On this, the Third day in the Season of Christmas, let’s sing! I wish for you, a voice!
* A voice that would sing.
* A voice that would be a voice for the voiceless in the world.
* A voice that would let elected politicians know when they are not standing up for justice, not speaking truth, not representing their constituents but themselves in their words, actions and decisions. * A voice that would echo the cries of the innocent, the tortured, the unjustly tried and imprisoned, the abused, the homeless, the hungry, the minorities, the incarcerated, the lonely, the isolated, the fearful. * A voice that would write letters to the editor and speak out on behalf of local, national and international injustices.
* A voice that would be kind in word, thought and action.
* A voice that would express innermost feelings to loved ones before it is too late. * And a voice that speaks to one’s own heart with a gentle reminder of love, worth, and ‘becoming’ one’s full potential.
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May the Twelve Days of Christmas be a reminder that Christmas isn’t just “one day.” The Spirit of Christmas can continue to be alive in hearts and lives every day – even beyond the Season of Christmas. 🙂
June Maffin
On this, the Second Day in the Season of Christmas may there be …
Two Times the Gift of Insight about the true meaning of the Christmas Message.
Two Times the Gift of Patience with others and ourselves.
Two Times the Gift of Serenity to accept the things we cannot change.
Two Times the Gift of Courage to change the things we can.
Two Times the Gift of Wisdom to know the difference between things we can and cannot change. Two Times the Gift of Love to give and receive.
Two Times the Gift of Hope to focus on possibilities
Happy Second Day – “Two Times” Day – of Christmas!
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May the Twelve Days of Christmas be a reminder that Christmas isn’t just “one day.” The Spirit of Christmas can continue to be alive in hearts and lives and be lived every day – even beyond the Season of Christmas.
As I sat in the stillness of early Christmas morning in a quiet time of meditation, the angel on the Christmas tree, dressed in white satin and tiny pearls, softly blew on her trumpet.
“Hope” she gently trumpeted. “Hope for those who feel hopeless. Don’t lose sight of hope.”
“Joy” she gently trumpeted. “Joy for those who experience no joy. Don’t lose sight of joy.”
“Peace” she gently trumpeted. “Peace for those who don’t know what peace feels like. Don’t lose sight of peace.”
“Love” she gently trumpeted. “Love for those who are unaware that love exists. Don’t lose sight of love.”
But, from time to time, we lose sight of peace and joy and love and hope, as personal worries, global concerns, fear, war, the tripledemic, financial and unresolved health issues occupy our thoughts. As Madeleine L’Engle wrote: “We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, for to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!”
Gentle Trumpeting Angel, you have sounded the call to remember that the signs of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love … *are* here. Sometimes in big ways. Sometimes in not-so-big ways. But, they are here. This holiday season, may we rejoice … let the angels wrap us in their loving wings and give us signs and reminders that Hope and Joy and Peace and Love are possible for ourselves and for our world.
May the entire Season of Christmas with its 12 days be blessed. Blessed with hope, peace, joy and love in ways you can’t even begin to imagine. And may your soul be touched in some gentle, unexpected way.
Merry Christmas! Today is the *first* of the 12 Days of Christmas!
Onwards to the remaining eleven days of the Season of Christmas.
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Today is Christmas Eve in this part of the world. And for many, it’s a special time. Or, is it?
Do you remember Archie Bunker of TV’s “All in the Family” fame? In one Christmas Eve episode, Archie said to his wife Edith: “Stifle, Edith. Let’s have a little Silent Night around here for a change. I’m the only one thinking of the real solemn meaning of Christmas. Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace and quiet contemplation.”
Edith replied “But Archie, I think you’re allowed to be jolly, too.”
“Sure, Edith. I never said you shouldn’t be jolly. Just be jolly with your mouth shut” said Archie.
When I first saw that tv episode, I was not amused by Archie’s response. When I saw that episode again, I couldn’t help but wonder, especially in light of all the misery, suffering, fear-about-the-future that is happening, how can people “stifle” Christmas?
Joy is needed. Hope in a better tomorrow is needed. Celebration is needed. Especially at a time such as this.
Children are a wonderful reminder that ultimately … good *can* conquer evil … hope *can* overcome despair … love *can* obliterate hatred … joy *can* permeate sadness.
If we “stifle” the joy, the hope, the celebration …
If we “stifle” … and don’t speak out against hatred, racism, lies, evil … don’t speak out against what we know is wrong … don’t let our voice and actions protest injustice and cruelty, a legacy will be left for children that will change this world in unspeakable ways.
There could be no children who … will be able to teach how to live with hope, goodness, love, joy … could give hope with … their smiles and infectious eyes … their innocence … their ability to enter into joy with their imagination intact … their anticipation and sheer delight at holidays and birthdays … their wide-eyed awe at the sight of a puppy, a kitten, coloured Christmas lights … their expectant hope that Santa would visit them this night.
Let us not stifle! Let’s let the children teach us. Teach us how to “live Christmas” whether Christmas is observed as a religious celebration or a secular holiday.
Let us look for the good, the joy, the hope, the Santa, the elves, the Christ Child, the simple act of believing that each day is a gift and each person is a gift.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tomorrow, Christmas Day, begins the Twelve Days of Christmas: the first day of the Season of Christmas.
Are the kids / grandkids getting mischievous? restless? can’t wait for Santa? How about having them make some Dot Mandala tags? They’re easy and fun to make – look great on gifts, the Christmas trees and as a Jewish friend told me – on her Hanukkah bush. 🙂
Here’s how …
In a nutshell … the paint: acrylic paint (the stuff from the Dollar Store) … the ‘dot’ tools: can be special dot mandala tools which can be purchased on-line OR you can use the eraser end of pencils, embossing styluses, straight pins (if you’re doing really ‘fine’ work), dowels, different-size round brushes heads, etc. In other words, look around at your home/the Dollar Store and see what different things you have that will make different sized ‘dots’.
Get some black cardstock/watercolour paper (I like working on dark navy or black, but any colour background will work). This technique also works great on rocks, CD’s and records which are best first painted (acrylic) in a solid colour and then dried before dotting the surface.
Steps: The Dot Mandalas are made from creating a circle. Then divide it into various ‘even’ sections (quarters / eighths) and into smaller circles (if you want some guidelines) all using a white erasable pencil – white charcoal pencils work great as do tailor’s marking pencils.
Put a little bit of each acrylic paint colour you’re going to use in a small paint tray or on a dish. I like the idea of just using white on black for Christmas, but did do some with colour. To begin, put a dot in the centre of your circle and add dots working outwards. Remember to refresh your paint with each dot … change dot sizes and clean your tool/pencil end between each dot. If you want to make smaller “dots” in a line, don’t refresh your paint each time. The paint does the magic on its own. 🙂
A bit of a warning <g>, this can become addictive! But, it’s a very inexpensive art form with all sorts of possibilities (design / colour / original shape / turning into a handmade card).
I’ve found making Dot Mandalas to be a gentle meditative process. Hope you do, as well.
On this “Eve of Christmas Eve” … a question … what would you do if you realized you’d not finished making/sending your Christmas cards or discovered you’d received cards from friends you forgot to include in your Christmas card list? You meant to do that, but … the weather was miserable, you were under the weather, work was demanding your attention, you didn’t have the energy, the postal strike upset your plans …
It’s the eve-of-Christmas-Eve, Christmas Eve-Eve, and you’re thinking that it’s too late to mail anything so they’d get it in time for Christmas. You could send them an email or ecard but … but it’s just not the same thing. The clock is ticking … Christmas is almost here and will be over soon. Or, will it?
No. Christmas won’t be over on December 26th, because Christmas isn’t just one day. Christmas is an entire season!
Christmas Day begins the “Season of Christmas” in Christian tradition and is followed by eleven other days: the Twelve Days of Christmas!
Ignore the television celebrities who have been having special 12 day giveaways. Ignore the stores who will quickly remove the Christmas displays and put up Valentine’s Day displays. Ignore it all and enjoy the Twelve Days of Christmas. Each precious one of them.
The reality is – you’ve got time to enjoy Christmas! … you’ve got time to bake cookies and take them to a neighbour or friend who is unwell or on their own. … you’ve got time to send Christmas cards to family and friends. … you’ve got time because – because the Season Christmas lasts until the end of January 5th!
Twelve days of Christmas! On each of the Twelve Days of Christmas, why not let “Soulistry” offer some help on each of the 12 days of Christmas?
May the Season of Christmas … all Twelve Days … extend the Spirit of Christmas beyond Christmas Day. May the Spirit of Christmas dwell deep within. And may the Spirit of Christmas bring peace, joy, love, and hope to our pandemic-riddled world.
June
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