Christmas night

Christmas night

I know not many of you are out there reading the blog. But- oh what the hell- I will take this opportunity and space to share some thoughts, especially about Christmas and this whole season.

Always a challenging time of year and every year it seems harder to find real inspiration that connects me to something meaningful and alive- something that will feed my soul. We are in the 12 Holy Nights now. Yesterday was “Adam and Eve’s Day”—an honoring of those great progenitors. Beginning in innocence. That was technically the first Holy Night (if you count 13 nights and end with Epiphany on Jan 6th). I know there are many ways to look at this. So whatever turns you on! But here is one way I have used that I find useful and not too demanding.

Begin today with the sign Sagittarius—because the Sun is actually in front of the constellation of the Archer right now. What I do is go back to last Dec. It can be Dec. 16th which is usually the beginning of Sag. (sidereally). Or you can go back to all of Dec.- of last year, right? And do a review. I keep a journal. I just reread most of what I wrote in Dec. last year. One year ago this month. If you don’t keep a journal you can look back at you calendar, day-runner (what have you) just to be reminded of what you were doing back then.

It was surprising to me to see how much has changed in this past year. I see some deep internal changes. For the better! It feels good to review. And to contemplate what all has changed. Life goes by so fast--- we need time to integrate (a virtue of the Bull- Taurus)—chew your cud and all that.

Tomorrow is about Jan./Capricorn (the Goat). And so forth through the zodiac. You can use the Virtues that correspond to each sign (Robert Sardello has done such good work on the virtues if you have his writings). Capricorn is “The courage to redeem what has gone wrong”. Chew on that for awhile!!! Or do whatever comes to you. Just stay focused through the Zodiac as we go through the 12 Holy Nights. I guess I assume that everyone knows the progression of the signs (Aries-Taurus-Gemini-Cancer-Leo-Virgo-Libra-Scorpio-Sagittarius-Capricorn-Aquarius-Pisces).

Also you can do a projecting forward of your intentions for the following Jan. (or whatever month it is). That always sounds nice—but in practice I can’t really do it that way. My “intentions” don’t divide up neatly according to the months. But maybe some people can.

When I lived in Boulder I had a friend who was also deeply fascinated with the calendar—Claudia McClaren (any of you know her?). We really talked together before and during the Holy Nights and shared what happened to us. We prepared for it! And this one year we both had major insights/dreams/inspirations that came through during the Holy Nights. It helped that we talked. I remember her vision was about “the inner-net”—a sort of opposite-from-virtual-reality internet. Mine was an image of a calendar which I went on to build.

But first…..winter dragged on that year and spring was slow. Come about March sometime, Claudia and I remembered about our Holy Nights pact. But then we realized that we each had forgotten what our inspirations were! Strangely…and fortunately…I had remembered hers! And she has remembered mine! So in the end they were saved.

But that’s how it goes. What comes through in these precious Nights which are outside of time somehow…..are otherworldly and ephemeral. It takes a community to hold them. As the Sun increases and we are drawn up and out into the Spring time we forget so much. It’s just how it is.

Last Holy Nights I was in a real crisis/disaster with a women’s group I had been in. I was scape-goated. A real live true scapegoating and I was the scapegoat. It was so painful and disturbing. But somehow…..something came through and helped me to “pop out”. To not take up the role of scapegoat. And it worked. I have been helped by that insight/help throughout this whole year. (The group failed, but probably was going to anyway).

I think it would be so great if people could write here about whatever “comes through”. Like Sandy said when she started this---- it will be a record.

I don’t think the Holy Nights are always easy (how’s that for an understatement!!). There is such Mystery all around us. My wish is always to have a community of like minded souls who did actually share their inner dreams and experiences during this time. And what would even be greater would be to prepare for next year. Make a plan. Agree on a way to do it. Just a thought.

Well I do hope and pray that Christmas was a beautiful day for all of you.
I welcome your thoughts.

Suzanne