’Tis the Season

Niánn Emerson Chase

Holiday Issues and Earthly Concerns

Throughout the years during the holidays, issues have arisen over how to express the nature of this special season of celebration for many people from diverse cultures. In the United States there has been an ongoing conflict between the conservative Christians (whose agenda is to keep the holidays “Christian”) and the more inclusive Christians and non-Christian religionists (who desire to include other faiths in the celebration of the season). The nonreligious groups, who want to also celebrate the holidays, have advocated for keeping all signs of Christianity or any other religion out of public displays and expression of the season.

This year in particular these issues seem petty when considering that there is an uncertain future for all of humankind due to what scientists refer to as “the Sixth Extinction,” which is occurring with rapidity in our natural world (much of it caused by humans). Many nations, including the U.S., are facing increased political and social turmoil as the financial and other institutions that our lives have been built upon shake with instability. And to top it off, there is an increasing awareness worldwide of something happening in our solar system that could change all of reality on this planet, and very very soon.

So in these times of increased unrest and uncertainty, rather than devolving into our “lizard legacy” of fight or flight and the old status-quo ways of withdrawing into our tribalistic and nationalistic behaviors (that are based on fear and misunderstanding), we humans must draw upon our higher-minds and move into our kinder-hearted natures to meet our future with intelligence, wisdom, and a sense of planetary citizenship and stewardship of the network of ecosystems on our world.

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Re-Imagining the Holidays

Six ways to resist the trap of overabundance, and create traditions brimming with gratitude

By Sara Wiseman

Are you dreading it, already?

You know… the whole shopping-gifting-cooking-cleaning-eating-drinking socializing-relatives-traveling season just ahead?

From Thanksgiving to New Year's, many of us get trapped in a cycle of overabundance—the state of having too much. As in: more than we can use. More than we can process. The cup not just full, but over flowing.

It’s gotten worse in recent years, starting with Christmas decorations that go on display at Halloween to the frenzy of Black Friday. We’ve become a culture of excess and a society of waste, moving from the next new thing to the next…without ever taking the time to enjoy any of it. We have so much, and it’s arriving so fast, that we can’t use or even experience it all.

This overabundance—having more than we really need—creates stress, lowers vibration and zaps energy from mind, body and spirit.

Now, I’m all for abundance! I’m certainly not one to pass up on anything that brings pleasure or beauty or connection to my life. But when we become trapped in the cycle of overabundance—the endless circle of want, get, want, get—our lives fall out of balance. (more…)

Holidays? Xmas? Christmas? What is This Season Anyway?

Presented by Niánn Emerson Chase

Holiday Issues

I recall that in December 2005, President and Mrs. Bush came under much criticism from certain conservative Christians who were unhappy with the wording on the card sent from the White House. These critics complained that since the Bush’s are Christians and Christmas is a Christian holiday, they should have used the word Christmas on the card rather than holidays. In the seven years since then, there has been an increasing conflict between the conservative Christians whose agenda is to keep the holidays “Christian” and the non-Christian religionists and non-religious to keep all signs of Christianity out of the holidays.

This is a season that Christians as well as those of other religions enjoy their particular traditions, and the citizenry of the United States is comprised of people of many religions, nationalities, and subcultures. Regardless of religious and cultural leanings, most people (including  the nonreligious)  in this country celebrate this season, for almost every aspect of society is permeated with utilizing the “holiday season” that starts around Thanksgiving and ends after New Year’s Day. (more…)

Looking Back, Looking Forward

The Christmas / New Year / Winter Solstice season is traditionally a time for gathering around the fire with family and friends, celebrating the successful negotiation of another year and re-charging one's batteries ready for the new chapter of adventure and challenge that is about to begin. Much as Dicken’s Scrooge is forced to do, it is also a time for looking back and planning ahead.

Reminiscence can either be positive or negative, depending on how we frame it. We may mourn the loss of loved ones no longer here to share the spirit of the season, or we may remember with pleasure and thanks the many happy times we did share while resolving to share with our companions of this season some equally good experiences. (more…)

Spiritual Holiday Gift Ideas

The Christmas Holiday is fast approaching and, as usual, many of us are wondering what gifts to get for our loved ones. This year you can give gifts that really make a difference (or simply treat yourself). Our special selection of Spiritual Holiday gift ideas range from potentially life-changing books, beautiful listening experiences and traditional artefacts to heal and expand conscious awareness.

Visit Spiritual Gift Ideas

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The Corruption of Christmas

The Holiday season is fast approaching. That time of year when we remember the birth of Jesus, a worthwhile celebration indeed. For Christians Jesus is God incarnate, but for others this truly enlightened teacher shared a message of love and peace that still has the power to promote a better world if only it were practiced a little more. The first step to that is awareness, and in that sense Christmas remains valuable.

Yet the origins of this season go back way before the birth of Christ, to an era when mankind was far closer to nature. December 21st marks the winter solstice, the shortest day. A day to be in front of a warm fire, with loved ones, looking forward to the lengthening days that immediately followed. (more…)

New Year, New Beginnings

Time flies. I can hardly believe another year has almost passed and a new one is upon us.

New Year is closely linked (in both temporal proximity and symbolic meaning) with the Winter solstice and Christmas, ie the passing of the shortest day and the (re-)birth of the Sun (Son).

Traditionally this is a time to reflect on what has gone as well as making resolutions for the brand new year ahead. It is rightly a time to celebrate. Surviving another year on the roller coaster of life is achievement in itself and a milestone worth marking.

Reviewing the past twelve months - in personal and global terms - obviously invokes different emotions in different people. For some it has brought wonderful success, for others heartbreaking disaster. Perhaps for most any review includes both ups and downs.

Kipling said: "if you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same" ... "yours is the Earth and everything that's in it". For good and bad, ecstasy and despair, are but two sides of the same coins. What counts is what we can draw the lessons of experience, for this hard-earned knowledge is what truly maketh the person and is the ultimate purpose of life.

Hopefully you will have had at least as many ups and downs, but even if not the fact that you are reading this means your place is still in this world, there is still work to be done, adventures to be had, lessons to be learned. Which leads us to our second theme - new beginnings.

It is customary at New Year to make resolutions. Often these are made hastily and lightly about quitting smoking, losing weight, getting more exercise etc etc. And just as hastily and lightly broken. It's but a small proportion that outlives January.

But New Year really is a new blank page in the book of life. So just for once let's think a little harder and resolve to do something that is both meaningful and likely to last. Many people get a break from work over the Holiday season. Use it to consider where you're heading, where you'd truly like to be headed, and what changes you need to make.

Think big. Aiming high always produces greater results than setting your sights too low - even if you don't quite reach your personal summit. But also give yourself a chance to taste the satisfaction of success, eg by setting milestones along the way. Keep yourself heartened by allowing yourself a little treat for a milestone reached.

And so to Spring, the next review, when the seeds sowed now begin to come to life.

Happy New Year

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Does Santa Exist?

When I was a kid I'd go to bed full of excitement on Christmas Eve. I'd wake up the following morning to find a pile of toys and other gifts where none had been the previous night. The magic, I was told, was all down to some kindly old guy who lived at the north pole and every year would ride his reindeer-driven sleigh across the skies delivering his presents to all the kids around the world who'd behaved well enough to deserve them.

Then one day I "learned" Father Christmas didn't really exist, and the mysterious gifts ceased. I'd entered the cynical world of adults where magic doesn't happen, and people fight wars and do other bad stuff that kids aren't born knowing about.

But is what I "learned" really right? After all, in many ways the child really can teach the man. Nobody's ever seen Santa, so he can't exist - right? Then again, nobody's ever seen electricity, radio waves, black holes...

Santa's mission is to give without the hope of receiving. It's also to encourage kids to believe that miracles sometimes do happen.

Well on count 1, at this time of year there's a hell of a lot of giving without thought for what you'll get. (Yeah, OK, I know a lot of giving is done for cynical reasons, because it's expected, because the giver does want something back etc, but take all that away and there's still a great deal of selflessness going on.)

And on count 2, miracles can and do happen. Not often, but often enough to make them real. And one of the most important factors in being the recipient of one of these events... the simple power of belief. All you have to do is ask, and it shall be given. Or rather - the power you need to make it happen - will be given.

So, as I'm told by those that "know", Santa doesn't exist - but his Spirit sure as hell does.

And who was it left my presents when I was a kid?

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Happy Holidays / What is Love?

Once again the Holiday season is upon us. How are you feeling?

Filled with wonder of the Season? Stressed by last-minute preparations and overcrowded malls? Or simply disgusted at the over-commercialisation and the pressures on folk to overspend and incur debt just so big business can earn a quick buck (remember Jesus driving the money-lenders from the temple)?

What bugs me is the political correctness bullsh*t seeking to expunge Christian symbolism from Christmas for fear of offending other faiths. How can anyone, Christian or otherwise, possibly be offended by celebrating the birth and life of a man who taught a message of love and peace?

And isn't love what this season is all about?

Love is an oft-used term, eg I love this movie, or football team, or ice cream. It's also the most common theme in literature, music and art, though none adequately express the feelings it inspires.

So what does love really mean? It can reduce a grown man to jelly, but defies definition in mere words. Following the lesson of Jesus, "love your neighbour as yourself", we can say love means to treat the object of your love as, or better than, yourself.

If you've ever been privileged to have kids you'll understand this. You feel what they feel. You would sacrifice anything for their well-being. You would gladly assume their suffering. It is the recognition and acknowledgement of the oneness of two individuals.

It's easy to love our nearest and dearest (though at this season we may feel we love some more at a distance), less easy to love strangers, and hardest of all to love our enemies. But that is what Jesus taught: "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" [Matthew 5:44].

Now that's a tall order for most of us mere mortals, but maybe - just for teh festive season - we can begin by simply accepting others and them be. Regardless of their race, religious belief, past history, whatever... That means acknowledging the place of everyone as unique individuals with a unique role to play in the tapestry of life.

Enjoy the season, don't stress, do what you can as best you can. And when the day comes,

Happy Holidays

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