy history!
No one knows how Lewis made it from here to where it was found -14 km away! It is a story that will remain with Lewis. But oh how I’d love to still be teaching Junior and Middle School students so I could tell the students about Lewis and invite them to write a short story about Lewis’ Adventures from when he went missing to when he was found. I’m sure Lewis had plenty of adventures!
Hope. Have you noticed that at times, hope feels like the ‘elusive pimpernel’: sought everywhere, glimpsed briefly, and then gone again. We search for hope … in prayers … in news … in outcomes … in promises … and often come up empty-handed. When headlines overwhelm and prayers feel unanswered, hope can seem fragile – even foolish. Hope does not ask us to deny reality. It asks only that we keep ‘showing up’, keep caring, keep believing that loss is not the final word.
Hope has a way of surviving in disguise, moving quietly through ordinary kindness, persistence, love, peaceful protests. And for those who don’t have hope, then lean on the hope of those of us who do.
Lewis came home. And for a moment, the ‘elusive pimpernel’ of hope let itself be seen.
In a world that so often feels broken, may Lewis remind us that sometimes, quietly, unexpectedly, what is lost, can still be found … even hope.
Today is a day that must be remembered. It is the international Holocaust Remembrance Day and we must …
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, 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 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.
And many are not seeing distinct similarities between what happened then and what is happening now in the United States with ordinary citizens who are being assaulted, kidnapped, murdered by members of ICE and in Iran with protesters and …
We must remember the 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 it is 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 … educate today’s children so they know the truth. We must do our part in speaking up and speaking out.
WE MUST REMEMBER. Not to remember will have dire consequences.
It’s another day of cold darkness with teary-rain weather in many places. It’s another day of darkness and teary-memories as many remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, the third Monday in the month of January. But instead of his murder being a sign that things must change, racial slurs, hatred of “the other”, and violence continue.
And God weeps.
Weeping God, how you must ache for your people who face uncertain futures.
How you must ache for those who enter into conversations and political debate with open hearts and minds only to find threats, harassment, and fear leading the discussions and governing decisions.
How you must ache for those whose love of power, love of money and love of self, supersedes commitment to honesty, mercy, compassion, justice and integrity.
Some cry … “How long O Lord, how long? Some whisper … “Let this cup be taken from us.” Some try to remember … the presence of the Holy One even “in the valley of the shadow of death.”
Many feel a kaleidoscopic tumbling of emotions and know not what to do, how to pray, what to say. And as they weep, the Creator weeps.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day once said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
May you continue to rest in peace Martin Luther King Jr, and may your life, witness, and words be a signpost of hope that a day will come when love will drive out hate. Let’s continue to show love … in waves of peaceful protest, steadfast focus on democratic principles, and actions of love – big and small – in our communities, families, and ourselves. Let’s be the light and love that will drive out the darkness.
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 aSTAR WORD to guide you in the coming year. During the Season of Epiphany, I choose a Star Word which I hope will guide me in some way to a transformative self-growth epiphany. Last year, my Star Word 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 Star Word is “open.” I want to be open to new friends, new experiences, new insights, new ways of be-ing.
As well, as coming up with your own Star Word, how about one/some of these things to bring light into your home/life during the Season of Epiphany – especially if you live in a part of the world where evenings and nights are dark. … 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, and simple to do. 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. I find this to be a gentle, simple and contemplative act that invites a gentle peace in my home and within my soul.
Think of ways you can be the light in the world around you by bringing the light of patience, generosity, forgiveness, gentleness, self-control, thoughtfulness, goodness, compassion, kindness to others and yourself, 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 Word” which 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 Universe/Creator/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? It could be anything!
Write the word down and when something happens to confirm your Star Word in the coming year, make a note of it in your journal. At the end of the year, read what you’ve written throughout the year, see how you chose the word that was right for you because you are intentional about this choice because 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 (January 5th) and marks the coming of the Epiphany tomorrow – January 6th – for those following the Gregorian calendar.
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!
Whaaaat? In the midst of political turmoil, war, serious viruses and more? Sure, why not? Born a few months before an outbreak of bubonic plague swept across England in 1564 and killed a quarter of the people in his hometown, Shakespeare lived and later he wrote his Twelfth Night play, encouraging people in merriment and celebration. There’s always something to celebrate if we look beneath the surface.
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://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. 🙂
We’ve come to the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas and it’s time to “drum possibilities” because on this day, as the song goes, the drummers were drumming.
Why? What? Music ethnologists remind us that every culture has utilized the drum for a multitude of purposes to touch the heart and communicate emotions, actions and messages in a variety of ways: social dances, feasts, sporting events, religious rituals, prelude to war, ceremonies, weddings, births, funerals, etc.
When drummers drum, they are trying to gain interest or support in some way. In fact, the phrase “drum up” has become a favourite of people in business (drum up sales), as excuses (drum up an alibi or story), in advertising (drum up more customers) and yes, in politics (drum up support for a particular Bill / Amendment / Candidate), too.
As interesting as are the gain interest/support uses of the drum image, I’d rather “drum up” possibilities – opportunities to … be creative … do acts of kindness … experience joy … make a difference … dream … be involved in self-care … ‘think’ and ‘respond’ before ‘reacting’ … imagine … be hopeful … find ways to keep the Spirit of Christmas alive throughout the year.
Journalist, English writer, poet, philosopher and lay theologian, G.K. Chesterton reinforced the hope that the Spirit of Christmas is lived every day by people of all religions and by people of no religion: “Christmas which is now over, ought to go on for the remainder of the twelve days … (in) our own topsy-turvy time we all hear such a vast amount about Christmas just before it comes, and suddenly hear nothing at all about it afterwards … I am going to plead for a longer period in which to find out what was really meant by Christmas and a fuller consideration of what we have really found.” <G.K. Chesterton>
Chesterton’s point of view is simple … Let’s keep Christmas alive in our hearts beyond this, the Twelfth Day of Christmas, so that Christmas isn’t just one day, or only for those who are Christians, or only for the Twelve Days of Christmas. It’s for us all to enjoy, to keep, to maintain throughout the whole year.
Even though the Season of Christmas draws to a close this night known as Twelfth Night – and yes, another Soulistry reflection about Twelfth Night will emerge later today – may the Spirit of Christmas continue to be alive every day!
Thank you for your encouragement of Soulistry and its blog,
‘Soulistry’ Reflections appear on the blog and on the Soulistry FB group throughout the year about a variety of themes, subjects and thoughts. If you have a subject/theme, feel free to use the magnifying image and search.
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, 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 (January 6th as marked by western Christianity) 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 + 26. 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 “26” at the end represent this current year: 20 (2000) plus 26 (+ 2026). Next year the inscription will be “20 + C + M + B + 27”.
“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.
