holiday
The Old Man And The Christmas Bells
With Christmas upon us I have been hearing church bells every Sunday in recent weeks, just like in my younger years. Going back to those years in my mind, I can remember being very young when my mother was stopped by a man who told her he was the new pastor at this church far from our house. He looked younger than my parents and he asked my mother if we had a church that we go to. She told him we did not and the man gave us an invitation to attend his church.
Since this church was reasonably close to where I grew up, it was fun to walk there at first, but after a while it seemed like forever. But my mother made a promise to us kids that after church we could get a soda pop or an ice cream cone if we were good. Mom knew how to persuade us kids to go to church without a fuss.
When I first looked at the church is seemed big, but it looked very different from the Catholic church across the street. We opened the doors and were greeted by two old ladies who handed out the programs for the service. They also told me that I would meet my mother down here in the same place after Sunday school.
Next I met my Sunday school teacher. His name was Rusty and since I was the ‘new kid on the block’, he introduced me to all the other children. Since I didn’t know any of them, I didn’t know what to think. Then Rusty started with the lesson and once again it seemed like forever for Sunday school to be over.
Later, I met mom downstairs and as I was walking down the hall a older man greeted me. I greeted him in return, not thinking much of it. After we had been seated and the pastor opened with prayer, I remember looking around and noticing that the old man was not sitting in the same pews anymore. He seemed to have left.
To Live Gratitude Is To Touch Heaven
One aspect of spiritual living too seldom addressed is our lack of true appreciation and gratitude for all the blessings in our lives, regardless of our circumstances.
Some spiritual seekers tend to be very keen on beating the drum of prosperity, and becoming fixated on the Law of Attraction and manifesting abundance, which is too often merely a thinly disguised obsession with material wealth and earthly comforts.
Most of us simply take too much for granted every day. We experience so many blessings of joy, beauty, forgiveness, protection and Divine grace, which we seldom acknowledge in our lives. We always have something to be grateful, or thankful for, no matter how difficult times may be. As a species we are very good at complaining about what we don’t have, but we seem to find it difficult to give thanks for what we do have.
We seldom express our gratitude and appreciation towards those we love and cherish, and we hardly ever remember to share what we have with those who have less – not because we feel obligated, but because we feel so much appreciation that we simply want to share our abundant blessings with others. Charity is not about lending a helping hand; it is about celebrating all that we have, and to share our joy and appreciation.
Research has demonstrated an indisputable connection between gratitude and spirituality. It is no coincidence that gratitude is regarded as a much cherished and valued quality by most world religions, including the Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu Jewish, and Christian traditions. When reviewing the large body of research done on the subject, gratitude seems to play a much more noteworthy role in our happiness and well-being than most other emotions and personality traits.
Several research studies in recent years have shown that people who have a tendency towards higher levels of gratitude also tend to report higher levels of psychological, emotional and physical well-being. People who are grateful have been shown to be happier, more optimistic and more content with their lives. They also appear to have lower levels of stress and depression, and they are more satisfied with their relationships and social interaction with others.
Pay It Forward With Holiday Gratitude
As the year end approaches, most of us would normally be shopping, entertaining and gathering with friends and family to celebrate the various holidays and the New Year. Lots of special food, drink and laughter would also be the order of the day!
With a few exceptions, many of our usual traditions are however being curtailed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, at a time when holiday shopping, traditional music and festive lights usually brighten the scene, many of us will have to be low-key and socially distanced, even isolated and alone.
In addition, although many people will be able to celebrate virtually, those with limited access to technology will not, so some loved ones will be forced to limit their contact to the telephone only, or even do without.
It is therefore even more important this year to think of those who will not be able to find an easy way to compromise or ‘make-do’ with alternative online shopping or virtual socializing.
Give thought to those you personally know who may have been cut off from their usual social activities, friends and relatives. Perhaps you can make an extra phone call or two, or send an old-fashioned Christmas card by postal mail, or surprise them with the delivery of an unexpected little gift.
Let just one person outside your intimate family circle know that they are still in your thoughts, even though you cannot visit or see them in person. It can make really make a world of difference for someone who is unable to get out to visit friends, or welcome family this year.
Many people have also lost loved ones in recent months and will be grieving this Christmas, instead of celebrating. If you know someone who is in this predicament, do reach out to them and offer a comforting word and some emotional support. Even just a little can go a very long way!
Astrological Forecast December 21- 27, 2020
The Sun moves into Capricorn today, setting the stage for four weeks of grounded and deliberate movement. Capricorn is the sign of responsibility, security and safety, as well as the epitome of enterprise. If you’ve always dreamed of starting your own business or diving into a new creative venture, consider making your move after the first of next year.
In the meantime, this holiday week should unfold smoothly. Tuesday and Wednesday’s Aries Moon will give us the energy to get all our pre-holiday tasks completed in record time. The Moon will flow through Taurus Christmas Eve through Saturday, making for a pleasant, easy-going break. The focus will be on the people we share our time with rather than the gifts we give or receive, and bring out the true spirit of the holidays.
Sunday will be the ideal time to test out new electronics, socialize and visit with those far away, as the Gemini Moon promotes easy conversation and fun-filled activities. May your holidays be relaxing, safe and happy!
How To Have Peace And Calm This Christmas
The year 2020 has been quite a year! The pandemic has turned the world upside down. Given what we have all been through, there is now an increased emotional need to have something to celebrate, and with Christmas around the corner, we have just that.
However, as magical a time of year as Christmas may be, it can still be somewhat stressful, and this year may prove even more challenging due to the need for safety precautions, social distancing and travel restrictions.
Nevertheless, with a little pre-planning, you should be able to get your Xmas off to a good start and enjoy the celebrations to the maximum without experiencing too much stress and drama in the process! How good is that? Here’s how.
Set Clear Intentions
Given the kind of a year we have experienced, we can indeed be excused for not celebrating a perfectly traditional Christmas this year. We are now in an excellent position to enjoy the kind of Christmas that we prefer.
Let go of the idea this year that Christmas must be ‘perfect,’ and that you must make it that way for everybody. Set instead a clear intention for what your ideal Christmas will be. After that, all you need to do is make plans that go along with your vision. Having established what Christmas really means to you, you can then use it as a guide to prepare your celebrations.
Keep It Simple
Simplicity ensures peace and calm, whereas complexity causes stress and drama. It really is as simple as that! It is imperative that any Christmas plans you make are as simple, straightforward and as streamlined as possible. Doing so should help to create a sense of calm and empowerment, which you will no doubt need to take into the New Year with you.
Astrological Forecast December 14 – 20, 2020
We’ve got a full parade of planetary aspects going on this week, including the Sagittarius New Moon Solar Eclipse, as well as Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury all changing signs. The Sagittarius New Moon Solar Eclipse greets us first this morning, kicking off a new six-month cycle of renewed focus, new beginnings and unexpected opportunities.
This is a powerful time to set new intentions for manifestations of abundance in your life. Sagittarius is all about justice, fairness and light-hearted fun, perfect for the holidays and New Year that is just around the corner. We may soon find ourselves immersed in speculating about what to expect from 2021, but first, there’s the holiday celebrations to contend with!
Venus moves into Sagittarius tomorrow, amplifying the holidays and social interaction. Saturn moves into Aquarius on Wednesday, urging us to break free of tradition or restrictions, and to do more of our own thing over the next six months. Jupiter will join Saturn in Aquarius on Saturday, followed by Mercury entering a more grounded Capricorn on Sunday. With all these astrological shifts occurring in one week, we can be certain that change, big change, is coming our way, heralding a promising start to the coming New Year!
Astrological Forecast December 7 – 13, 2020
Things will flow along fairly quietly this week, as we move through the second half of the lunar eclipse. Today is however a great time to get your ducks in a row. Using the Virgo Moon to plunge into detailed work and organizational projects will prove fruitful, so take the opportunity today to careful go over your holiday budget, plan that party or celebration, or finalize your holiday travel arrangements. With Christmas only a few weeks away, it’s time to get down to business anyway!
Wednesday and Thursday will be good days to restore balance, both within and without, under the Libra Moon. So, take a break from all the end of year activity to just relax and breathe!
The Scorpio Moon will reign on Friday and Saturday, calling for more social activity and spiritual reflection. Don’t worry if you can’t get to everything on your list early in the week, as Sunday’s Sagittarius Moon will have you moving at lightning speed through all your chores and obligations.